SECRET Route Sketch H.Q. 126 R.C.T.

1945 Sweet SECRET WWII Manuscript Map of the Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippines

Published by Publication Date: 1945

Good. Manuscript pencil drawn on wax paper. Exhibits light wear along original fold lines. Address written in ink on verso. Size 10.5 x 8 Inches. An ephemeral and rare find, this is a 'SECRET' 1945 World War II manuscript 'route map' of the Philippines drawn for the Battle of Luzon Villa Verde Trail, May 21, 1945. Drawn by Major John Sweet, the map traces the 126th Infantry Regiment's movement around a ridge in central Luzon to outflank the Japanese on the Villa Verde Trail. A Closer Look Laberled 'SECRET' as it was drawn when this information was of the utmost military sensitivity, coverage encompasses parts of the modern-day provinces of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon. Sweet notes the regiment's progress, mile by mile, and labels the locations they encounter: Santa Maria, Tayug, Umingan, Lupao, and San Jose, among others. Sweet also marks the regiment's headquarters, command post, and individual battalions, as well as the location of two engineer battalions. The route south to San Jose follows the Tayug - San Quintin Road and the San Jose - Umingan Road. The route north from San Jose closely follows today's Pan-Philippine Highway. The 126th Infantry Regiment, the Villa Verde Trail The 32nd Division (of which the 126th was a part) landed at Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. It was tasked with holding a defensive line north of the XIV Corps as it raced toward Manila. A large Japanese force occupied northern Luzon and threatened American positions to the south. Once Manila was liberated, divisions were tasked with attacking the Japanese positions in northern Luzon. The 32nd Division was assigned three river valleys and the Villa Verde Trail, an area that transitioned from plains to mountains. The assault started on February 25 along the Ambayabang River. The Division soon encountered fierce fighting, at times so intense that progress was measured in inches. This continued through March, April, and May, with the 32nd Division suffering ever-mounting casualties. The final phase of fighting, which the present map describes, took place from May 5 through May 31 along the Villa Verde Trail itself. The operation to clear the Villa Verde Trail cost the 126th Infantry Regiment dearly, resulting in 2,985 casualties. Publication History and Census This map was drawn by Major John Sweet on wax paper, likely while in the Philippines and possibly even during the Villa Verde Trail operation. He then mailed it to Lieutenant Commander Stanley L. Drexler in Washington, D.C. As this is a manuscript map, this piece is unique. Seller Inventory # RouteSketchPhilippines-sweet-1945

Bibliographic Details

Title: SECRET Route Sketch H.Q. 126 R.C.T.
Publication Date: 1945