Province in central, northern Luzon.
Balete Pass
Lat
16° 38' 60N Long 121° 20' 60E
History
A
ridgeline pass thru the mountains to the west of the Cagayan Valley.
Located just past the border of Nueva
Ecija, off Highway 5. Heavy fighting occured here from April
- June 1945, between retreating Japanese troops, and the US Army
25 Divsion, 161st
Infantry. The area was subjected to numberous infantry support
sorties by fighters and bombers during the battle.
American
Missions against Balete Pass
January 27 - June 18, 1945
Today
The Pass has several wartime memorials and spectacular views of the mountains
and valleys.
Memorials & Lookout
On the roadside of Highway 5, just over the border
from Nueva Ecija are three memorials at Balete Pass: an American, Chinese
COWHM, and Japanese memorial. Plus,
a lookout
at the top of
the ridge.
American Memorial
A
simple oblesk memorial, with bronze plaque at the base of the memorial
area. Behind it (unrelated) is a small lookout tower for region
2. The plaque reads: "Balete Pass - Erected in honor of
those soldiers of the 25th Division who sacrificed their lives
in winning this desperate
strugggle. In taking this pass 7,403 Japs counted killed. 2,365
25th Division killed and wounded. May 13, 1945.
Chinese COWHM Memorial
Dedicated to the eight Chinese COWHM soldiers who died at Balete
pass, fighting with the Americans. This memorial have extensive
text about the origins of the COWHM and a small marker plaque,
dedicated on May 7, 2001 for each of the eight soldiers who died.
The memorial plaque reads:
"Dedicated to the memory of our 8 comrades in arms, who fought
alongside allied liberating army (25 Division, 161 Infantry)
and paid the supreme sacrifice during mop-up operations in the
summer of May 1945, against reatreating Japanese forces at Santa
Fe, Nueva Viscaya. May their brave heroic efforts in fighting
for freedom serve as a shinning model for all peace loving men
and women for all times to come. Ex-Chinese Overseas Watime Hsuekan
Milita (EX-COWHM)"
Japanese Memorial
The Japanese memorial consists of several plaques, and engraved
stones, and a cross with the inscription 'peace forever'. The memorial
was established by family and fellow soldiers of the fallen. March
1984.
DPWH
/ Perez
Park
Located
just beyond the memorial ridgeline is a small memorial park, with
a 150mm Japanese Howitzer on
display (no serial visibble). There is an entrance to a large natural
cave directly behind the gun. Presumably this cave was used by Japanese
forces.
Santa
Fe
Located on Highway
5 near Balete Pass. The Villa Verde Trail crosses from Santa
Maria
to Santa Fe over the mountains.
American Missions
against Santa Fe
February 10 - May 22, 1945
Solano
Town located along Highway 5.
US 5th AF Missions against Solano:
March 7, 1945 - A-20s and fighter-bombers hit troops
and gun positions in Solano.
Aritao
Lat 16° 17' 54N Long 121° 2' 27E Located along Route 5, 15 miles north of Santa Fe.
On June 1, 1945 the remainers of the 2nd and 10th Tank Regiments dug in together at Aritao. Destroyed on June 4th by US Army 37th Infantry Division, supported by 775th Tank Battalion, that lost two tanks and two AT guns in the assault.
Type 1 Ho-Ni 75mm Self Propelled Gun
Captured at Aritao on April 6, 1945 exported to United States for technical evaluation
Dupax (Dupox)
Lat 16° 17' 11N Long 121° 5' 39E Located along Route 5. 2nd Tank Division rebuilt itself here after defeats in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.
