57^th Infantry Regiment

The 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) was stationed at Fort William McKinley as an organic Scout regiment of the Philippine Division. When war reached Luzon in December 1941, the division shifted from USAFFE reserve toward successive defensive positions. The 57th moved to cover the Calumpit Bridges over the Pampanga River on the Guagua-Porac line, protecting withdrawal routes into Bataan as American and Filipino forces pulled back from central Luzon.

On Bataan the 57th held part of the main battle line near Abucay. Japanese pressure drove in its outpost line on January 9, 1942. A main attack on January 12 penetrated the regiment's line, but counterattack restored the position; a second attack pierced the line again on January 13 and was likewise thrown back. These actions formed part of the division's effort to hold the Abucay-Mauban front before the army shortened its position to the Pilar-Bagac reserve line. On January 26 the Philippine Division came under II Philippine Corps, and its regiments served in the fragmented defense of Sub-Sector D during the weeks of patrol fighting, limited attacks, and pocket-clearing that followed.

The regiment's last fighting came during the collapse of Bataan in April. On April 7 two battalions of the 57th, supported by engineer battalions, were to attack west toward Trail Junction 6-8 and meet the 45th Infantry attacking from the opposite direction. The attack never began. Japanese troops pressed the battalions frontally, worked around the exposed west flank, and entered the gap between the 57th and the San Vicente line; the Scouts had to withdraw east at 1700. The 3rd Battalion also pulled back from San Vicente and straggled through cavalry positions toward the Mamala River. On April 8 the regiment held part of the Alangan line with about 500 men, both flanks exposed. Japanese aircraft and patrols broke the position during the afternoon, and the 57th withdrew with the remaining front-line force before the Bataan surrender on April 9, 1942.