Robert Lapham

Robert Lapham
Robert Lapham (third from left)
Born(1917-01-01)January 1, 1917
Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2003(2003-12-18) (aged 86)
Sun City, Arizona, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army seal United States Army
Years of service1941–1945
Rank Major
Unit45th Infantry Regiment (PS)
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Philippine Legion of Honor
Lapham operated in the provinces of Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Nueva Vizcaya.

Robert Lapham (January 1, 1917 – December 18, 2003) was a reserve lieutenant in the US Army in World War II. He served in the Philippines attached to the 45th Infantry (Philippine Scouts),[1]: 4  evaded capture in the spring of 1942, and organized and led one of the largest and most successful guerrilla armies on the central plains of the northern island of Luzon. He was promoted to major by war's end, age 28, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Douglas MacArthur. Lapham was the third person, after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and MacArthur, to receive the Philippine Legion of Honor.[1]: 241  Historian Norling says that Laphams's Luzon Guerrilla Army Force (LGAF) was probably the most efficient of the many guerrilla armies on Luzon. The U.S. Guerrilla Affairs Division commended Lapham for having the best-disciplined guerrilla organization.[2]: 140 

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Lapham was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Norling was invoked but never defined (see the help page).