| Unit Name: | 81st Division |
| Dates: | 1941 - 10 May 1942 |
| Branch: | Philippine Army |
| Type: | Infantry Division |
| Role: | Infantry |
| Size: | 6,000 |
| Command Structure: | Mindanao Force Visayas-Mindanao Force |
| Current Commander: | Col. (later BGen.) Guy O. Fort |
| Garrison: | Camp Kiethley, Dansalan (Marawi), Lanao Carmen, Bohol |
| Commander1 Label: | Commander |
| Ceremonial Chief: | LCol. Calixto Duque Capt. Floyd Forte |
| Commander2 Label: | Chief of Staff |
| Commander3: | Aide de Camp - Maj Floyd Forte |
| Commander3 Label: | Personnel Staff |
| Commander4: | G3 Operations - Maj Dominador GarciaG4 Supply - Maj Lawrence Pritchard |
| Commander4 Label: | General Staffs |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Notable Commanders: | Brigadier General Guy O. Fort |
The 81st Infantry Division was a reserve division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). It was established in the prewar period and fought 1941–1942. Its troops are from Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte but most of its troops are Americans and junior officers are Filipinos coming mostly from Luzon. The division served in defense of Mindanao but it never commanded the 4 of its maneuver regiments but was supplemented with 61st Infantry from Panay and 73rd Infantry from Negros. Also, 2nd Regular Regiment was transferred to its command in the early part of Japanese invasion of Mindanao.
It was active from 1941 to 10 May 1942, whereupon it surrendered after entire defending forces in the Philippines surrendered. It was activated in Cebu, Bohol, and Southern Leyte. Colonel (later Brigadier General) Guy O. Fort (PA) a long time PC officer was appointed as division commander in November 1941, and was later tortured and executed by the Japanese, apparently because he would not comply with their frustrated attempts to use him for propaganda in Mindanao.
The 81st Division was known as utilizing the Moro Bolo Battalions that their use of the bolo, a machete-like tool.[1]
After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December 1941, it formed part of Visayas-Mindanao Force under Brigadier General (later Major General) William F. Sharp, HQ originally at Cebu City and later in Camp X in Toledo located in central in Cebu. 81st Infantry was relocated in Southern Leyte under Lieutenant Colonel Ruperto Kangleon, to form the Samar Brigade after 91st Infantry Division was shifted to Luzon on September 1941. 82nd Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Emigdio David located in Pinamungajan in southern Cebu and held its training in Tubigon, Bohol where its 2nd Battalion under Major Arthur Grimes is organizing defense of entire Bohol island. 83rd Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Fortunato Borbon was located in the town of Medillin in Northern Cebu, 81st Field Artillery Regiment's guns didn't reached them as SS Corregidor carrying them sunk in Manila Bay when it hit a mine. It was to reorganized to fight as infantry under Lieutenant Colonel John M. Woodridge, USA.
Division staffs are organized by Captain Floyd Forte and took role as acting Chief of Staff. However, Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Duque took over as Division Chief of Staff on February 1942, Major Dominador Garcia is the G3 Operations. Lt. Col Barnes the division medical officer, Major Luther Heidger the division surgeon, 1Lt. Robert Pratt division finance officer, and 1Lt. Landis Doner, division quartermaster.
2nd Battalion 82nd Infantry under 1Lieutenant Luis Jakosalem was sent to Mindanao to augment the Davao subsector under Lieutenant Colonel Roger Hilsman in early December 1941, they are the first element to engaged Japanese forces. Upon transfer Major Alvin T. Wilson took over the command of the battalion and was assigned to the southern part covering the Daliao-Talomo-Matina road. They put up a stubborn resistance inflicting casualties to Sakaguchi Detachment. However, due to strong air and naval support they were pulled out and eventually have to retreat towards Bukidnon. Some went to inland and re-join other USAFFE units, later they were assigned under communication zone under Major Frank McGee who used to command 2nd Battalion 101st Infantry back in Davao City, the battalion wasn't able to re-join neither the regiment of the division.
In January 1942 General Fort along 81st Division Headquarters, 81st Engineer, and 81st Medical Battalion was ordered to Mindanao island and assigned in Lanao sector which General Fort assumed as sector commander. 2nd Regular Infantry Regiment under LCol Calixto Duque was absorbed into the division and 61st Infantry Regiment under LCol Eugene Mitchell from Panay and 73rd Infantry Regiment under LCol Robert Vessey from Negros island also attached.. There are no artillery unit in the division so it have to rely on the Field Artillery Detachment of Mindanao Force. Lacking its 3rd Infantry regiment, Fort organized 84th Infantry Regiment under Major Jay Navin made up of Moros, it was called Moro Bolo Battalion as they don't have rifles as weapon only Bolo and Kris.81st Infantry Regiment was transferred to Agusan Sector and commanded by LCol Arden R. Boellner as Lieutenant Colonel Ruperto Kangleon was designated as Brigade executive officer. Later LCol. William Van Norstrand assumed command as Colonel Boellner was appointed as chief of staff of 102nd Division. 81st Field Artillery Regiment went to Mindanao Force reserve and later attached to 102nd Infantry Division. Remaining units of the division that remained in Cebu island, the 82nd Infantry and 83rd Infantry Regiments along with Cebu Military Police Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Howard Edmands are organized as Cebu Brigade under Colonel Irvine Schudder.[2]
Kawaguchi Detachment of 18th Division IJA landed in both Parang town in Cotabato province and Malabang in Lanao Province. 2nd Regular Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Duque to oppose landing in Parang,Cotabato but he was under 101st Infantry Division jurisdiction and 61st Infantry Regiment to oppose landing in Malabang. 2nd Regular Regiment gave formidable defense but had to withdraw to avoid being flank as units from 101st Division defending Davao-Cotabato road retreated . 61st Infantry in Malabang didn't fare to the more experienced and modern weapons of Japanese and have to withdraw. 2nd Regiment Regiment was transferred to General Fort's command upon its retreat to Lanao. LCol. Eugene Mitchell commander of 61st Infantry tried to mount another defensive lines but his troops are annihilated and have to withdraw and in the chaos he was captured. 73rd Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Vessey took over the fight in Dansalan and Iligan subsector. Took stragglers from 61st Infantry and constabularymen, preventing to Japanese from reaching Cagayan sector to link with Kawamura detachment.
Division was still giving a good fight in Lanao sector when it was ordered by MGen. Sharp to surrender which General Fort reluctantly complied. General Sharp sent an emissary to ensure General Fort compliance in Lanao. It surrendered in Lanao but American and Filipino soldiers who refused to surrender went to the hills and started a guerilla warfare. Among them are LCol. Wendell Fertig in Lanao area and Col. Ruperto Kangleon who went back Leyte after escaping and established his own guerilla unit there.Majority of the 81st Division went through Mindanao death march where POWs were forced to marched from Camp Keithely in Dansalan to Camp Overton in Iligan without food, water, and sick. After two days they were shipped to Cagayan de Oro and trucked to Camp Casisang in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
General Guy O. Fort was executed by Japanese when he refused to convince his soldiers who went to mountains to fight as guerillas to surrender.
81st Infantry Division was not immediately reactivated after the war. It was however reactivated as Standby Reserve division under the Philippine Army Reserve Command in 1996[4] and moved its headquarters in Camp Downes in Ormoc City in Leyte Island.