American Assault in Talisay, 1945

55 years ago, saw the return of the Americans and the beginning of the end of the Japanese occupation of Cebu.

Dawn of March 26, 1945, a combined force of the U.S. Eighth Army and Seventh Fleet moved in to "liberate" Cebu assigned as ground troops was the famous American Division under Major General William H. Arnold, while a naval task group under Captain Albert T. Sprague provided support.

Pre-landing bombardment took place from 7 a.m. to 8:22 a.m., after which infantry landing crafts, including amphibious tracked vehicles, raced towards the beaches of Talisay, Cebu. The first wave of assault troops touched down at 8:28 a.m. and others followed at three minutes intervals. All told, the Americans landed two regiments of troops.

Japanese resistance to the landing was fierce and the advance of the Americans towards Cebu City was held up by an elaborate network of land mines and obstacles (antitank ditches, concrete barriers, bamboo stakes), including intense fire from Japanese bunkers.

The entry of the American Division into Cebu City on March 27 was proceded by bombing and strafing runs by American B-24s and B-25s which left the city devastated.

The battle to liberate Cebu island was to last until late April. "The Cebu fight was the hardest of them all," said General Robert Eichelberger, commander of the U.S. Eighth army. After it was over, there were 410 Americans killed and 1,700 wounded. The Japanese lost 5,500 men. Filipino guerillas and civilian casualties were unaccounted.

Source from Sun*Star Weekend
By Ybarra