5/7/2021 Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records | National Archives
Phased Expansion of Onsite Workforce at the National
Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is Underway
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NPRC has been closed and only completing
emergency requests. As of March 8, 2021, the NPRC entered into a phased expansion
of our onsite workforce. While we continue to increase our on-site sta ing, we are
still servicing requests associated with medical treatments, burials, and homeless
veterans seeking admittance to a homeless shelter. Please refrain from submitting
non-emergency requests such as replacement medals, administrative corrections, or
records research until we return to pre-COVID sta ing levels.
More information on NPRC's operating status
Alternative sources for modern military records
More information about the National Archives' response to coronavirus can be
found at archives.gov/coronavirus.
Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records
This collection of records covers only those individuals who served in the Philippine
Commonwealth Army of the United States Armed Forces Far East (USAFFE) including
recognized Philippine Guerrilla forces (NOT the Army of the United States or Philippine Scouts)
during World War II. This collection DOES NOT include records of Americans who served in the
Philippines during World War II.
Historical background
Reason for requests
Sources of requests
Requirements for submitting requests
Files used
General Background and miscellaneous correspondence procedures unique to the
Philippine Army Record
Historical Background
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5/7/2021 Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records | National Archives
The Philippine Commonwealth Army was created by Philippine Commonwealth Act Number 1,
approved December 21, 1935. With the threat of war with Japan imminent, on July 26, 1941, a
new command in the Far East was created, known as the United States Army Forces Far East
(USAFFE). On the same date, President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt, issued
Presidential Order (6 Fed. Reg. 3825) which called the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the
service of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Presidential Order of July 26, 1941, did not order all the military forces of the Philippine
government into the service of the United States Armed Forces. Only those units and personnel
indicated in orders issued by a general o icer of the United States Army were mobilized and
made an integral part of the United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE). Only those members
of a unit who physically reported for duty were inducted. (Inductions were not automatic, nor
were personnel inducted into the Army of the United States).
A er the surrender of American forces in the Philippines in May 1942, independent guerrilla
groups, composed of both civilian and military personnel, began to form throughout the
Islands. Many of these groups worked under the control of General Douglas MacArthur's
General Headquarters, Southwest Pacific Area. A recognized military force is defined as a force
under a commander who has been appointed, designated or recognized by a general o icer of
the United States Army.
Service of the Philippine Commonwealth Army in the service of the United States Armed Forces
terminated as of midnight, June 30, 1947, by authority of General Order #168, Army Forces
Western Pacific.
Reasons for Requests
Listed below, but not limited to, are some of the reasons that the National Personnel Records
Center (based upon prior Human Resources Command procedures) will research the
"Philippine Army" collection to provide service certification:
naturalization purposes
application for veterans benefits
other Government agency applications
verification of awards and decorations
This collection is only used to provide information on the service of a particular individual, not
to provide the history of a guerrilla unit or units, or battles or skirmishes participated in.
Sources of Requests
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5/7/2021 Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records | National Archives
Requests for information from the "Philippine Army" collection are generally received from the
individuals involved, family members, the Department of Veterans A airs, the Immigration and
Naturalization Service, other government agencies and congressional o ices.
Requirements for Submitting Requests
As a veteran or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran serving in the Philippine Army, we prefer that
you use eVetRecs to submit your request. If you wish, you may submit your request using an SF-
180 or by sending a written request, dated and signed by the subject of the record, to the
following address:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138
The next of kin of the subject individual must provide proof of death (a copy of the death
certificate) and proof of relationship (copy of birth certificate). Other requesters (third parties)
must have signed authorization of the individual or next of kin when a veteran is deceased,
along with a copy of death certificate and birth certificate of next of kin.
Requests must contain su icient information to identify record material on the subject
individual. In the case of Philippine Army or Guerrilla service, the following information is
required:
Full Name (First and Last Names and Middle Initial)
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Service number, if available
Files Used
There is no consolidated "Personnel File" available for most of the individuals who served in
the Philippine Army or guerrilla unit. The collection consists of the following types of material:
Enlistment records
National Service Life Insurance Records based upon applications made prior to May 7, 1942.
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5/7/2021 Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records | National Archives
Casualty Records
Prisoner of War (POW) records and death certificates from POW camps
Other archival material, such as rosters, payrolls, general and special orders, etc.
Authentic call to active duty orders (applicable only to Philippine Army USAFFE
members)supported by an acceptable a idavit by a person who is a member of the same
unit and whose service is established by archives.
Approved reconstructed guerrilla troop rosters, casualty rosters, or individual recognition
letters
Authentic guerrilla archive records
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272
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