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| Initial Movements of the 17th, 32nd, and 184th Regiments |
The next day, October 21, Franklin’s 184th Regiment made slow progress due to extreme heat and difficulty maintaining communication in high grass. However they were able to secure the Dulag airfield by 9 am without much difficulty. To the north, the 32nd Regiment encountered fierce resistance from the Japanese hidden in an elaborate series of trenches and machine gun bunkers.
For the next three days, the 7th Division made their way through difficult terrain and intense heat while fighting enemy forces. At times the men had to travel through hip deep swamps, often crawling on their hands and knees to avoid being pulled down into the muck. Along with their weapons, each man carried a pack with a change of clothes, a gas mask, two canteens for water, one day of D-ration meals, and two days of emergency rations. During this effort, however, they reportedly threw aside everything except their weapons, food, and water.
Beginning on October 23, Franklin's 2nd Battalion of the
184th Regiment was temporarily attached to the 17th Regiment. During that day they moved west along the Dulag-Burauen Road, rapidly passing through the villages of Julita
and San Pablo to secure the San Pablo airfield.
On October 24, the 17th Regiment reached the village of Burauen, where they encountered enemy troops hidden in spider holes beneath the buildings. A spider hole was a shoulder-deep hole covered with a camouflaged lid. In addition to their rifles, the Japanese were armed with satchel charges, small torpedoes, and anti-tank mines. As the American tanks moved through, some of the Japanese reportedly jumped out and held explosive charges against the tanks at the cost of their own lives.
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| Japanese spider hole |
On October 24, the 17th Regiment reached the village of Burauen, where they encountered enemy troops hidden in spider holes beneath the buildings. A spider hole was a shoulder-deep hole covered with a camouflaged lid. In addition to their rifles, the Japanese were armed with satchel charges, small torpedoes, and anti-tank mines. As the American tanks moved through, some of the Japanese reportedly jumped out and held explosive charges against the tanks at the cost of their own lives.
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| The 17th Regiment flushing out enemy troops in Burauen |
Although the fight for the village and airfield was reported to be bloody, flying wedges of American tanks (in v-shaped formations) were eventually able to help the infantrymen take control.
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