Battle of Digos 1941

Battle of Digos
Part of Battle of Mindanao
Date December 31, 1941 – May 10, 1942 Location Digos, Davao Result Digos Force retreated towards Kabacan Territorial changes Southern Davao Province captured by Japanese forces
Belligerents
United States  Commonwealth of the Philippines	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Reed Graves John H. McGee Howard Perry Howard Frissell Manuel Acosta	Tanaka Raizo Muira Tushio
Units involved
"Ground Forces": Philippine Commonwealth Army 3/101st Infantry 3/102nd Infantry 1/103rd Infantry 1/101st Field Artillery 3/101st Field Artillery 101st Division Special Troops Artillery Detachment Philippine Constabulary 3rd PC Regiment	Ground units: Japanese Fourteenth Army 1/33rd Infantry Naval units: Japanese Imperial Navy 2nd Fleet 11th Air Fleet Kure Special Naval Landing Force
Strength
4,000 Troops 2 QF2.95inch Mountain Guns	3000 Troops 12 Tanks 1 Light Carrier 4 Destroyers 6 Transports

After Davao Force was dispersed on December 24, 1941, they went missing and no contact, General Joseph Vachon sent Lieutenant Colonel Howard Frissell to Digos, Davao and setup defense of Digos Junction area to prevent Japanese drive towards Digos-Pikit road and reaching Kabacan the southern terminus of Sayre Highway.^[1]

The Digos Force of Cotabato-Davao Sector held the Japanese for four months despite lack artillery guns and ammunition.^[1] The landing of one of the group of Sakaguchi detachment in Cotabato City and made a landing head to Pikit and Midsayap through the Mindanao River on April 28, 1942, made 101st Division commander General Vachon to order Digos Force to retreat towards Kabacan in fear of being cut off as Japanese are now fighting at the vicinity of Kabacan.^[1]