Go back to WWII and study the history of many campaigns, especially in the Pacific. Our forces would go into a hotspot like Guadacanal or Iwo Jima and fight a very heavy action. After a period of time, the enemy's ability to fight in a coordinated manner would be broken, so the island would be declared secure. That didn't mean the end of all hostility. In fact, holdouts would often keep fighting for weeks, months, and sometimes years*. Troops would still go out on patrols searching for these hold outs, often taking casualties long after the main battle was over.
*Some Japanese holdouts kept fighting for years after the end of the war. Others just did what they could to exist without bothering very many people. A few didn't end their war until the 1970s.
No Surrender: Japanese Holdouts
No Surrender: Background History
Japanese Holdouts Registry
January 25, 1946 - Mountain Battle between Filipinos and Japanese
On January 25, 1946 a Japanese unit of 120 men was routed after a battle in the mountains 150 miles south of Manila. The Japanese were armed with small arms and at least one light machine gun. 72 were killed by a Filipino battalion, led by American "Black Hawk" 86th Infantry Division. The survivors were tracked down and most were apprehended.
February 1946 - Post WWII island campaign
In February 1946 on 74 square mile Lubang Island, 70 miles southwest of Manila Bay a seven week campaign to clear the island was begun by the Filipino 341st and American 86th Division.
February 22, 1946 - Lubang island Allied casualties in a post WWII battle
Intense fighting developed on February 22, 1946 when troops encountered 30 Japanese. Eight Allied troops were killed, including 2 Filipinos. The Filipino and Americans sent for an additional 20,000 rounds of small arm ammunition, but not future battles occurred of this magnitude. In early April, 41 members of the Japanese garrison on Lubang island came out of the jungle, unaware that the war had ended.
April 1947- Mortar Team Surrenders
Seven Japanese troops armed with a mortar launcher emerged from Palawan Island.
April 1947 - Fifteen Armed Soldiers
Fifteen armed stragglers emerged from Luzon
January 1948 - Party of 200 Japanese Troops
200 well organized and disciplined troops finally gave themselves up on Mindanao.
Current Events » in reply to "Iraq insurgency ‘broken,’ general says" Peace at last, peace at last, my God, peace at last.
Guess you've never heard of a clean-up action and holdouts
The whole thread (29 posts)
- "Iraq insurgency ‘broken,’ general says" Peace at last, peace at last, my God, peace at last.
- Guess you've never heard of a clean-up action and holdouts
- face it Bowser: Every day the new Iraqi government gets stronger.
- YOur disappointment in the victory of American and the lilberation of Iraq is palpable. Should we start a Bowser death watch? (n/t)
- What that means is that rebels are on the way out. Nearly half were killed or captured. It will take a while to destroy them entirely, but their home base is gone. (n/t)
- Any victories are like a knife in your gut, aren't they?
- Commentary