Mateo Mananjaya Capinpin (April 22, 1887 – December 28, 1958) was a brigadier general in the

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) (Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...

and commanded the

21st Division (Philippines) The 21st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). The unit was involved in the delaying action against the Japanese invasion in the plains of Central Luzon, and the Bat ...

under the

United States Army Forces in the Far East United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) ( Filipino: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Estados Unidos sa Malayong Silangan/HKEUMS''; Spanish: ''Fuerzas del Ejército de los Estados Unidos en el Lejano Oriente'') was a military formation of the Unit ...

during the

Battle of Bataan The Battle of Bataan ( tl, Labanan sa Bataan; January 7 – April 9, 1942) was fought by the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth against Japan during World War II. The battle represented the most intense phase of the Japanese inva ...

Early years and Education

Mateo Capinpin was born on 22 April 1887 in Morong, Rizal. He took up his elementary and secondary studies in the Laguna High School. Upon graduation he joined the Philippine Scouts, where at the age of 24 he became the youngest First Sergeant. He rose the ranks and later earned a commission and would take command of the

45th Infantry Regiment (PS) The 45th Infantry Regiment was a unit of the Philippine Scouts in the Philippine Division. History The 45th along with the 57th Infantry Regiment were the first two infantry regiments of the Philippine Scouts which were formed after World W ...

. Further studies brought him to

United States Army Infantry School The United States Army Infantry School is a school located at Fort Benning, Georgia that is dedicated to training infantrymen for service in the United States Army. Organization The school is made up of the following components: * 197th Infantr ...

in Fort Benning,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

in 1920. Maj. Capinpin retired from the Philippine Scouts to join the newly formed

in 1936.

World War II

As the situation with Japan was degrading, war planners understood that a war between Japan and the United States would lead to conflict in the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur accelerated the mobilization efforts to bring the Philippine Army numbers to 120,000, in ten divisions. By September 1941, the senior officers undertook the Command and General Staff Course (CGSC) in

Baguio Baguio ( , ), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...

, which was concluded on November 17, 1942. The

was absorbed into the

(USAFFE). The new graduates of the CGSC and the Philippine Scouts would form the backbone of the ten divisions called up for the defense of Philippine Islands. Col. Capinpin was put in command of the 21st Division on 18 November 1941. The area of mobilization for the 21st Division covered the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, and Nueva Ecija. The initial cantonment was located in Camp Malatiqui in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac. On December 20, Capinpin and all division commanders under the USAFFE with a rank of

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

were promoted to

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

. World War II broke out when Imperial Japanese Army bombers raided

Fort Stotsenburg Fort Stotsenburg, during the World War II era, was the location of the Philippine Department's 26th Cavalry Regiment, 86th Field Artillery Battalion, and 88th Field Artillery Regiment; along with the Philippine Division's 23rd and 24th Fie ...

, and Iba on December 8. By December 10 the Japanese began their landings in Aparri, and succeeded by landings in Lingayen Gulf. While it was predicted that the bulk of the Japanese invading force would land in Lingayen Gulf, the 14th Area Army focused on the eastern shores at Agoo, La Union. BGen. Capinpin's 21st Division was assigned to the southern shores of the gulf from Lingayen town to Dagupan. The 21st Division was ordered by Gen. Jonathan Wainwright by January 2 to hold the Guagua-Porac Line south of

to delay the Japanese advances as the

(USAFFE) units were retreating towards

Bataan Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the enti ...

. Despite the lack of training, Capinpin's two battalions held the line along with units from the 11th Division. However, the Japanese realized the weakness between the lines and took advantage of this. The ''Takahashi Detachments attack was stalled by artillery fire. During the night of January 4 Gen. Wainwright ordered the 21st to fall back to the next line of defense at Gumain River. After his release from the Capas Concentration Camp, Gen. Capinpin joined the Japanese-sponsored government of Pres.

Jose P. Laurel José Paciano Laurel y García (; March 9, 1891 – November 6, 1959) was a Filipino people, Filipino politician, lawyer, and judge, who served as the president of the Japanese-occupied Second Philippine Republic, a puppet state during World W ...

in the Bureau of Constabulary from 1943-1945. When Pres. Laurel was taken out of the Philippines in August 1945, Gen. Capinpin was brought along as part of his entourage. Upon the surrender of Japan, Gen. Capinpin surrendered in Tokyo on September 5, 1945.

Later Years

Gen. Capinpin finally became the Adjutant General of the fledging

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The ...

after World War 2, and retired from military service on April 30, 1948. He became the Superintendent of the Far East Military Academy (FEMA) along Highway 54. He died from heart attack at his residence in Biñan, Laguna, on December 28, 1958, and was buried at the Biñan Municipal Cemetery. Camp Mateo Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, which is currently the garrison of the 2nd Infantry Division also known as the "Jungle Fighter Division," was named in his honor.

References

External links

*Morton, Louis.
The Fall of the Philippines (Publication 5-2)
''.
Today in Philippine history, April 22, 1887, Mateo Capinpin was born in Morong Rizal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Capinpin, mateo 1887 births 1958 deaths Filipino military personnel of World War II Philippine Army generals of World War II Bataan Death March prisoners World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Filipino prisoners of war Filipino collaborators with Imperial Japan Filipino generals

Early years and Education

World War II

Later Years

See also

References

External links