GREEN BEACH & THE U.S.185TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM LANDING SPOT IN PULUPANDAN

 GREEN BEACH USAFFE LANDING SPOT IN PULUPANDAN

Location: Barangay Zone 1 (Green Beach), Municipality of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Introduction 

The Philippines was an active participant in the defense of freedom and democracy during the Second World War. 

When the Japanese Imperial Forces invaded the Philippines, it took several years before she was liberated from the hands of the Japanese. 

What the U.S. War Memorial website tells about the landing on Green Beach?  The United States Armed Forces, specifically, the 40th Infantry Division under the command of Major General Rapp Brush who led the 185th Regimental Team which saved the Bago Bridge from the Japanese demolition team. 

The Japanese were determined to bomb the bridge to paralyze the oncoming U.S. Armed Forces from marching towards the capital city of the province of Negros Occidental - Bacolod City.

The U.S. Army landed on Green Beach in now Barangay Zone 1 (Green Beach), of the town of Pulupandan on March 29, 1945.

The U.S. Army was welcomed on the beach by the Civilians and Guerillas included in the 7th Military District under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Salvador Abcede. 

The men of the 40th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army was instrumental in thwarting the bombing of Bago Bridge by the Japanese Imperial Forces. One name was recorded as the major player in preventing the bombing of the bridge and that was PFC. Theodore C. Vinther. 

Now, as a lover of the history of World War II, I was fascinated by Green Beach at Pulupandan. I was asking myself why the place is called Green Beach? What is the role of Green Beach in the Liberation of Negros Island from the "grip" of the Japanese Empire? Now, there's no one to explain why the beach is called green beach. So, I assume that the beach was where the U.S. Army should land. The color of the army is green. Thus. Green Beach or the army's beach or landing site. Pwede man? Hu-o na ah. . haha..🤣  According to historical record, two more arrivals followed the 40th Infantry Division, all aimed at supporting the Liberation of Negros Island.

So, this investigation is a step towards understanding the role of Green Beach on Barangay Zone 1 in Pulupandan in the Liberation of Negros Island and the saving of Bago Bridge from being bombed by the Japanese Imperial Forces.

The Marker on the beach, for me, tells it all. 

Photo by Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre Blogger Dot Com.

* * * * * * * * * 

Hereunder is the text written on the Marker installed on Green Beach by the Philippine Historical Commission. 

Original text written in Tagalog.

PAGDAONG SA PULUPANDAN

 

  SA DALAMPASIGANG ITO, SA PAMUMUNO

NI MAJOR GENERAL RAPP BRUSH NG

40TH INFANTRY DIVISION, DUMAONG

ANG 185TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM,

NA NAGLIGTAS SA TULAY NG BAGO, 29

MARSO 1945, SUMUNOD ANG 160TH

REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, 31 MARSO

1945, ANG 503RD PARACHUTE REGIMENTAL

TEAM, 8 ABRIL 1945. SUMALUBONG ANG

MGA SIBILYAN AT GERILYANG KABILANG

SA 7TH MILITARY DISTRICT, SA PAMUMUNO

NI TENYENTE KORONEL SALVADOR

ABCEDE, NAITABOY NG MAGKAANIB NA

PUWERSA ANG MGA HAPON TUNGO SA

HILAGANG BAHAGI NG NEGROS.

 

SOURCE: www.uswarmemorials.org

* * * * * * * * * * 

Hereunder is the English translation of the original text 

LANDING AT PULUPANDAN

 

   ON THIS BEACH, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAJOR GENERAL RAPP BRUSH OF THE 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION, THE 185TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM WHICH SAVED THE BRIDGE OF BAGO, LANDED ON 29 MARCH 1945, FOLLOWED BY THE 160THEGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, ON 31 MARCH 1945, AND THE 503RD PARACHUTE REGIMENTAL TEAM, ON 8 APRIL 1945. WELCOMED BY THE CIVILIANS AND GUERILLAS INCLUDED IN THE 7TH MILITARY DISTRICT, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL SALVADOR ABCEDE, THE ALLIED FORCES REPELLED THE JAPANESE TOWARDS THE NORTHERN PART OF NEGROS.

Source: www.uswarmemorials.org

* * * * * * * * * 

The marker remembers the 185^th Regimental Combat Team of the 40^th Infantry Division “Sunburst” landing at Pulupandan on March 29, 1945, and the subsequent taking of the Bago Bridge on the Los Negros Island.  These operations were supported by Philippine Guerillas.

 

This landing was part of the US 8th Army (LTG Robert Eichelberger)

Southern Philippines Campaign (February-July 1945) Operation Victor I, which included landings on several islands.

Source: Source: www.uswarmemorials.org

* * * * * * * * * * * 

You can click the link hereunder to read more about Green Beach. 

Monument Details (uswarmemorials.org)

* * * * * * * * * * 

My Comments: 

Last March 29, 2024, was the 79th death anniversary and heroism of U.S. Army, PFC Theodore C. Vinther who sacrificed his life to save Bago Bridge from being bombed by the Japanese Imperial Forces. This is in connection with the U.S. Liberation Campaign of the Philippines and the Island of Negros from the "grip" of the Japanese Imperial Forces. 

This campaign to liberate the Philippines Islands ended on August 15, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito announced that Japan will surrender to the Allied Forces. 

The Instrument of Surrender was officially signed on September 2, 1945, thus, ending the war.  (Source: en.wikipedia.org)

DISCLAIMER:

We do not own these photos of the Signing of Instrument of Surrender. Ownership belongs to the rightful owners. In this case, the ARMY SIGNAL CORPS, NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER PHOTOS, U.S.A.

Copyright Infringement Not Intended. Thank you. 

* * * * * * * * * * 

Representatives of the Empire of Japan stand prior to the signing of the Instrument of Surrender that ended World War II. 

- - - - - -  - - - - - - -

Photo below shows the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Minister Mamoru 

Shigemitsu signs the Instrument of Surrender of Japan that ended 

World War II, on September 2, 1945, on U.S.S. Missouri, as American 

General Richard K. Sutherland watches. 

Source: Army Signal Corps, Naval Historical Center Photos, U.S.A. 

Photographer LT. Stephen E. Korpanty. Photo restored by Adam Cuerden. 

or en.wikipedia.org.

        Below are additional photos of the Green Beach.

* * * * * * * * * * 

Today, Green Beach is populated by fishermen and the beach is used as the docking area of fishermen's boats.

If the beach is cleaned up of debris of wood and bamboo as well as litter like paper, plastic, and others, Green Beach will look inviting for visitors and tourists to frequent the area. The beach is also ideal for swimming. 

If the private sector will initiate a clean-up drive- and put-up cottages as well as facilities for visitors, Green Beach will surely be a popular place to visit. 

For related story, please click the link to read more about PFC. Theodore C. Vinther

the hero of Bago Bridge.

2023: PFC. THEODORE C. VINTHER, OUR LOCAL AMERICAN HERO - Touristang Pobre

* * * * * * * * 

If you like this story, please LIKE our Facebook Page, and SHARE this story with your riends. Thank you.

* * * * * * * * 

June 4, 2024

by Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre.