I need help determining status of my Grandfather as a Philippine Scout. If he was at all.
His name was Pedro Razon. My grandmother received US Survivor Pension after the war in US dollars and NOT from the Philippine Government. His unit was M Co. 3rd BN 23 Infantry.(I know it was 23rd something) Any Info can be of help. He died at Batan after escaping the Death March he contracted Malaria. I think I heard her say they found him floating in the Pampanga River bearly alive.She died 3 years ago. Thanks fro your great site! you can also Contact me  normjil@hotmail.com

Sir thank you so much for your reply!

Hi,

I got interested and did some research and the 23rd Infantry was in the Philippines around 1900.  3 times and could be the unit that Pedro enlisted in.  1892-1901, when it was sent during the Spanish-American War.  1903-1905, it was sent again to fight the Moros, and this was when they fought at Datto Ali.  Last time they went back was 1908-1910.  When the returned to the US they were stationed at Texas City and became part of the 2nd Infantry Division.

I had no luck getting anything on Pedro Razon, but in putting only the last name Razon I got 3 individuals, probably relatives.  

Inocencio Razon, born in 1917 in the Philippines and enlisted March 26, 1941 as a Pvt in the Coast Artillery.  His component of the Army was Philippine Scouts and he was single with no dependents.  The next 2 are 'Nedw Scouts' enlisted after WW II.

Ponciano Razon, born in 1922 in the Philippines.  His Residence: State is Montana, Limited Service or Philippine Island  Residence:  Country is Undefined Code.  Same for Place of Enlistment.  Enlistment date is August 10, 1946.  Term of Enlistment is for Hawaiian Depertment.  He is a Hatchery Man, Single without Dependents.  Component of the Army is Philippine Scouts (New Scouts)

Benjamin Razon, born in 1921 in the Philippines.  Place of enlistment is Sidney, Montana (but he probably was never out of PI).  Date of Enlistment is August 24, 1946, Term of Enlistment is for the Hawaiian Department..  He is skilled in the making of confections.  Siingle withour dependents.  Component of the Army is The Philippine Scouts.

I am sure Pedro would have been enlisted in the 23rd Regiment as it saw PI duty at the time Pedro was in the service, around 1904.  The 23rd was in PI, fighting the Moros.

Regards,

Tom McGeeney

Thought I would take another crack at this.  We have some conflicting information.  Being on the Bataan Death March and being in the 23rd US Inf Reg couldn't happen.  That is because the 23rd was in the PI around 1900 (3 times exactly).  The information Sue had on Pedro Razon fits in with my information on the 23rd, as it was stationed in PI between 1898 and 1910.  

I then looked at the units involved at the start of WW II and I come up with 23rd FA (PS) but Artillery Units don't have an M Company,     3 rd Battalion.  But there was a 43rd Infantry (PS) and they would have had an M Company, 3rd Battalion.  So maybe this is your unit.  You can look at its locations during the fighting and if Pedro Razon was in those areas, this is probably his unit.

If any records are available for him they would identify what units he was with.  There was a Pedro Razon in the 23rd, lets say this is him.  He is 25 years old, comes back in to fight in WW II.  He would have been 62 doing the Death March.  So it could have been him.  I don't know how agile a 62 year old man would be in escaping the Death March.  I think we have two Pedros.  Any help?

Or his unit was the 43rd Inf (PS).

Regards,

Tom McGeeney

I am retired Federal Government and this keeps me out of the bars, gives me somethhing to do.  No, all kidding aside I like it and it is fun.  My wife thinks I should do something else, I ask her, "What?"  I ride my bycicle in the afternoon, when it is cool.  I want to get back into reloading ammunition for my rifle, been awhile and it is fun to shot at a target.  I qualified expert with the M14.  I was in Gemany and part of NATO.  Our host nation was Germany and for rifle qualification we used their range.  KNOWN DISTANCE not the pot up targets of TRAINFIRE, which the US Army was using then (!961-1964).

I was at home and scored Expert, which I never did with the Pop Up targets.

Thanks for all the kind words.

No, this research is fun and I like to do.  Run into interesting people, like yourself.

Regards,

Tom