| Visayas-Mindanao Force | |
|---|---|
| Southern Islands Defense Force | |
| Active | November 10, 1941 - March 17, 1942 May 7, 1942 - May 9, 1942 |
| Disbanded | May 9, 1942 |
| Country |  United States of America Commonwealth of the Philippines |
| Allegiance | Philippine Army Philippine Scouts Philippine Constabulary United States Army United States Army Air Forces |
| Branch | Army, Army Air Force |
| Type | Infantry, Artillery, Engineers, Quartermasters |
| Role | Territorial Defense |
| Size | 48,000 |
| Part of | United States Forces in the Philippines United States Army Forces in the Far East |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Casisang, Bukidnon Del Monte Fields, Bukidnon Fort San Pedro, Cebu City, Cebu |
| Equipment | M1935 Transport Trucks Willy MB Jeeps |
| Engagements | Japanese Invasion of Sulu Battle of Davao |
| Decorations | US Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation |
| Battle honours | US Presidential Unit Citation |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Major General William F. Sharp |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | B17 Boeing Flying Fortress |
| Fighter | P40 Curtiss Warhawks |
| Transport | C47 Skymaster |
Visayas-Mindanao Force (Filipino: Hukbong Lakas ng Visayas at Mindanao; Cebuano: Puwersa sa Visayas ug Mindanao) was a military formation created in November 1941 to command all soldiers of US Army, US Philippine Scouts, Philippine Army, and Philippine Constabulary in the southern islands (Visayas and Mindanao) of the Philippines. Colonel William F. Sharp was appointed as commanding general and was promoted to Brigadier General in November 1941 and later Major General. His executive officer was Major Howard Edmands. He was just starting to organize his command and train his soldiers into a fighting unit when the war started on December 7, 1941.[1]
General Sharp was ordered to organize the coastal defenses, construct more airfields, recruit, and trained soldiers. He took Colonel John W. Thompson as Chief of Staff and Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Mixson as deputy chief of staff to help him organize the command. Along with Lieutenant Colonel Howard R. Perry as G1, Lieutenant Colonel Charles I. Humber as G2, Lieutenant Colonel W.L. Robinson as G3, and Lieutenant Colonel Robert D. Johnston as G4.
Before war started, Visayas-Mindanao Force had five Divisions of Philippine Army, one Battalion of Philippine Scouts and various Philippine Constabulary personnel. However, 71st and 91st Divisions were ordered to transfer to Luzon Island in November 1941 leaving their last infantry regiment who is still organizing. With only 61st Infantry Division under Brigadier General Bradford Chynoweth located in Panay and Negros, 81st Infantry Division under Brigadier General Guy O. Fort a long time constabulary officer, and 101st Infantry Division under Brigadier General Joseph Vachon which are still undergoing training. General Sharp received another order from General MacArthur to move bulk of his forces to Mindanao along with his headquarters.[2] He moved his headquarters to Del Monte Fields in Bukidnon and brought along 81st Infantry Division Headquarters and assigned to Dansalan in Lanao. He also transferred1st Battalion/82nd Infantry to Davao Area, also ordered to transfer to Mindanao are 61st Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Mitchell, 73rd Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Robert Vessey, 61st Field Artillery Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Hiram Tarkington, and 81st Field Artillery Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel John M. Woodridge. Later Leyte Brigade under Lieutenant Colonel Ben-Hur Chastaine which included 81st Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Ruperto Kangleon and 93rd Infantry Regiment under Major John Goldtrap to cover the Northeast area of Mindanao including Northern Davao Province.
- ^ "HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Fall of the Philippines [Chapter 4]". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
- ^ "HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Fall of the Philippines [Chapter 28]". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2023-12-24.