Brigadier General Vicente Lim was the first Filipino to graduate from West Point (Class of 1914).

VICENTE LIM

Vicente Lim served as a 2nd Lieutenant during World War I. After the war, he returned to the Philippines. He was appointed to the post of Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army in 1940.

When the Philippine Army was incorporated into the American Armed Forces on 16 July 1941, Lim was given the rank of Brigadier General and became the top-ranking Filipino under General Douglas MacArthur, placed in command of the 41st Philippine Division and tasked with the defence of southern Luzon.

Lim led the bloody rear guard action against the Japanese in Abucay, Bataan but eventually surrendered along with all American and Filipino forces, to the Japanese. Lim survived the infamous Bataan Death March and was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained at Bataan. He recovered quickly, but with the help of his brother-in-law, Dr Jose Rodriguez, he concealed this fact.

With the Japanese convinced of his incapacitation, he led the guerrilla resistance forces of Luzon while pretending to be confined at the Philippine General Hospital.

In 1944 he was ordered to rejoin General Douglas MacArthur in Australia. He attempted the journey but was captured en route by the Japanese. He was held for months before being beheaded on 31 December 1944 shortly before the liberation.

1889

to 31 December 1944