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LUZON THIRD BATTALION AT DIGDIG On the morning of 1 March, patrols from K Company moved on several different routes toward Digdig. One patrol contacted an enemy force entrenched in dug-outs and positions at 84.5-31.4. The position was neutralized after using white phosphorous grenades and flame throwers. The Japs had constructed a mass of intricate holes and tunnels thirty or forty feet long. The smoke from a white phosphorous grenade thrown in one hole would come out from another hole thirty feet away. Several Japs, upon being burned by flame throwers, ran out, but generally they stayed in the holes. Our men had to flush out each hole thoroughly, and in some instances the Japs fired on our men from the holes and tunnels. Several Japs upon being burned committed suicide by holding grenades to their bodies. Twenty-five enemy were killed, we had seven wounded. The patrol continued on and reconnoitered the high ground northwest of Digdig. By dark on 1 March, the 1st and 2d Battalions were in position near Maringalu. With a patrol in advance to reconnoiter the route, I Company jumped off at 0330 on the 2nd. At 0430, about 700 yards northwest of Maringalu, they were pinned down by Jap rifle, machine gun, and mortar fire. The Company held up until dawn, when K Company was moved in on the left. B Company, which had pushed out at daybreak with the mission of protecting the 3d Battalion’s left flank, moved through K Company’s position and occupied the left of the line. After an artillery preparation, the advance was continued against enemy fire. At 0845, K Company received heavy Machine gun fire from their front. 81mm mortars, artillery and fire from M-7’s was brought to bear on the enemy, and the advance was continued. In the afternoon, our forces met what at least seemed to be a definite line of resistance. After a heavy ten minute artillery preparation, L, K and B Companies jumped off abreast. B Company on the left flank, reached heights overlooking the basin in which the Digdig road junction lay, and discovered at the foot of the high ground what must have been the enemy supply and repair dump or the entire sector. Advancing down off the heights, the company found itself following a narrow road through brush so thick that the advance was slowed to a crawl. They advanced to within four hundred yards of the road junction before pulling back to join the 3d Battalion perimeter for the night. At 0745 on 3 March, the Battalion jumped off and at 0915 was in Digdig. B Company, advancing along the road which it had followed the day before, ran into a huge dump which must have been the main enemy supply and repair point for the entire sector. There were at least 150 Goodrich Tires. There were drill presses, lathes, huge stacks of gas and oil drums, and ammunition for all types of weapons. At the Digdig Bridge, B Company found fully prepared positions – including a deeply dug-in tank position, pointing south – but all were deserted. The enemy had pulled out, possibly to help defend Puncan when it was attacked. Immediately upon clearing the town the 3d Battalion began acquiring the commanding ground around the road junction, and by 1230 had its units in position on all high ground. As a result of the action on 2 March 159 enemy dead were counted. Eight enemy tanks, three passenger cars and about fifty drums of fuel were destroyed. In addition, a large amount of supplies of all types were captured intact. B company, meanwhile, reverting to the 1st Battalion control, swung south at the Digdig Bridge, with mission of clearing the road and the areas on either side until they met the 2d Battalion coming up from Puncan. Much better time was made then expected. Both the condition of the grass and the wind wee favorable, so the company simplified the problem of clearing the areas to the side of the road by lavish use of white phosphorous hand and rifle grenades, which set the brush on fire. This set off still another large ammunition dump between Digdig and Puncan. Resistance was met from disorganized groups of Japs only; they were taken completely by surprise, and all of their defensive works were pointed to the south. The entire crews of three 47mm guns were caught away from their guns, and the guns, all pointing south, were captured intact. By the evening of the 3rd, Company B had cleared the Puncan-Digdig road to within 400 yards of the Japanese pockets still holding out at Puncan. On the orders of the regimental commander, they swung off the road, moved to high ground overlooking the enemy pockets of resistance (occupying excellently constructed positions built by the Japs), and spent the next two days disposing of any Japs who tried to escape. On the 5th, when the fanatical defenders of Puncan were at last eliminated, the 35th Infantry’s assignment was successfully completed. But the next was waiting. Back to History Index The First Battalion at Putlan
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