During the colonization period, the United States was so drawn to the Philippines for many reasons.
It was a strategic position to establish power in Southeast Asia, and because of its rich natural resources. But when they reached Mindanao, they faced the same people that early colonizers once feared —the Moros.
Related: Remembering the Juramentados: When the Tausug Chose Death Over Surrender
Unlike other guns, revolvers allow multiple shots without having to reload after every shot. They were faster and lighter. So American soldiers carried one around their waists for close-range fights.
In their early years in Mindanao, they used a Colt M1892 revolver. This was the same standard-issue sidearm also used when they colonized Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Unfortunately for the Americans, the Moros were experts in close-quarters jungle fighting.
While Americans trained in command and formation, the Moros relied on speed and individual combat skill. The Moros often had only kris and barong against Americans’ revolvers and guns.
They also mastered the jungle and the swampy areas of Mindanao, where reliance on formation and rigid strategies was at a disadvantage.
American generals and officials themselves proved this in their letters and reports:
“The fighting was the fiercest I have ever seen. They are absolutely fearless, and once committed to combat, they count death as a mere incident.” — General Pershing, who later became a prominent military leader, describing Moro warriors in his memoir My Life Before the World War.
Several reports also mentioned that revolvers could not stop a Moro in his attacks. Even after being shot, a single Moro would continue attacking despite his wounds, killing as many as he could until his last breath.
In 1904, General Leonard Wood requested a stronger caliber because the ones they used could not stop the Moros in his annual report:
“Instances have repeatedly been reported during the past year where natives have been shot through-and-through several times with a .38 caliber revolver, and have come on, cutting up the unfortunate individual armed with it… The .45 caliber revolver stops a man in his tracks, usually knocking him down… it is also recommended that each company be furnished with 12-gauge Winchester repeating shotguns… There is no weapon in our possession equal to the shotgun loaded with buckshot.”
So the U.S. military shifted toward more powerful .45 caliber firearms because of their “stopping power.”
Moreover, their encounters with the Moros contributed to the U.S. military’s eventual adoption of the .45 caliber M1911 pistol, which the Americans used during World War II.
Why this story matters today
This story reminds young Moros of their forefathers’ dedication and bravery. While history books tell us who won, the Moros were not passive subjects of history. They resisted strongly, and that resistance continues today.
