On the pier on the beachfront. Statue

A set of seven life sized statues and a historical marker; the lead statue armed with pistol, represents General William Arnold, commander of the Americal Division.

On 26 March 1945, units of the 132nd and 182nd Infantry Regiments of the Americal Division landed on Talisay Beach supported by the US Navy Task Force 78.2 commanded by Captain Albert T. Sprague aided by pre-landing bombardment from Task Force 74. Before the landing, the Cebu guerrilla force,  of 8,500 men and an extensive intelligence network in the province, alerted the American troops of the Japanese Forces’ plan to scatter landmines in the projected landing areas to delay the American advance. Armed with this knowledge, the Americans, together with the Cebuano guerrillas under Colonel James M. Cushing, overcame the obstacle and proceeded to liberate Cebu City.

The Landing in Talisay was part of the Operation Victor II which was implemented by LTG Robert Eichelberger’s 8^th Army to take the island of Cebu, Bohol, and Negros from the enemy forces. It paved the way to the liberation of Cebu on 27 March 1945, and the surrender of the Japanese Forces in the province on 29 August 1945.

The text on the plaque is in Tagalog.  The translation of the text:

Here is where the U.S. 8th Army led by Com. Gen. William H. Arnold and Capt. Albert T. Sprague, assisted by the Philippine Guerrilla of the 8th Military District under the leadership of Lt. Col. James M. Cushing, March 26, 1945. The presence is part of the Victor II operation carried out by Gen. Douglas MacArthur to recover the provinces of Cebu, Bohol and Negros. This gave way to the liberation of the City of Cebu, 27 March 1945; and surrender of the Japanese to the province, August 28, 1945.