Philippine Scouts
Philippine Scouts were native Filipinos attached to the US Army's Philippine Department prior to, and during, World War II. These troops were generally enlisted and under the command of American officers, however, a handful of Filipinos did receive commissions from the United States Military Academy. Philippine Scout units are sometimes given a suffix of (PS), so as to distinguish them from, non-PS, US Army units of the same designation.
Philippine Scout formations were segregated. The first such units were raised, in 1899, to reinforce the US Army during the Philippine-American War. In 1919-20, the PS units were regrouped and redesignated as the 43rd, 45th, and 57th Infantry Regiments, plus, the 24th and 25th Field Artillery Regiment, and the 26th Cavalry Regiment. Service and support formations were also organized as coastal artillery, medical, and quartermaster units. There was also the integrated Filipino/American 808th Military Police Company.
In the 1930s, Philippine Scouts, along with the US 31st Infantry Regiment, saw action at Jolo, Palawan.
Philippine Scouts and the Philippine Department
At the time of USAFFE's formation, the unit consisted of 22,532 troops, of which 11,972 were Philippine Scouts.
Of the 22,532 troops, 10,473 were members of the Philippine Division, itself containing 2,552 Americans and 7,921 Filipinos. All of the division's enlisted men, with the exception of the 31st Infantry Regiment and various military police and headquarters troops, were Philippine Scouts.
Philippine Scout Officers within the Philippine Division, July 1941
In July of 1941, there were 15 Philippine Scout Officers within the Philippine Division. 2 were in the Headquarters, 2 were amongst the Special Troops, 3 in the 45th Infantry Regiment (PS), 1 in the 57th Infantry Regiment (PS), 5 in the 24th Field Artillery Regiment (PS), 1 in the 12th Quartermaster Regiment (PS), and 1 in the 14th Engineering Regiment (PS).
Bibliography
- The Philippine Scouts -- ed. Colonel John Olson (2002)