22 December, 1941
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
The Japanese 14th Army under the command of Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma landed in Lingayen Gulf, Pangasinan, overpowering the 11th and 21st Divisions of the Philippine Army.
From Teodoro M. Locsin’s diary entry for this day: Early this morning USAFFE headquarters declared that there was increased activity south of Vigan, but nothing serious, it said reassuringly, had developed. Then, at 11, came this: “There was sighted this morning off Lingayen Gulf a huge enemy fleet estimated at 80 transports. Undoubtedly this is a major expeditionary drive aimed at the Philippines.”
Meanwhile, Ramon A. Alcaraz writes: I had lunch at USAFFE HQ today with my friend, Sid Huff, and was surprised about his conversion from Lt. (SG) USN to Major US Army now Aide to Gen. MacArthur. The latest info he gave me is about an armada of Japanese invasion ships heading for Lingayen Gulf. Another enemy group is heading towards eastern Luzon. Apparently, the earlier reported enemy landings in Aparri, Vigan, Legaspi and Davao were diversionary recon in force.
(Ref: history.army.mil; Photo from weaponsandwarfare.com/2016/03/28/homma-masaharu-1887-1946/)
