The Battle of Bacsil Ridge

The Battle of Bacsil Ridge was fought in March 1945 was one of the continued main battles of the
Philippines Campaign of the Second World War are between the Filipino soldiers under the 121st
Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL, under the command of Russell W.
Volckmann, and the Japanese Imperial forces under by General Tomoyuki Yamashita.[7]
The Battle of Bacsil Ridge ended the month-long battle for control of San Fernando. The Japanese
defenders called the Hayashi Detachment, composed of 3,000 armed troops and 2,000 unarmed
support forces, took hold of San Fernando and its surrounding areas which denied entry to the port
of the city and a road leading to Baguio City. As part of the San Fernando-Bacsil Operations, the 1st
Battalion of 121st Infantry were sent to loosen the enemy positions starting late February with the
assistance of the Allied Air Force.
The 1st Battalion made a general attack to the ridge on March 16, 1945, and fought the Japanese
defenders until the capture of Bacsil on March 19. On the same day, the 3rd battalion captured
Reservoir Hill. The Battle of Bacsil Ridge between the Filipino guerrillas and the Japanese Forces
resulted in the recapture of the city of San Fernando, La Union. which resulted in the capture of San
Fernando, La Union on March 23, 1945, and Bacnotan, La Union and the military offensive
throughout the province ended on March 24 after two months of fighting