WESTPOINT GRADUATES IN THE PHILIPPINES

BY ROGELIO L LUIS, USMA 62

   THE PHILIPPINES IS AN ARCHIPELAGO CONSISTING OF ABOUT SEVEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED ISLANDS WITH A TOTAL LAND AREA OF 116,000 SQUARE KILOMETERS. THE ISLANDS HAVE RICH SOIL AND GENERALLY COVERED WITH VAST FOREST, MOUNTAINS AND CLEAR RUNNING RIVERS AND LAKES. IT IS RICH IN MINERALS RESOURCES AND ITS SEAS ARE BLESSED WITH A VARIETY OF FISH WHICH PROVIDE PROTEIN FOR MOST OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. IT IS BOUNDED BY THE CHINA SEA ON THE WEST AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN ON THE EASTERN SIDE. THE ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION EARNED FOR IT THE NAME “PEARL OF THE ORIENT SEAS.”

   THE PHILIPPINES WAS NAMED AFTER KING PHILIP OF SPAIN AFTER ITS DISCOVERY IN 1521 BY THE EXPLORER FERDINAND MAGELLAN WHO CLAIMED IT FOR THE SPANISH EMPIRE. IT REMAINED A SPANISH COLONY FOR MORE THAN 300 YEARS. THERE WERE OTHER COUNTRIES WHO GOT INTERESTED IN THE ARCHIPELAGO:  GERMANY HAD A FLEET WAITING FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE WHILE GREAT BRITAIN ACTUALLY OCCUPIED MANILA BRIEFLY IN THE 17^TH CENTURY.

   IN THE LATE 18^TH CENTURY, SPANISH EMPIRE AND ITS PREDOMINANCE AS A SEA POWER WAS COMING TO AN END AND CHALLENGED BY EMERGING POWERS. IT WAS AT THIS TIME WHEN THE FILIPINOS LAUNCHED THE MUST SUCCESSFUL AND WIDE-SPREAD REVOLT AND WAS ON THE VERGE OF DEFEATING THE SPANIARDS WHEN THE FLEET OF COMMODORE DEWEY OF THE UNITED STATES APPEARED IN THE HORIZON AND ROUTED THE SPANISH ARMADA IN THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY. SPAIN SUBSEQUENTLY SUED FOR PEACE AND IN THE TREATY OF PARIS OF 1898, THE PHILIPPINES WAS CEDED TO THE UNITED STATES FOR A MEASLY SUM OF 20 MILLION PESOS. AMERICA ANNEXED THE COUNTRY “BY THE GRACE OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE” TO SAVE AND BRING CIVILIZATION TO THE BROWN RACE. THE PHILIPPINES BECAME THE ONE AND ONLY COLONY OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY.

   THE FILIPINO REBELS SUDDENLY FOUND THEMSELVES FACING  A MUCH BETTER ARMED AND  FORMIDABLE OPPONENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE PHILIPPINES, CONSIDERED A” HOWLING WILDERNESS” AT THE TIME BECAME THE NEW FRONTIER FOR THE EVER EXPANDING AMERICA. NEW GRADUATES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY WERE POSTED IN THE PHILIPPINES TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND EARN THEIR SPURS AS FIGHTING MEN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY MIGHT. THROUGH CUNNING  AND SUPERIOR FIRE POWER, THE AMERICANS DEFEATED THE FILIPINO “INSURRECTOS” IN THE PACIFICATION CAMPAIGN THAT FOLLOWED.

   GRADUATES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY (USMA) SERVED INITIALLY AS PART OF THE AMERICAN FORCES OF OCCUPATION AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PACIFICATION CAMPAIGN ALL OVER THE ARCHIPELAGO. THEIR PARTICIPATION CONTINUED ALL THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH DAYS UP THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR II. AFTER THE LIBERATION OF THE COUNTRY, THE U.S. ARMED FORCES STAYED FOR A WHILE TO STABILIZE THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND ASSIST IN THE REBUILDING AND RE-ESTABLISHING INSTITUTIONS TO INCLUDE THE MILITARY AND THE POLICE FORCES. AFTER THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1945, AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENCE WAS CONTINUED THROUGH THE JOINT UNITED STATES MILITARY ADVISORY GROUP (JUSMAG) AND THE PRESENCE OF TWO MAJOR BASES, UP TO THEIR CLOSURE IN 1991. THESE USMA GRADUATES WHO SERVED IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES WERE THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE FINEST PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS, TRAINED IN LEADERSHIP AND THE ART OF WARFARE, AN EFFECTIVE FIGHTING MACHINE IN THE OLD MOLD, TRADITION AND LORE OF THE MILITARY.

THE MOST FAMOUS AMONG  WEST POINT GRADUATES WHO SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE THE LEGENDARY FATHER AND SON TANDEM OF GENERAL ARTHUR MCARTHUR WHO WAS IN THE PHILIPPINES DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF PACIFICATION AND HIS SON DOUGLASS WHO WAS INVITED BY THEN COMMONWEALTH PRESIDENT MANUEL L QUEZON TO ORGANIZE, TRAIN AND EQUIP AN ARMED FORCES FOR THE PHILIPPINES AGAINST POSSIBLE FOREIGN INVADERS. PLAYING A SUPPORTING ROLE THEN WAS MAJOR DWIGHT D EISENHOWER WHO WAS IN THE PLANNING STAFF OF GENERAL DOUGLASS MCARTHUR.

IT WAS DURING THE EARLY STAGE OF PACIFICATION THAT THE NAME MACARTHUR CAME TO BE KNOWN, GENERAL ARTHUR MACARTHUR, THE SIRE OF A MAN WHO IS DESTINED TO BE A HERO AND A LEGEND TO THE FILIPINOS. THE PHILIPPINES BECAME A COMMONWEALTH AND TO THE CREDIT OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNOR GENERALS SENT TO OVERSEE THE COUNTRY, A SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE, AKIN TO THAT OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED  AND MADE  THEIR MARK BY IMPROVING THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, CIVIL SERVICE, HEALTH AND MEDICAL  CARE AND ORGANIZED EXPLOITATION OF THE RICH RESOURCES  OF THE COUNTRY. AS AN EMERGING POWER, THE UNITED STATES ALSO PROCEEDED TO DEVELOP A LOCAL MILITARY ORGANIZATION. THROUGH COMMONWEALTH  ORDER NUMBER ONE THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT WAS ENACTED AND WITH IT, THE PROVISION TO ALLOW A FILIPINO PENSIONADO TO BE SELECTED TO GO TO WEST POINT ANNUALLY.

 IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE CAPABILITY OF THE ARMED FORCES, THE OLD CONSTABULARY SCHOOL WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED EARLIER IN BAGUIO CITY, THE SUMMER CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES, WAS TRANSFORMED INTO THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY (PMA) PATTERNED AFTER THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY (USMA). THE CONSTABULARY SCHOOL WAS ORGANIZED INITIALLY  TO TRAIN OFFICERS TO FIGHT LOCAL BANDITRY TO INCLUDE THE MUSLIM PIRACY IN THE SOUTH. THE OBJECTIVE AND THE TRAINING WAS GEARED AND  ORIENTED TOWARDS  KEEPING INTERNAL PEACE AND ORDER THROUGHOUT THE ARCHIPELAGO. THIS WAS COMPLETELY OVERHAULED AND TRANSFORMED IN TERMS OF TRAINING AND CURRICULUM AND LENGTH OF STUDY. PMA BECAME THE PROVIDER FOR THE CORE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE PROFESSIONAL AND REGULAR CORPS OF OFFICERS. THE CADRE IS SUPPORTED BY THE RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS(ROTC) PROGRAM A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT  FOR A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE  IN THE DIFFERENT  COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES . THE ROTC PROGRAM PROVIDED THE BULK OF THE ARMED FORCES TOTAL RESERVE OFFICER CORPS.

 THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF PMA, FROM CAPT ARTHUR GUTHRIE (1905) TO COL ORVILLE JOHNSON (1932-1936)  WERE ALL AMERICANS AND OF COURSE IN THE ACADEMIC AND TACTICAL STAFF WERE A GREAT NUMBER OF GRADUATES OF THE USMA.

   A MILITARY FORCE CAPABLE OF DEFENDING AND FIGHTING OFF ALL POSSIBLE FOREIGN INTRUSIONS WAS SLOWLY EMERGING. WEST POINT GRADUATES CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY AND MADE THEIR MARK IN TRAINING THE LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE FINER POINTS OF POLICE WORK T0 COMBAT BANDITRY IN REMOTE RURAL AREAS IN THE EARLY DAYS.  WHEN PRESIDENT MANUEL L QUEZON WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH, HE HAD INVITED GENERAL DOUGLASS MACARTHUR TO SERVE AS THE MILITARY CSAR TO TRAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE PHILIPPINE ARMED FORCES. IN HIS STAFF WAS A YOUNG MAJOR EISENHOWER WHO MOVED ON TO GREATER HEIGHTS, JUMPING OVER MORE SENIOR OFFICERS TO BECOME THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS (ETO) AT THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR II. PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HIS SUCCESS HE WAS REWARDED BY A GRATEFUL NATION WITH TWO-TERMS AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE EARLY FIFTIES.

   GENERAL MACARTHUR HAD REMAINED IN THE PHILIPPINES TO DEVELOP “OPLAN RAINBOW,” THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES DESIGNED TO FIGHT OFF ANY POSSIBLE INVASION AND AT THE VERY LEAST DELAY THE ENEMY TO GAIN TIME FOR THE MAIN AMERICAN FORCES TO PREPARE FOR AN ALL-OUT WAR. HE BECAME A LEGEND TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE IN HIS PLEDGE” I SHALL RETURN” MESSAGE BEAMED TO THE EMBATTLED US-FILIPINO ARMED FORCES AFTER HE WAS DIRECTED TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA FROM THE BESIEGE BATAAN PENINSULA IN CORREGIDOR. HE LEFT BEHIND GENERAL JONATHAN WAINWRIGHT TO SURRENDER THE BATTERED FORCES STARVING IN CORREGIDOR TO THE VICTORIOUS JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.

   A MASTERFUL STRATEGIST AND AN INSPIRING COMMANDER, GENERAL MACARTHUR DID REDEEMED HIS PROMISE TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE IN 1944. HE REMAINED IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND OVERSEEING THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL FORCES ABOARD THE USS MISSOURI AND UP TO THE EVENTUAL GRANT OF INDEPENDENCE TO THE PHILIPPINES IN 1945. FROM THERE MACARTHUR BECAME THE AMERICAN CZAR OF A VANQUISHED JAPAN. HE LED THE REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF A DEVASTATED COUNTRY AND CAME UP WITH A NEW JAPANESE CONSTITUTION WHICH SWORE OFF WAR AND FUTURE MILITARY ADVENTURISM.

    AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE KOREAN WAR, MCARTHUR DIRECTED THE NOW CLASSIC AMPHIBIOUS LANDING IN INCHON TO ROUTE THE COMBINED CHINESE AND NORTH KOREAN FORCES  WHICH WAS ABOUT TO ANNIHILATE THE BESIEGED FORCES OF THE UNITED NATION AT THE TIP OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA.

   MACARTHUR WAS LATER SACKED BY PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN FOR INSUBORDINATION IN HIS DESIRE TO CROSS THE YALU RIVER AND FINISHED OFF THE CHINA THREAT. HE RETIRED AFTER A HALF -CENTURY OF BRILLIANT SERVICE, INITIALLY CONTEMPLATING A POLITICAL CAREER AND LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO ACCEPT A WELL DESERVED  SYLVANUS THAYER AWARD FROM HIS ALMA MATER AND GO ON HIS LAST SENTIMENTAL  VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES.

   THE SERVICES OF WEST POINT GRADUATES CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE PHILIPPINE WAS GRANTED ITS INDEPENDENCE. WHEN THE RP-US MUTUAL DEFENSE ACT WAS FORGED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, A  JOINT US MILITARY ADVISORY  GROUP(JUSMAG) WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF MILITARY ARMAMENTS AND TRAINING FOR THE PHILIPPINE ARMED FORCES BEING REBUILD FROM THE ASHES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THROUGH THE AGENCY THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF WEST POINT GRADUATES AND OTHERS WAS  ASSURED. EVEN THE TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF US MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE COUNTRY AFTER THE CLOSURE OF CLARK AIR BASE AND THE SUBIC NAVAL BASE WAS EVENTUALLY RESOLVED THROUGH THE VISITING FORCE AGREEMENT (VFA).

 THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 164 AMERICAN WEST POINT GRADUATES WHO SERVED IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN THE DIFFERENT SERVICES OF THE ARMED FORCES- THE INFANTRY, THE ARTILLERY, THE CAVALRY UP TO THE SIGNAL CORPS AND QUARTERMASTER- FROM THE COMMONWEALTH DAYS  UP TO WORLD WAR II. HUNDREDS MORE WERE ASSIGNED AGAIN IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES THROUGH JUSMAG IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE HUKBALAHAP (HUKBO NG BAYAN LABAN SA HAPON, LITERALLY TRANSLATES TO ARMED FORCES OF THE COUNTRY TO FIGHT AGAINST THE JAPANESE). THIS ARMED GROUPS ARE ACTUALLY THE DIFFERENT GUERILLA UNITS THAT FOUGHT AGAINST THE JAPANESE IN WORLD WAR II WHO WERE SWAYED AND CAME INTO THE INFLUENCE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES (CPP) AND NOW FIGHTING THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT. THE ARMED COMPONENT METAMORPHOSED INTO THE NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY (NPA) THE ARMED COMPONENT OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY POLITBURO, DIFFERENTIATED FURTHER BY ITS MEMBERS’ INCLINATION TO THE THEN USSR OR CHINA.

   THERE ARE SEVERAL BASES ESTABLISHED IN THE PHILIPPINES BUT THE TWO MAJOR ONES AS MENTIONED EARLIER ARE IN CENTRAL LUZON, CLARK AIR BASE IN ANGELES, PAMPANGA AND THE SUBIC NAVAL BASE IN OLONGAPO, ZAMBALES.THESE BASES ARE UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE U.S.  PACIFIC COMMAND BASED IN HAWAII AND SERVED TO PROJECT THE U.S. NAVAL MIGHT AND AIR POWER ALL OVER ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, THEY SERVED ALSO AS THE TRAINING GROUND AND STAGING AREAS-THE REAR CP, MEDICAL EVACUATION POINT AND REST AND RECREATION AREA FOR THE AMERICAN ARMED FORCES.

   THE TWO BASES OF COURSE HAD A DOUBLE- EDGED CONSEQUENCES-GOOD AND BAD. BY THEIR PRESENCE IN THE COUNTRY, INVADERS WOULD HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT TANGLING WITH PHILIPPINE ARMED FORCES WHICH HAS BIG BROTHER-AMERICAN MILITARY BEHIND IT. THE NEGATIVE ASPECT IS THAT THEY ALSO SERVE AS LIGHTING RODS FOR NUCLEAR STRIKES BY EITHER USSR OR CHINA IN AN ALL-OUT WAR! 

   RECENTLY, IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED BY THESE WEST POINT GRADUATES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THE WEST POINT SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES IN A JOINT EFFORT WITH THE USNA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EMBARKED ON A PROJECT TO ERECT A MONUMENT IN A PROMINENT SPOT IN THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY GROUNDS, COMPLETE WITH A PLAQUE LISTING THE NAMES OF ALL AMERICAN WEST POINTERS WHO SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THUS PERPETUATE THEIR MEMORY.

   THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE HAS RECENTLY  APPROVED RELIC POINT AS THE SITE FOR THE PROPOSED MONUMENT  THAT  WILL ENSHRINE FOR POSTERITY THE CRITICAL ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION OF AMERICAN WEST POINTERS TO THE PHILIPPINES, PURSUANT TO THOSE THREE SACRED  WORDS INCULCATED  IN EACH  GRADUATE  OF THE ACADEMY- “DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.”