July 25, 2008

Friday

 

At the

Sheraton Universal

Roof Garden

333 Universal Hollywood Dr., Los Angeles, CA 91608

 

6:00 PM Reception

7:00 PM Dinner and Program

10:00 PM Dance

 

The 67th  Anniversary of the

Establishment of the

United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)

 

 

A Celebration of Survival

 

 

 

Sponsored by the Filipino Veterans Foundation

(310) 746-9093

Co-Hosted by the Philippine Medical Association of Southern California and its Auxilliary,

The Philippine Nurses Association, the Philippine Heritage Society and the

Filipino-American Community at large

 

 

Donation: $100                                                           Formal

6:00 PM No-Host Bar                                               Barong Preferably/or

7:00 pm  Dinner, Program, Entertainment   Full Military Uniform

and Dancing  Reservations: Dr. Lito Babaran: 818-342-4440

 

 

 

 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

 

July 26, 1941  President Roosevelt by an Executive Mandate incorporated the American Garrison in the Philippines, a force of, approximately, 35,000 American soldiers, to the Philippine Commonwealth Army, creating a new command, USAFFE.  General Douglas MacArthur was the Supreme Commander of the newly established United States Army Forces in the Far East to defend the Pacific War Theater in the event of a global War.  MacArthur prepared a 10-Division Armed Forces composed of 110,000 Filipinos to defend the Philippines

 

On December 8, 1941, hours after the Day of Infamy at Pearl Harbor, the bombs decimated the grounded airplanes at Clark Field.  WWII had started.  The USAFFE Forces were in their designated places and when the assault with the enemy came, they fought and defended their turf for four grueling months.  The men gave their lives in the altar of freedom.  They continued fighting, despite the lack of food, air support or materiel, and worse, when they were inflicted with diseases such as malaria and dysentery.

 

On April 9, 1942, they were ordered to surrender.  They were made to walk the 62 mile-trek known as the Bataan Death March and along the way lost, approximately, 5,000 Filipinos and 700 Americans, with the brutality they had to endure.  Then they were encamped at the P.O.W. quarters at Camp O’Donnell, for more than six months and then sent to their provinces because of illness.  Many escaped and joined the Guerrilla movement led by remnants of the USAFFE.

 

For three more years, the Geurrillas defended their families and turf and supplied the Headquarters of MacArthur in Australia the vital information needed for the Liberation of the Philippines starting in September of 1944.  On October 20, 1944, the landing of General Douglas MacArthur in Leyte, made true his promise when he said “I Shall Return.”  And the rest is History.

 

Post-Script:

 

In February 18, 1946, Congress added into the Rescission Act of ’46, the now infamous rider and most discriminatory law against the Filipino WWII Veterans,

That they are “deemed not in active service for purposes of certain benefits…” which cut off their rights and privileges as Veterans of WWII in the United States military Service.  Since then, the fight for recognition of their services has continued. 

 

In April 24, 2008, the first step to right the wrong.  The U.S. Senate voted 96 to 1, with 3 abstaining, to pass the S. 1315, enhancing the benefits of Filipino Veterans in recognition of their services in WWII, regardless of citizenship.  The next step is to have the House of Congress pass the resolution before the President signs it into law.