site of surrender of Lt. Col Yuge to elements of 3d Bn 300845 (13.7-21.45)
SAN PABLO, Negros Is.
The southern leg where I climbed up to Magcorgo is the exact route of one the 160th Infantry Regiment of the 40th Infantry Division, which was to the right of the 185th Infantry Regiment, which was on the 503d's right. Capt Dolan was killed in the vicinity of the muddy road at the base of Hill 3055. I was trying to get to the 503d's main area of operations through the 160th's sector, since that is the only road. The 503th cleared the area between "high ground" and the river you see to the east.. When this clearing was done, the First and Second Battalions redeployed to Murcia to "back door" the Japanese, who had retreated south. Third Battalion stayed with the 185th and drove south towards Hill 4055. Third Battalion was pulled off the mountain on May 26, while in the vicinity of "incident". The 185th remained in the mountains, until the entire 40th Division left Negros in early June, and overall command of the operation passed to the 503d. I have seen disparaging remarks by 503d members regarding 40th Division, but from what I have read, the 40th performed well. I expect there is some natural rivalry.
One more point regarding names. There were difference in naming things even between 40th Division and the 503d. The Japanese, of course, have a whole different set of names for the landmarks. So a given mountain peak or ridge can have four or five different names. It could well be that different groups of locals have yet more names for a given landmark. Throw in language difficulties and names are a nightmare.
Steve Foster
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