Operations of Company L, 31st Infantry (Philippine Division) Battle of Layac Junction, Bataan, P. I., 6-7 January 1942 (Philippine Island campaign) : personal experiences of a Company Commander / Major Donald G. Thompson
Title
Operations of Company L, 31st Infantry (Philippine Division) Battle of Layac Junction, Bataan, P. I., 6-7 January 1942 (Philippine Island campaign) : personal experiences of a Company Commander / Major Donald G. Thompson
Subject
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Philippines.
Description
Military monograph dealing with the operations of one American infantry company in the Battle of Layac Junction, January 6-7, 1942.
Based on the experience of the author, the commander of the company he describes, Thompson goes into detail on specific positions and actions when his company was ordered to counterattack to maintain the line and reinforce the Philippine Army’s 71st Division. The Layac Junction position was important to hold as it was the last main road junction before entering Bataan proper.
Critical of MacArthur’s decision to defend the beaches only to shift to War Plan Orange after the Japanese landed. The author notes the inability of most Americans to speak the local language; his regiment was the only American infantry unit in Bataan
Based on the experience of the author, the commander of the company he describes, Thompson goes into detail on specific positions and actions when his company was ordered to counterattack to maintain the line and reinforce the Philippine Army’s 71st Division. The Layac Junction position was important to hold as it was the last main road junction before entering Bataan proper.
Critical of MacArthur’s decision to defend the beaches only to shift to War Plan Orange after the Japanese landed. The author notes the inability of most Americans to speak the local language; his regiment was the only American infantry unit in Bataan
Creator
Thompson, Donald G., Major
Publisher
The Infantry School
Date
1948
Format
32 x 25 cm.
application/pdf (.pdf) 655 KB
Type
Manuscript (Loose-leaf with binder)
Call Number
MS RH 14
Accession Number
16172
Pagination
20 leaves
Accompanying Materials
1 compact disc (digital ; 4 3/4 cm.)
Files
Collection
Citation
Thompson, Donald G., Major, “Operations of Company L, 31st Infantry (Philippine Division) Battle of Layac Junction, Bataan, P. I., 6-7 January 1942 (Philippine Island campaign) : personal experiences of a Company Commander / Major Donald G. Thompson,” FHL-Roderick Hall, accessed December 6, 2025, https://fhl.omeka.net/items/show/544.