REMEMBER AND COMMEMORATE THE VICTORY AT THE BATTLE OF BESSANG PASS, 1945 (tags)
On June 14, 1945, one of the greatest battle of World War II ended in a victory for the Filipino and American soldiers in Bessang Pass, in the Cordilleras Northern Luzon, Philippines. Before the light of day, on June 14, 1945, units of the 121st Infantry launched the final assault of Bucual Ridge, In dramatic but costly rushes they obliterated the last enemy soldier on Bessang Pass. To the end with flourish, the greatest feat of Filipino arms in modern times, the Filipinos secured the hill held by the Japanese Imperial army. It was a payback for the defeat in Bataan, three years ago. Presidential Citation No higher honors can be bestowed on the heroes of the battle of Bessang Pass , who avenged the defeat of Bataan and Corregidor than the tribute of President Elpidio Quirino in 1952 to the United States Forces in Northern Luzon (USFIP-NL) during the 7th anniversary of the Battle of Bessang Pass: ?To win the liberation of Northen Luzon in which the USFIP-NL played a a major role, you accomplished no ordinary achievement. Your battle of bessang Pass in eastern ilocos Sur in n1945, for instance stands out prominently as one of the major decisive battles of the Philippine Liberation Campaign.?
UFAV Commander Maj. Crescencio E. Abad, 88 (tags)
Commander Crescencio E. Abad, past president of the Filipino World War II veterans group –the United Filipino American Veterans (UFAV) based in Los Angeles passed away last August 2, 2008. He was 88 years old. Cmdr. Cres Abad was a World War II Bataan veteran and fought under the USAFFE. He belonged to the 301st Field Artillery Battery of the 21st FA of the USAFFE. He was also a survivor of the infamous Death March. He later served as a guerilla serving under the USFIP-NL and fought at the famous Battle of Bessang Pass. He served as an adjutant and S1 of the 21st FA Battery of the USFIP-NL that supported the troops that forced the surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Baguio City 1945. He served under the US Army Philippine Scouts and was discharged from the US Army in 1949. He retired as a major under the Philippine Army and became a lawyer and an M.P.A graduate.