| Unit Name: | Negros Force |
| Dates: | September 1, 1941 – May 12, 1942 |
| Disbanded: | May 12, 1942 |
| Countries: | United States |
| Branch: | Army, navy, air corps |
| Type: | Infantry |
| Role: | Territorial Defense |
| Size: | 2,500 |
| Command Structure: | Visayan Force |
| Garrison: | La Castellana, negros |
| Notable Commanders: | Colonel Roger Hilsman, USA Colonel Carter McClennan, USA Colonel Roger Hilsman, USA Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Gador, PA (Acting) |
Negros Force was activated by USAFFE on September 1, 1941, to May 12, 1942. The force did not fought during the war but played in organizing units deployed to different sector. The force also continued to fight as a guerilla after the surrender. Although the two provinces was never united due to different affiliation of the commanders.
It was organized after 71st Infantry Division was ordered transfer to Luzon. The only remaining combat unit remained in the island is the 73rd Infantry Regiment under Major Robert H. Vessey. USAFFE Headquarters ordered 61st Infantry Division to transfer 61st Infantry Regiment to Negros Island in October 1941 to take the defense of Negros Occidental. Having two infantry regiments in the Island seems formidable but the lack of weapons, ammunitions, no artillery pieces.[1]
Training went ahead for both regiments when war in the Philippines commenced on December 8, 1941, where Clark Air Base and other military installations in Luzon was bombed. On January 4, 1942, Visayas-Mindanao Force commander Brigadier General William F. Sharp ordered both 73rd Infantry and 61st Infantry Regiments transfer to Mindanao Island via Iligan route. These regiments left for Mindanao on January 5, 1942. Only trainees and PC Companies for Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental province was left on the island.
Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Gador of the Philippine Army commander of the 7th Military District assumed command and took action in organizing two infantry regiments 74th Provisional Infantry Regiment and 75th Provisional Infantry Regiments.
When 71st Infantry Division the island has no single commander although Colonel Eugene Mitchell was the senior officers in the island he is only authorized to command 61st Infantry which covers Negros Occidental and Major Robert H. Vessey commanded 73rd Infantry which covers the southeast part of the island. Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Gador assumed command when 73rd Infantry and 61st Infantry left for Mindanao, however he was ordered to move to Mindanao and VMF sent Colonel Roger Hilsman to command on February 8, 1942.[2] Due to his failing help General Chynoweth ordered Hilsman to Cebu to become his Chief of Staff and avail medical services. Chynoweth ordered Colonel Carter McClennan from Panay to move to Negros to take command. A day after Hilsman moved to Cebu the Japanese invaded Cebu and after two days the command was lost. Hilsman crossed back to Negros to assume command. Colonel McClennan being the junior slid to being executive officer and by the time Visayan Force surrendered it was McClennan who acted as commander.
In January 1942, General Sharp ordered Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Gador to assumed command of Negros, he assembled his staffs 1Lieutenant Ceferino Martinez as Adjutant; Major Tiburcio Ballesteros as Quartermaster Officer; Captain Romeo Intengan, Finance Officer; Captain Francisco Serrano, Medical Officer; 1Lieutenant Augusto Alfonso, Engineer Officer; 1Lieutenant Eligio Cruz, Censor Officer; 1Lieutenant Fidel Soliven Jr., Detachment Commander (Internee Camp).
In March, we Hilsman assumed command of Negros he reassembled his staffs for Negros Force, Major Licerio Balolong as his Executive Officer, Captain Sinforoso Menchavez as Adjutant and G1; Captain Francisco Gomez G2; Major Salvador Abcede as his G3 Operations Officer, Major Vicente Geroso, G-4. Major Tiburcio Ballesteros became the Inspector General, Captain Romeo Intengan, Finance Officer; Captain Francisco Serrano, Medical Officer, 1Lieutenant Alfonso, Engineer Officer. Later Colonel Carter McClellan was ordered to transfer to Negros and assumed as Executive Officer vice Lieutenant Colonel Licerio Balolong, PA.
On orders of General Bradford Chynoweth, Hilsman was transferred to Cebu to become his Chief of Staff in late March. McClellan assumed as acting commander and Lieutenant Colonel Licerio Balolong reassumed as Executive Officer. Major Sinforoso Menchavez as Adjutant & G1, 1LIeutenant Eduardo Mantilla, G2 & G3; Major Vicente Geroso, G4; Major Romeo Intengan, Finance Officer; Captain Francisco Serrano, Medical Officer; 1Lieutenant Augusto Alfonso, Engineer Officer; Major Sam Jones, CO, 74th Inf; Lieutenant Colonel Tiburcio Ballesteros, CO, 75th Inf.
The most important event that took place in the island was President and Vice President of the Philippine Commonwealth stop over in Negros island from Corregidor island. President Manuel Quezon aboard Princess of Negros docked in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental on March 14, 1942. Followed by Vice President Sergio Osmeña on March 15. The stopover created a fuzzed among commanders due to the safety of these dignitaries and their parties. Among them are Philippine Commonwealth Army Chief of Staff Major General Basilio Valdes and President's family. No one bothered to advise the president to leave the soonest to Mindanao as Japanese activities in Visayan waters has intensified not even the island commander Colonel Hilsman. In March 15, Brigadier General Bradford Chynoweth the newly appointed commander of newly created Visayan Force passed through to Negros to established headquarters in Cebu. Hilsman met him at Pulupandan port and brought the matter to Chynoweth on President's presence in the island what it brought immense worries. Chynoweth promised to message the president after reaching Cebu.
In March 16, just as Chynoweth off board from a ferry in Toledo, a cruiser appeared and shelled both Toledo, Cebu and San Carlos, Negros Oriental. President's ship Princess of Negros was docked in San Carlos was captured by the Japanese. The incident gave a proof on the worries of Hilsman for the President and his party to leave the island the soonest for safety reason. Chynoweth sent a message from Cebu to Hilsman to be conveyed to the President to leave the island the soonest. This did not sit well with the President Quezon and went berserk on Chynoweth but the trip was already arranged with USFIP coordination.
The President and his party crossed to Mindanao using PT Boats of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 6 under Lieutenant Bulkeley. Due to the hastily arranged departure and limited space of PT Boat some of the luggage was left at the port in Dumaguete. The President and his party landed in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental the following morning. This gave a relief for Colonel Hilsman and his troops to continue training and preparation.[3]
Colonel Roger Hilsman arrived in the island on February 8, 1942, from VMF Headquarters to command. Hilsman commanded the Defense force in Davao City on mid-December 1941. He immediately reorganized the Negros Force, Lieutenant Colonel Gador was ordered to Mindanao by VMF, Major Salvador Abcede, PA took over command of 7th Military District.
On April 9, 1942 Kawaguchi detachment left Lingayen Gulf for Cebu with 11 transports escorted by 3 destroyers and 2 Cruisers. On April 16, 1942 Kawamura detachment left Lingayen to secure the island of Panay. When Cebu island was secured 10th Independent Garrison took over as well as Panay for Kawamura and Kawaguchi detachments free for the island of Mindanao operations.[4]
The Japanese commander in Cebu sent emissaries to Negros discuss surrender but Colonel Hilsman rejected. However, order to surrender received at the Negros Force headquarters from Visayas-Mindanao Force on May 12, 1942.[5] All commanders were ordered to surrender along with his men but Major Salvador Abcede and Captain Ernesto Mata did not surrender. Escaped to the mountains and continue to fight as guerillas.