The Liberation of Cebu

Exactly 56 years ago of March 25, preparations for the liberation of Cebu began to unfold with the scrambling of air force squadrons and the departure in Tacloban of naval ships bound for the island province. 

By dawn of March 26, 1946, bombers began clearing Japanese resistance in Talisay beach, culminating with the landing of infantry battalions b 8:30 a.m., albeit with heavy casualties due to land mines planted along the coast by retreating Japanese soldiers. The following day, soldiers from the 132nd and 182nd U.S. Infantry Regiments entered Cebu City with no resistance, ending the Japanese occupation of the city, which began almost three years to the fateful day.

The Japanese had apparently decided to retreat to the hills and the suburbs, resulting in some of the most memorable and fiercely fought battles for control of strategic areas surrounding the city. The first of these was the battle for Lahug airfield which lasted from March 27-30, where U.S. soldiers met their first organized resistance from the Japanese.

While the battle ensued, another regiment began landing in Opon to reclaim the Mactan air-strip. The strongest resistance from the Japanese came on March 30 in the battle of Go Chan Hill in which the 182nd Infantry Regiment fought gallantly against entrenched Japanese soldiers. By dusk the following day, the enemy began retreating into the outlaying towns of Cebu, while fighting continued in the Buhisan Reservoir, cutting off water supply until April 2 when American soldiers finally cleared the area.

- Ybarra