Lapham's Raiders: Guerrillas in the Philippines 1942-1945 by Robert Lapham and Bernard Norling

Length: 292 pages including index

This is the story told by the man himself of his time leading Filipino guerrillas on Luzon during the years of Japanese occupation. We start with Lapham going into the ROTC in college and deciding to go active in 1941 rather than get drafted. He is sent to Luzon as a lieutenant of infantry.

When Japan invades, he fights in Bataan for a time and is then sent with other officers to penetrate enemy lines and organize guerrilla fighters in the Luzon central plain. Lapham talks of how they first cleared out bandits from the operational area, which endeared the locals to them and fostered the cooperation Lapham and his men would need. His mandate, as with the other guerrilla forces, was to gather info on the Japanese, and pass it back to Australia.

He also talks about dealing with the Huks, or Communists, who would try to muscle in on their turf, and on the squabbles he would have with other American officers in other areas as to who was in charge where and so on.

They get their first radio and other supplies by submarine in late 1944, although other guerrillas had their own radios before. They finally get to engage in larger battles with the enemy as American forces land at Lingayen Gulf in 1945. Lapham goes on to describe the sorting out of real fighters from the frauds who tried to claim more glory than they were due, such as Ferdinand Marcos.

This work has tales of close escapes and the efforts Filipinos and Americans made in the liberation of the islands. He is well read and make many references to other conflicts. It does, however, sometimes make it seem like he's more adept at giving opinions than telling us about operations.

I give this 3 stars out of 5.

 

I’ve read up on Lapham’s book too. The man had his work cut out for him. Also I’ve read a lot on the guerrilla movements on the other islands too. The stuff they endured is mind boggling to say the least.

You should read up on Wendell Fertig now. He headed up the guerrilla effort on Mindanao. Ended up controlling 85% of Mindanao by the time US forces invaded. Really got screwed by McArthur after the war. Fascinating story.

 

I am reading the book on Fertig. It's getting good now that they're talking about the battles.

 

Read that some of the guys of Torpedo (Boat) Squadron 3 went into the jungle with Fertig instead of surrendering.