Following his assignment to Fort Huachuca, it is unclear what other assignments Captain Granberry received although it seems he spent the time between 1938 and his next assignment to the Philippines mostly at Fort Huachuca. However, it is known that Granberry was promoted to Major of Infantry on July 1, 1940.[1] Additionally, it seems that Major Granberry was sent to Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas around December 14, 1940.[2] It appears that Granberry left the US for the Philippines in November of 1941, although he did not arrive at the command center for the 57th Infantry Philippine Scouts until around January 15, 1942. Granberry was once again promoted while in the Philippines, this time to Lieutenant Colonel on December 24, 1941. While in the Philippines, Lt. Colonel Granberry worked under Colonel Edmund J. Lilly and was assigned to Regimental S-4, Supply and Logistics, as section of the Headquarters and Service Company in the 57th Infantry.[3] Also, due to his training and record as infantry commander, he was assigned to command the 2nd Battalion of the 57th Infantry which consisted of 460 Philippine-American (Fil-Am) men. Notably, Lieutenant Granberry was often in-front of his men while leading them into battle.
While in the Philippines, one of Lt. Colonel Granberry’s most noted operations was the clearing of Japanese Infiltrators from Longoskawayan Point. Granberry’s Battalion arrived late on January 27, 1942 and attacked the next morning. By February 8th, after many days of fierce fighting, they had cleared the point of all Japanese, who would rather fight to the death than lose their honor.[4] Despite his initial success, Granberry did not stay long in the Philippines. The Japanese imperial forces had invaded the Bataan Peninsula earlier in December 1941 and had slowly been pushing back the Americans. When the Japanese were finally weakened to the point the Americans could push them back, the 57th Infantry did not push back because of starvation, disease, and high casualties. The Japanese soon received fresh troops and began a new offensive on April 3rd. By April 9, 1942, the Japanese had forced an unconditional surrender of the 57th Infantry of Philippine Scouts.[5]
[1] “Hal C. Granberry, 1923,” West Point Association of Graduates, Accessed April 28, 2017. http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/7202/
[2] “Army Orders,” The Honolulu Advertiser, December 14, 1940
[3] Ward Calhoun, Duty, Honor, and Country: The Long Gray Line in the Pacific (Meridian, MS: Lauderdale Country Department of Archives and History, Inc., 2012), Page 29.
[4] Ward Calhoun, Duty, Honor, and Country: The Long Gray Line in the Pacific (Meridian, MS: Lauderdale Country Department of Archives and History, Inc., 2012), Page 30.
[5] J. Michael Houlahan, “The Philippine Scouts in Bataan: Their Finest Hour,” Philippine Defenders, http://philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/html/philippine_scouts_bataan_article.html
While in the Philippines, one of Lt. Colonel Granberry’s most noted operations was the clearing of Japanese Infiltrators from Longoskawayan Point. Granberry’s Battalion arrived late on January 27, 1942 and attacked the next morning. By February 8th, after many days of fierce fighting, they had cleared the point of all Japanese, who would rather fight to the death than lose their honor.[4] Despite his initial success, Granberry did not stay long in the Philippines. The Japanese imperial forces had invaded the Bataan Peninsula earlier in December 1941 and had slowly been pushing back the Americans. When the Japanese were finally weakened to the point the Americans could push them back, the 57th Infantry did not push back because of starvation, disease, and high casualties. The Japanese soon received fresh troops and began a new offensive on April 3rd. By April 9, 1942, the Japanese had forced an unconditional surrender of the 57th Infantry of Philippine Scouts.[5]
[1] “Hal C. Granberry, 1923,” West Point Association of Graduates, Accessed April 28, 2017. http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/7202/
[2] “Army Orders,” The Honolulu Advertiser, December 14, 1940
[3] Ward Calhoun, Duty, Honor, and Country: The Long Gray Line in the Pacific (Meridian, MS: Lauderdale Country Department of Archives and History, Inc., 2012), Page 29.
[4] Ward Calhoun, Duty, Honor, and Country: The Long Gray Line in the Pacific (Meridian, MS: Lauderdale Country Department of Archives and History, Inc., 2012), Page 30.
[5] J. Michael Houlahan, “The Philippine Scouts in Bataan: Their Finest Hour,” Philippine Defenders, http://philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/html/philippine_scouts_bataan_article.html