Edwin Ramsey, leader of the USAFFE guerrillas, with a gift presented to him upon liberation
The USAFFE operated a band of American led guerrillas called the ECLGA in direct competition with the Huks. The ECLGA (East Central Luzon Guerrilla Army) were ordered by MacArthur to spend the war laying low in the jungle, spending their energy in an intelligence gathering role. Despite their claims of great popularity they were despised by the general populice as traitors and thieves. It was commonly recognized that poor fighters or those below the Huk moral standard found refuge with the Americans. These factors, plus the fact that they were so passive toward the Japanese while the Huks were up in arms, combined to undermine their popularity even further.
The "Balagbag Boys," Ramsey's personal body guards
However, the Americans had one trump card over the Huks. They had the ear of MacArthur back in Australia, and used this to the full advantage. False reports were sent, accusing the Huks being "Rabid Communists" guilty of "carnage, revenge, banditry and hi-jacking." Rumors spread that the Huks were funded and supported by the Soviet Union, resupplied at night by submarine drops, and tought their Marxism in Moscow. None of this was true, the movement was one truly on its own. In fact, the group only became truly Communist after the war.
This exhibit was researched and designed by [Andrew David Freeman].
This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002.
The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.