Honoring Filipino
American Veterans
by Joann
Natalia Aquino
"The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example." --B. Disraeli
Filipino American Veterans in front
of the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington D.C.
(Photo courtesy of Eric Lachica)
During the bleak years of World War II, the soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army bestowed a spark of hope in the Pacific, as they fought alongside United States and Allied forces for four extensive years to defend and reclaim the Philippine Islands throughout this war.
"I, (soldier’s name), do solemnly swear...that I will bear true faith and allegiance...to the United States of America...that I will serve them honestly and faithfully...against all their enemies whomsoever...and I will obey the orders...of the President of the United States...And the orders of the officers appointed over me...according to the rules and Articles of War."
With this pledge, nearly 250,000 Filipino men joined the U.S. Armed Forces after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the years followed, they shared the fate and affliction of their American counterparts in the battlefield, as prisoners in war camps and endured throughout the countryside, as part of the guerrilla struggle.
Heroic and courageous Filipino soldiers fought, suffered, and died in the bloody battles of World War II, defending the besieged Bataan and Corregidor, as thousands of Filipino prisoners of war suffered in the legendary Bataan Death March and years of captivity under brutal conditions.
World War II would not be the same without the help and the bravery of the Filipino soldiers. They too, are valued heroes and deserve the acknowledgment on the significant role Filipino soldiers played in fighting this war, defending liberty, and preserving democracy for this country.
I urge you to remember and learn by heart, the heroism, sacrifice, and loyalty of Filipino Veterans of World War II, and honor them for their contributions to our freedom.
To the Filipino Veterans of World War II and all soldiers fighting for this country now, we extend to you our steadfast gratefulness and abiding thanks for your courage. We honor you not only on Veteran’s Day, but each day we live and breathe our freedom.
(Republished with permission from the author and Asian American Journal: International Examiner, article originally published at Asian American Journal: International Examiner on November 2001.)
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About the author:: Ms. Joann Natalia Aquino is a freelance professional writer/ journalist, and a Legislative Liaison working on public policy development and legislative affairs for the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs for the State of Washington. In her spare time, she is also an Editor for a few publications (print and online), and is currently writing her first book "The Re-awakening of the Babaylan: Her Story," along with other shelved writing projects, she vows to finish sometime in her lifetime. At the moment, she juggles her time traveling between Seattle and New York, the places she both calls her "home."
To reach the author, please e-mail: joannnatalia@newfilipina.com or editor@newfilipina.com .
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©Copyright 2001. Joann Natalia Garcia Aquino. All rights reserved.
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