| Original caption: “Veteran Artillerymen of C Battery, Ninetieth Field Artillery, lay down a murderous barrage on troublesome Japanese artillery positions.” M1 155 millimeter (6.1-inch) Howitzer of the 90th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, in Balete Pass, shelling Japanese artillery positions. During March, 1 division moved forward 10 miles after constructing more than 130 miles of roads and trails. Terrain problems were faced during this advance, and it was not until May 13 that the pass was seized. On March 13, 1945, I Corps ordered the 25th Infantry Division – “Tropic Lightning” – to continue its successful advance up Highway 5 to seize the town of Kapintalan, then attack through Balete Pass to the town of Santa Fe. The area consisted of a series of rugged ridges and thick forests, making progress against a determined, well-fortified enemy extremely challenging. The Battle of Belete Pass was to prove to be 1 of the most brutal fights the 25th Infantry Division faced in the war, with all 3 regimental combat teams seeing heavy combat. The 1st Battalion of the 161st Infantry Regiment assaulted “Norton’s Knob,” west of Highway 5, on March 15. The battalion met heavy opposition from well-dug-in Japanese forces. For 10 days, the battle raged, with the 1st Battalion finally seizing the ridge on 26 March. At the same time, the 3rd Battalion of the 161st attacked Highley Ridge north of Norton Ridge. A heavily defended Japanese position dug into caves on Crump’s Hill stopped the battalion’s advance. The battle for the hill was stalemated until the battalion captured the west side of Crump’s Hill on 8 April. Reinforced by the 2nd Battalion, the 3rd Battalion then eliminated the last Japanese resistance. Meanwhile, the 35th and 27th Infantry Regiments battled to clear Mount Myoko, Kapintalin, and Balete Pass. After clearing Crump’s Hill, the 161st Infantry assaulted the Kembu Plateau west of Balete Pass in support of the overall drive to seize the pass. By May 6, the 161st secured the plateau. 3 days later, on May 9, the 161st linked up with the 27th Infantry at Balete Pass, opening the pass for the advance to the town of Santa Fe. On December 7, 1941, the 90th received its baptism of fire when the Japanese attacked Hawaii. During the Guadalcanal and Luzon campaigns, the 90th Field Artillery Battalion’s M1 howitzers rained death and destruction on defending Japanese forces, greatly aiding the infantry in seizing their objectives. Due to Japanese aggressive attempts to infiltrate artillery positions, battalion members often engaged in close-quarters infantry combat. During the Luzon Campaign, the 90th fired over 42,000 rounds in support of the 25th Division. For its contribution to the liberation of the Philippines, the 90th Field Artillery received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Photo by United States Army Technician 4th Class Hugh M. Morton (February 19, 1921 – June 1, 2006), Signal Corps. In 1942, Morton cut short his college career to enlist in the military service. Assigned to the United States Army’s 161st Signal Photo Company, he served not as a still photographer (as he had intended) but was instead trained as a combat newsreel cameraman and sent to the South Pacific. During the next 3 years, he island-hopped, recording combat action from Bougainville to Luzon and capturing still images of his fellow soldiers, Pacific Island indigenous peoples, and scenery, as well as well-known personalities, like General Douglas MacArthur and then-USO performer Bob Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003). In 1945, while filming American infantrymen battling their way up a high bank overlooking Highway 5, he walked into a Japanese booby-trap. He was discharged due to his injuries and later received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his military photography. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1463.jpg |
| Image Size | 614.23 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2340 x 2928 |
| Photographer | Hugh M. Morton |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 19, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Balete |
| State or Province | Batangas |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-205918 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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