Most people don't know or remember that the reason for the U.S. Army adopting the M1911A side arm in .45ACP was because we were engaged in a war with Islam beginning in 1918 or thereabouts, in the Philippines.
The Moro fighters attacked army officers with swords. The officer would empty his .38 into the attacker, and then get is head cut off. Pretty ugly.
The Colt .45 put a quick end to all that nonsense.
Are you sure this isn't urban legend? Circa 1918, the Moro Island Muslims wanted the Philippines to be admitted to the Union, since the 1st Amendment would have protected them from persecution by the Philppines' Roman Catholic majority.
The 1911 in M1911A gives a better hint than that. The fight would have been before 1911, not after. (Actual dates 1899-1913.)