Location: Cervantes, Ilocos Sur (Region I)
Category: Sites/Events
Type: Site
Status: Level II – Historical marker
Marker date: 1954
Installed by: Philippines Historical Committee (PHC)
Marker text:
THE BATTLE OF BESSANG PASS
BEGAN WITH THE ASSAULT ON THE JAPANESE LINE AT BITALAG, TAGUDIN, ILOCOS SUR, BY THE UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES, NORTH LUZON (USAFIP, NL), 8 JANUARY 1945, FOLLOWED BY THE SEIZURE OF ENEMY STRONGHOLDS ALONG HIGHWAY 4 AND THE DEFEAT OF THE JAPANESE DEFENDERS OF THE PASS, 14 JUNE 1945. THE BATTLE SPEARHEADED BY THE 121ST INFANTRY, USAFIP, NL, WAS CONCEDED BY AMERICAN MILITARY AUTHORITIES AS “ONE OF THE MOST TERRIBLE AND INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT BATTLE OF THE ENTIRE WAR.” HASTENED THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE IMPERAL FORCES UNDER GENERAL TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA.
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED IN HONOR OF THE 3,400 MEN KILLED AND WOUNDED WHO FOUGHT GALLANTLY FOR FREEDOM AND PEACE.
