THE Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and the municipal government of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya led the commemoration of the 79th anniversary of the Battle of Balete Pass deemed one of the most decisive battles during World War 2.
Over 8,600 Filipino combat officers and troops, predominantly from the United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL), joined the US Army 25 th Division to defeat the Imperial Japanese Army under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita.
As the only access between Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley, the mountain road witnessed fierce and bloody fighting which concluded on May 13, 1945 when the Japanese retreated to the Cordillera mountains. In the subsequent mopping up operations.
Maj. Gen. James Dalton II of the US Army was killed by a Japanese sniper three days later.