Philippines Campaign (Yellowstone: 1936)

The Philippines Campaign (Filipino:Labanan sa Pilipinas) or the Battle of the Philippines, fought 8 December 1938 – May 1939, was the invasion of the Commonwealth of the Philippines by Japan and the defense of the islands by Filipino and remnant American forces from the remnant military units of the American Pacific-Asiatic Zone.

The Imperial Japanese forces launched the invasion of Luzon from the island of Formosa, about 200 miles from the tip of Luzon island. The Japanese quickly marched from Luzon and neared Manila by January 1939, as the Filipino soldiers had less experience in battle compared to their American counterparts. Americans and Filipinos made a heroic last stand as they withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula, holding out for four months before finally surrendering to the Japanese due to the prevelance of diseases on the field. The Philippines was then placed under occupation from the Empire of Japan after significant resistance to the Japanese died down a few months after Bataan.