346:
obtain food and recruits on the plains than in more isolated areas. Lapham compared his role in his region of operation to that of a medieval aristocrat. The local people looked to him for a range of services in addition to his task of resistance to the
Japanese. His instructions to his subordinates reflect the broad responsibilities he assumed. His "squadrons" were to "gather intelligence, harass the Japanese, catch fifth columnists and traitors, protect people from Japanese and bandit predation, treat civilians fairly and humanely, try to keep up the morale of all Filipinos, and behave yourself." His top priority initially was to suppress banditry, thereby winning the support and confidence of the local people. Like a medieval king, he was constantly on the move from place to place supervising his domain.
493:
813 recognized casualties. However, sorting out the deserving from the fraudulent was difficult. Of more than a million claims for compensation in all the
Philippines, only 260,000 were approved. Lapham believed that most of his men were treated fairly, but was critical of U.S. policy toward the Philippines after the war. "If ever there was an ally of American whom we ought to have treated with generosity after the war, it was the Philippines." He said the U.S. Congress was "niggardly" with the Philippines, providing less money for rebuilding than that spent in many other countries, putting conditions on Philippine independence that favored U.S. business and military interests, and backing corrupt Filipino politicians who protected American, rather than Filipino, interests.
328:. Lupao and Umingan would be his bases until the end of the war. By the end of May 1942, Lapham had 21 volunteers and Short had a similar number. Lapham's Luzon Guerrilla Army Force (LGAF) would later dominate the resistance to the Japanese in the northern Luzon central plain. In exchange for local support, Lapham promised that, to avoid Japanese reprisals, he would not fight near his bases and that he would control the bands of outlaws and former soldiers who were ravaging the area. Lapham credited the desire of Filipinos to resist the Japanese for making him decide to become a guerrilla leader. He said that only a few of the hundreds of American soldiers who escaped capture at Bataan became guerrillas. Most died or were killed or attempted to blend into Philippine society.
100:
367:
165:
449:(POWs) in the Cabanatuan camp might be executed by the Japanese. The POWs, captured after the fall of Corregidor and Bataan in 1942, had not been shipped to Japan because they were considered too ill or unfit. Lapham was concerned the POWs would be executed before the camp could be liberated. His concerns were justified given the August 1944 Japanese War Ministry directive to commandants of POW camps outlining the final disposition of prisoners (known as the "August 1 Kill-All Order"), and the
81:
28:
123:
394:, Caranglan and Pantabangan, and a combat unit of southwest Pampanga under the command of Emilio and Tony Hernandez. Lapham also managed to evacuate Captain Wilbur Lage and other Americans to Australia via submarine. In mid-1944, he received radio transmitters and started sending intelligence information to Australia. This was followed by his receipt of 30 tons of supplies from the
492:
In 1947, Lapham returned to the
Philippines for five months as a consultant to the U.S. on the subject of compensation to Filipinos who had served as guerrillas during the war. He recognized 79 squadrons of guerrillas under his command with a total of 809 officers and 13,382 men. His command suffered
357:
Lapham was conscious of his image as a leader. He was clean shaven, attempted to dress neatly in semi-military clothing, and avoided liaisons with
Filipina women. Not all his men followed his lead. Hunt dressed like a "bandit," saluted with his left hand, and had a Filipina mistress. Lapham expressed
349:
Lapham refused to submit to attempts by
Volckmann to unite northern Luzon guerrilla units into a single command with Volckmann himself as the commander. Lapham's opinion was that the guerrilla units were scattered, communications were difficult, the guerrillas were too weak even in concert to take on
340:
Lapham was not a professional soldier and in the beginning had little concept of how to fight a guerrilla war. He received little guidance from more experienced superiors with whom his communication was sporadic and difficult. The organization he created was substantially different from those created
331:
According to Lapham, "Most (but not all) of the guerrilla leaders who died in the war were killed or captured in its first year while we were all learning how to operate. Those of us who had managed to eliminate or chase off spies and collaborators, who had learned how to win the support and trust of
345:
who also operated in northern Luzon. Anderson and
Volckmann established their bases in mountain redoubts, difficult to access and relatively safe from Japanese assault. By contrast, Lapham established his base on the densely populated central plains of Luzon. He said that it was much easier to
332:
civilians, who had succeeded in establishing effective spy systems of our own, who had learned when to hide out and when to show ourselves, and who had been lucky were still alive early in 1943—and most of us then made it to the end of the war." Among those killed was Albert Short.
231:. Historian Norling says that Laphams's Luzon Guerrilla Army Force (LGAF) was probably the most efficient of the many guerrilla armies on Luzon. The U.S. Guerrilla Affairs Division commended Lapham for having the best-disciplined guerrilla organization.
477:. The guerrillas guided the Rangers and set up roadblocks to prevent any Japanese reinforcements from reaching the camp. Pajota ambushed a relief mission of several hundred Japanese soldiers which was instrumental in ensuring a successful rescue.
311:
Lapham and
Sergeants Albert Short and Esteban Lumyeb, decided they would journey northward as they had heard rumors that Filipino resistance to the Japanese occupation was developing there. They made it to
354:, one of Lapham's commanders, refused to obey an order of Volckmann's and cast his lot with Lapham. The official U.S. Army historian also questions Volckmann's claim to command Lapham's guerrillas.)
295:, possibly killing several soldiers, but failing to capture food and supplies. They wandered through the mountains for a month, collecting lost American and Filipino soldiers and finally reaching
802:
350:
the
Japanese until near the end of the war, and that the challenges each guerrilla leader faced were different. Instructions dictated from a single leader would not be helpful.
358:
admiration for the same woman, a guerrilla named
Herminia "Minanga" Dizon, and also admiration for Hunt. Hunt said that Lapham was reasonable, a fighter, and not ambitious.
485:
Lapham left the
Philippines to return to the U.S. in 1945 and left the army in 1946. He married Scharlott Junge and returned to his old job with Burroughs (later
299:, where they established Camp Four or Camp Sanchez. The newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Thorp established radio communication with Bataan. After the fall of
501:
807:
787:
303:
on April 9, 1942, Thorp released his approximately one hundred men from following his orders, allowing them to surrender, stay or follow their own path.
513:
279:. Lapham joined Major Claude A. Thorp in organizing "a raiding party that would slip through Japanese lines", with the objective of sabotaging
792:
271:
After the successful Japanese attack on the Philippines on December 8, 1941, Lapham and his company, consisting of Filipino musicians and
216:
99:
382:
more than they had in 1942. This included 38 squadrons in Nueva Ecija under Captain Harry McKenzie, 15 in Pangasinan under Captain
324:
reported for duty there. Lapham left Short and Estipana there and went on with Lumyeb ten miles north to establish another camp in
430:
136:
320:, the last American outpost in the Philippines, fell on May 6. Sergeant Estipona and several other soldiers belonging to the
812:
426:
287:. On January 27, 1942, along with Thorp and a dozen others, Lapham slipped through Japanese lines and headed north into the
797:
729:
672:
618:
462:
228:
207:), evaded capture in the spring of 1942, and organized and led one of the largest and most successful
224:
613:
Lapham, R., and Norling, B., 1996, Lapham's Raiders, Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky,
538:
366:
403:
378:
under Lapham's command in the Luzon Guerrilla Armed Forces (LGAF), engaged in "harassing the
260:
248:
126:
243:
in 1939 with an ROTC 2nd lieutenant's commission in the Army Reserve, Lapham worked for the
782:
777:
395:
746:
8:
325:
696:
370:
Philippine historical marker for Dalton Pass and the role of Lapham's LGAF in the battle
458:
288:
272:
240:
103:
725:
668:
614:
342:
321:
284:
220:
204:
67:
454:
450:
446:
300:
276:
701:. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, Department of the Army. p. 76
275:, withdrew along with other American military units to defensive positions on the
414:
413:
On January 4, 1945, his forces initiated four days of sabotage in support of the
379:
375:
164:
50:
489:). In 1975, he retired as vice-president for industrial relations in Detroit.
418:
296:
280:
251:
before signing up for active duty in May 1941. He volunteered to serve in the
771:
528:
470:
442:
387:
181:
86:
548:
466:
196:
146:
523:
474:
422:
383:
351:
252:
200:
173:
441:
On January 26, 1945, Lapham made an emergency visit to U.S. forces near
341:
by more experienced soldiers such as Major Bernard L. Anderson and Col.
518:
317:
169:
215:. He was promoted to major by war's end, age 28, and was awarded the
191:(January 1, 1917 – December 18, 2003) was a reserve lieutenant in the
27:
391:
208:
543:
533:
502:
Ferdinand Marcos's fraudulent claims about his guerrilla activities
292:
662:
634:
667:. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 163–164.
244:
192:
122:
486:
256:
177:
386:, and six in Tarlac under Captain Al Hendrickson. He also had
803:
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
313:
212:
553:
639:. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky. p. 75
498:
Lapham’s Raiders: Guerrillas in the Philippines 1942-1945
211:
armies on the central plains of the northern island of
500:
opened a controversy about former Filipino President
656:
654:
457:on December 14, 1944. Lapham's efforts led to the
769:
223:. Lapham was the third person, after President
651:
514:List of American guerrillas in the Philippines
469:, and 400 of Lapham's guerrillas commanded by
417:. On January 8 Lapham linked up with General
402:in August 1944, and another 20 tons from the
808:Recipients of the Philippine Legion of Honor
788:United States Army personnel of World War II
698:U.S. Army Special Operations in World War II
660:
738:
694:
26:
628:
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609:
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744:
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579:
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571:
569:
365:
163:
661:Norling, Bernard; Hunt, Ray C. (2014).
632:
374:In 1943 and 1944, the estimated 13,000
306:
291:. They attacked a Japanese convoy near
259:on June 25, 1941, and was stationed at
770:
724:. New York: Viking. pp. 243–246.
719:
636:The Intrepid Guerrillas of North Luzon
623:
713:
566:
436:
335:
266:
745:Ariarte, Joel; Reyes, Miguel Paulo.
688:
168:Lapham operated in the provinces of
793:American guerrillas of World War II
13:
461:on January 30, 1945, by U.S. army
361:
14:
824:
283:, and gathering intelligence for
496:Lapham's story in his 1996 book
480:
445:, warning that the 513 American
121:
98:
79:
203:attached to the 45th Infantry (
32:Robert Lapham (third from left)
747:"File No. 60: A family affair"
227:and MacArthur, to receive the
1:
695:Hogan, Jr., David W. (1995).
559:
504:, heroism, valor and medals.
234:
813:Burroughs Corporation people
451:killing of 139 American POWs
429:, which was attached to the
7:
798:United States Army officers
507:
217:Distinguished Service Cross
156:Distinguished Service Cross
137:45th Infantry Regiment (PS)
10:
829:
229:Philippine Legion of Honor
158:Philippine Legion of Honor
633:Norling, Bernard (1999).
425:. Lapham then formed the
225:Franklin Delano Roosevelt
152:
142:
132:
117:
109:
92:
74:
57:
37:
25:
18:
87:United States of America
539:Philippine Constabulary
720:Eisner, Peter (2017).
371:
185:
664:Behind Japanese Lines
427:1st Infantry Regiment
369:
261:Fort William McKinley
249:Burroughs Corporation
167:
110:Years of service
307:Becoming a guerrilla
453:by the Japanese at
326:Umingan, Pangasinan
199:. He served in the
459:Raid at Cabanatuan
437:Raid at Cabanatuan
372:
336:Lapham as a leader
289:Zambales Mountains
273:military policemen
267:Escape from Bataan
241:University of Iowa
239:A graduate of the
186:
104:United States Army
722:MacArthur's Spies
343:Russell Volckmann
322:Philippine Scouts
285:General MacArthur
221:Douglas MacArthur
205:Philippine Scouts
162:
161:
68:Sun City, Arizona
61:December 18, 2003
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692:
686:
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683:
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630:
621:
611:
447:prisoners of war
277:Bataan Peninsula
125:
102:
94:
85:
83:
82:
64:
47:
45:
30:
16:
15:
828:
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755:
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631:
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612:
567:
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510:
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439:
433:on January 20.
415:Battle of Luzon
364:
362:Luzon guerrilla
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309:
269:
237:
157:
80:
78:
66:
62:
51:Davenport, Iowa
49:
48:January 1, 1917
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41:
33:
21:
12:
11:
5:
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541:
536:
531:
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509:
506:
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479:
438:
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419:Walter Krueger
408: (SS-168)
400: (SS-167)
363:
360:
337:
334:
308:
305:
297:Mount Pinatubo
268:
265:
247:branch of the
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233:
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119:
115:
114:
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107:
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96:
90:
89:
76:
72:
71:
65:(aged 86)
59:
55:
54:
39:
35:
34:
31:
23:
22:
19:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
825:
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748:
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731:9780525429654
727:
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674:9780813116044
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629:
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529:Benigno Ramos
527:
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512:
511:
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494:
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481:After the war
478:
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471:Eduardo Joson
468:
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460:
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448:
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443:Lingayen Gulf
434:
432:
431:25th Division
428:
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388:coast watcher
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198:
194:
190:
189:Robert Lapham
183:
182:Nueva Vizcaya
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88:
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69:
60:
56:
52:
40:
36:
29:
24:
20:Robert Lapham
17:
754:. Retrieved
750:
740:
721:
715:
703:. Retrieved
697:
690:
678:. Retrieved
663:
641:. Retrieved
635:
549:Hunters ROTC
497:
495:
491:
484:
467:Alamo Scouts
440:
412:
410:in October.
405:
397:
373:
356:
348:
339:
330:
310:
270:
238:
197:World War II
188:
187:
147:World War II
143:Battles/wars
63:(2003-12-18)
783:2003 deaths
778:1917 births
524:Juan Pajota
475:Juan Pajota
423:US 6th Army
384:Ray C. Hunt
352:Ray C. Hunt
281:Clark Field
253:Philippines
219:by General
201:Philippines
174:Nueva Ecija
772:Categories
751:Vera Files
705:17 January
680:19 January
643:19 January
619:0813119499
560:References
519:Luis Taruc
318:Corregidor
235:Early life
170:Pangasinan
75:Allegiance
44:1917-01-01
404:USS
396:USS
392:Baler Bay
390:units at
376:Filipinos
209:guerrilla
113:1941–1945
544:Makapili
534:KALIBAPI
508:See also
406:Nautilus
380:Japanese
293:Olongapo
93:Service/
463:Rangers
455:Palawan
398:Narwhal
245:Chicago
193:US Army
756:8 June
728:
671:
617:
487:Unisys
316:when
301:Bataan
257:Manila
180:, and
178:Tarlac
153:Awards
95:branch
84:
70:, U.S.
53:, U.S.
314:Lupao
213:Luzon
127:Major
758:2021
726:ISBN
707:2022
682:2022
669:ISBN
645:2022
615:ISBN
554:Huks
473:and
133:Unit
118:Rank
58:Died
38:Born
421:'s
195:in
774::
749:.
653:^
625:^
568:^
465:,
263:.
176:,
172:,
760:.
734:.
709:.
684:.
647:.
184:.
46:)
42:(
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