Draft:Battle of Butuan

Battle of Butuan
Part of the Battle of Mindanao and the Pacific War
Date March 12 1943 (Fall of Butuan) March 13 1943 - January 17 1945 (guerrilla warfare) Location Butuan and Cabadbaran Status Philippines Commonwealth-United States victory
Belligerents
Japan Second Philippine Republic	United States Philippine Commonwealth
Commanders and leaders
Japan Japanese High Command in Mindanao Japanese field marshals in Mindanao	United States General McArthur (from 1944) Walter Krueger (VI Army) Robert L. Eichelberger (X Army) Philippines Commonwealth Manuel L. Quezon (in exile)
Units involved
Japan Imperial Japanese Army Japanese Imperial Navy 30th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) (Butuan Bay)	Philippine Commonwealth Philippine Commonwealth Army United States Sixth Army (United States) Eighth Army (United States) (only from 1944) United States Seventh Fleet
Strength
21,700 (based on Eastern Mindanao)	300 (debated by historians)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown
only 74% of the information I found is agreed by historians while the other is still debated.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, more than half of Butuan, if not all of it, was burned when local guerrilla forces attacked the enemy garrison on 12 March 1943 in the Battle of Butuan. On January 17, 1945, guerrillas attacked Japanese troops on the road between Cabadbaran and Butuan to prevent the Japanese garrison at Butuan from being reinforced. When the guerrillas depleted their supplies they were forced to retreat. Sooner in 1945, the Philippine Commonwealth troops in Butuan together with the recognized guerrillas attacked the Japanese forces during the Battle of Agusan. On October 20 1948, still recovering from the war, the entire municipality was ruined by fires.More than half of Butuan, if not all of it, was burned when local guerrilla forces attacked the enemy garrison on March 12, 1943, in the Battle of Butuan. On January 17, 1945, guerrillas attacked Japanese troops on the road between Cabadbaran and Butuan to prevent the Japanese garrison at Butuan from being reinforced.

Regarding the Battle of Butuan, while the Japanese eventually prevailed, the American and Filipino forces fought fiercely and inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese before withdrawing. Additionally, while the battle did not halt the Japanese advance, it did slow it down and provided valuable insights as to the capabilities of the Japanese forces.

By 1945, the battle would come to an end with the United States Navy intervening in Cagayan De Oro and the city of Butuan.

In the post war era, Butuan eventually gains cityhood and built monuments.

See also

Battle of Mindanao