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Post by friscohare on Apr 7, 2012 23:08:39 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I just wanted to share what went on during Chicago's 70th Bataan Day Commemoration - The Platinum Jubilee. Three Bataan survivors posing with three Chicago Police officers at the State Street / Bataan-Corregidor Bridge, April 4, 2012.The event took place on Wednesday, April 4. It began at the State Street Bridge over the Chicago River. It is named the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge in the 1940s to honor the gallant men and women who served during the 1941-42 Philippine Campaign. Last year, I met 1st Sergeant Jose V. Juachon at the 69th Bataan Day Commemoration by the Bataan-Corregidor Bridge. "Mang Joey" was a member of the 1st Philippine Regular Division. He was Bataan Death March Survivor and actually escaped the Death March before boarding the boxcars at San Fernando, Pampanga. I saw him about three weeks ago and I promised him I would be at the commemoration. However, he wasn't able to make it this year. I'll recount the stories that he told me in a different post. As I looked out for "Mang Joey," members of the Philippine Consulate, veterans, family members, and guests gathered for the annual wreath laying ceremony. Pictures were then taken with some of the veterans (see above). Mang Joey at last year's Commemoration:
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Post by friscohare on Apr 7, 2012 23:09:22 GMT -5
After the ceremony at the bridge, the Bataan Day Commemoration continued at the Philippine Consulate on Michigan Avenue.
At the Consulate, there were twice as many people as last year's Commemoration. Great speeches were given by Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, Deputy Consul General Orontes Castro, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, City of Chicago Representative William Schmutz, and Marie Ann Limpoco of Representative Jan Schakowsky's office.
Attorney General Madigan then gave Letters of Recognition to each veteran.
The Philippine Government even bestowed decorations to the family of Mr. Sidney Adelson and to Ms. Cleopatra Dulay-Pactol.
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Post by friscohare on Apr 7, 2012 23:10:38 GMT -5
3rd Lieutenant Cleopatra Dulay-Pactol, an "Angel of Bataan"Ms. Dulay-Pactol was one of the "Angels of Bataan," serving as a nurse with the rank of 3rd Lieutenant in the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Here is a transcript of Deputy Consul Castro's introduction of Ms. Dulay-Pactol: "The Angels of Bataan and Corregidor were the nurses who served on Bataan and Corregidor, while being detained themselves continued to serve the Filipino and American soldiers in various Japanese prisons in the Philippines. For meritorious achievement in connection of military operations against the enemy in the Southwest Pacific Area from 8 December 1941 to February 1945, the awardee received the Bronze Star Medal from the Government of the United States of America. In fact, she is wearing the Bronze Star this morning.
Ms. Cleopatra Dulay-Pactol will receive the following awards: the Philippine Independence Medal, the Philippine Defense Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Badge. We would like to request Ms. Cleopatra Dulay-Pactol and her family to please come forward to receive the awards..."Ms. Dulay-Pactol then gave a brief speech, which can be seen here: vimeo.com/39804366Here is the transcript: "I am so delighted to have everybody with us today. And, I am so impressed with the enthusiasm of the members of the group who initiated this gathering. Every year, there has been, I think, a get together during Bataan Day, but only during the last two years I joined them is because I did not have anybody with me before, but now my children are here with me to accompany me to this event.
"And, I am so glad. And, I am glad to be with all of you here. It is nice to be here again. It is a reminiscence of what had happened to me when I was in Bataan, but it was not a failure. I am 94, and I am reaping all the happiness now because of the turmoil that we had when we were at that war. So, thank you very much and thank you for the enthusiasm. "
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Post by friscohare on Apr 7, 2012 23:11:36 GMT -5
Colonel Emilio Hidalgo, Bataan Survivor and witness of Maj. General King's surrenderLater in the program, Colonel Emilio Hidalgo, a survivor of the Bataan campaign and commander of Post 509, gave a brief speech as well. vimeo.com/39805775"The song 'God Bless America' was sung today and I was reminded as early as 1945 when [inaudible] sung 'God Bless America' in the back of the headquarters of the Philippine Armed Forces at Camp Aguinaldo.
"I want to remind you also that there were three major battles that were fought on Bataan. We never gave [way to the Japanese.] They were not able to break through. We resisted everything and threw them back. Until we could not do it anymore.
"I was personally present during the negotiation and surrender made by General King. I was tied to a fire hydrant near a tent where the actual surrender took place. I can still remember it.
"But, to tell you frankly, the memorials to the surrender were erected at the wrong place. It was erected at Balanga, Bataan, which was 6 or 7 kilometers from the place where the actual surrender took place. I was personally present. I am still alive and, so long as I am alive, I will remember that.
"It must be corrected. I have wrote already the governor of Bataan, but I have never been answered. So with the VA, they have not even answered. They did not even investigate what I am telling them.
"But, I have to tell you, the memorials were erected in the wrong place not at the actual place where the surrender took place in 1942. I was personally present. That is all I want to impress upon you people.
"And, during WWII was strictly the business of the United States of America. The Philippines had nothing to do with it, but we still volunteered and fought beside them. Even up to the days when Bataan surrendered, we continued the battle against the Japanese, even for another three more years after Bataan surrendered. We paid a lot of blood. A lot of lives were lost. Thousands have been lost. And it should be a sacrilege if the memorials were not erected in the right place. I thank you."After the ceremony, I overheard Col. Hidalgo saying, "[The National Archives in] Missouri would not recognize me as a POW... I told them, [if you don't,] it would be a disgrace to President Roosevelt. He was the one who called us to federal service and fight..." From the stories he told me last year and from this year's speech, in my honest opinion, it is a shame not to recognize Col. Hidalgo as a POW and, hopefully, he will be given the honors he deserves.
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Post by friscohare on Apr 7, 2012 23:14:22 GMT -5
Finally, Major Edwin H. Walker IV, USMC ret. and Vice President of the Maywood Bataan Day Organization (above), gave a rousing speech: vimeo.com/39809042"Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to be present on this auspicious occasion to celebrate the 70th commemoration or Platinum Jubilee of Bataan Day in the City of Chicago. The President of our Bataan Day Organization, Colonel Richard A. McMahon, Jr. is in the Philippines at present and will represent our organization at celebrations across the homeland.
"American and Filipino soldiers fought side by side at Bataan and Corregidor during the early, dark days of WWII and gave their lives during the gruesome Bataan Death March and in Japanese hellships and in prison camps. Thanks to their courageous perseverance and bravery, the Imperial Japanese Army was delayed long enough to prevent an invasion of Australia, a fact often overlooked by historians.
"Bataan surrendered on April the 9th, 1942 and the following day, some 70,000 American and Filipino soldiers as Japanese captives all became victims of the greatest atrocity of the Pacific War, The Bataan Death March. Under terrific air and artillery bombardment, the island of Corregidor surrendered on May the 6th, 1942.
"Since September 1942, the Maywood Bataan Day Organization has worked to preserve the memory of Company B of the 192nd Tank Battalion, who, as members of the 33rd Tank Company, 33rd Infantry Division of the Illinois National Guard, were federalized on November 1940 and, subsequently, sent to the Philippines on October 1941.
"Thanks to the presence and support of the Chicago area Filipino-American Community, today Filipino-Americans are an important part of the Bataan Day Organization. Indeed, one of our past presidents was Justo Alamar, whose dear wife, Estrella, whom you all know, is present with us today and she is presently one of our board members...
"Our keynote speakers at our September memorial service each year have included Consul General Emilinda Lee-Pineda, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, and Colonel Emilio Hidalgo.
"On this 70th Anniversary of the surrender of Bataan, let us renew our pledge to never forget the incredible valor, sacrifice, and brotherhood that the Filipinos showed in defending their homeland - shoulder to shoulder with Americans.
"May God Bless America and the Republika of the Philippines.
"Remember Bataan! Alalahanin natin ang Bataan!"
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Post by friscohare on Apr 11, 2012 23:20:07 GMT -5
Pinoy World War II vets honored in Chicago[/u][/url][/size] (GMA News, 04/12/12) Philippine and United States officials gave recognition to Filipino World War II veterans in Chicago on the 70th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9. In a news release, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Philippine Liberation Medals and certificates were presented to the WWII veterans including Sidney Adelson and Cleopatra Dulay-Pactol, both 94 years old. The Philippine Liberation Medals included the: * Philippine Independence Medal, * Philippine Defense Medal, * Philippine Liberation Medal, * World War II Victory Medal, and * Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge. Adelson, a Chicago native, assisted in the Philippine Campaign from 1944 to 1945 that liberated the Philippines from enemy forces. The awards were received on his behalf by his wife and daughter, Shirley Adelson and Marla Cowan. Dulay-Pactol, on the other hand, was a commissioned Philippine Army nurse attached to a United States Army Hospital before and during the War. She was born in Aringay, La Union and held the rank of 3rd Lieutenant. “For meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Southwest Pacific area from 08 December 1941 to February 1945,” Dulay-Pactol received the Bronze Star Medal from the US government. Philippine Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim and his wife led the veterans, members of the Filipino-American community, US government officials, and the Consulate’s officers and staff during a floral offering. “By your presence today you share a common and enduring bond with the brave and gallant Filipino and American soldiers in Bataan. Together, we shall ensure that Bataan shall be forever remembered. We shall honor the memories of brave sacrifices in Bataan by remaining vigilant in the defense of freedom and consciously responsible in its exercise,” Herrera-Lim said in his remarks. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan honored the veterans’ “incredible sacrifice to ensure the triumph of liberty and democracy over tyranny and injustice.” She added the generation that came after them can never thank the veterans enough. Madigan also presented individual letters of recognition to 146 Filipino veterans and nine American veterans, including the Maywood Bataan Day Organization. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White added the event “offers the perfect opportunity to join family and friends in paying tribute to the courageous veterans and survivors of the infamous Bataan ‘Death March.’“ “The bravery and valor of so many soldiers who fought to defend Bataan and Corregidor will never be forgotten,” he said. Some 200 guests attended the event, including prominent members of the Filipino-American community, the private sector, Federal, State and City Government officials, judges, members of the United States Military and Chicago Police, and the media.
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