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Post by frank on Nov 27, 2008 20:10:24 GMT -5
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Post by frank on Nov 27, 2008 19:56:54 GMT -5
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Post by frank on Nov 23, 2008 1:13:06 GMT -5
San Francisco HONORS VETERANS
(RHOEL V. FERNANDEZ)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA --- Despite the uncertainty that has surrounded their plight, Filipino American World War 2 veterans turned out for the Veteran's Day Parade in downtown San Francisco last Sunday. With the youngest being at least in their late 70s, the 'manongs' of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments (California's Own) were part of 100 other groups from the Bay Area that participated in the parade from Market Street to City Hall. "Filipinos and Americans are blood brothers. This was forged in Bataan and Corregidor," said Renie Champagne, this year's parade director, during his introduction of the Fil-Am veterans.
Champagne said the 1st and Filipino Regiments "are always highlights in the parade and we will always welcome their participation". The 87-year old Texan was wounded after a kamikaze suicide plane crashed on his aircraft carrier during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, history's largest naval battle.The Fil-Am veterans, frail yet looking snappy in their US Army Green service uniforms, rode in Humvees and all-terrain trucks from the transport company of the Army Reserve's 75th Infantry Division. True to the Filipino familial heritage, most were accompanied by their wives and family members. The delegation was led by an honor guard composed of active duty Filipino-American soldiers. Also present and showing their (very loud) support were around 50 flag-waving members of the Fil-Am Riders Bay Area in their souped-up Harleys and Japanese big bikes.
The 1st and the 2nd Regiments were raised in 1942 in California and was composed of Filipino expatriates who volunteered to fight the Japanese. The unit saw action during the liberation of the Philippines in 1944-45.
The crowd lining the streets was sparse, maybe due in part to the unpopularity of Iraq and Afghanistan, but this did not prevent the veterans from receiving applause and meaningful "Thank you's!" from the people who braved the early morning chill to honor the vets. Some of the aged warriors carried posters asking people to support S.1315 or the Veteran's Benefits Enhancement Act, which for decades they have fought so hard for.
It was last April that the Senate voted 96-1 to pass S. 1315 which grants a monthly pension to surviving veterans: $900 for US residents, $300 for those living in the Philippines, and $200 for their widows.
Last September however, the House of Representatives had their own version of S. 1315 minus the provision of the monthly pension to Filipino World War 2 veterans. Congress instead voted to pass H.R. 6897, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2008, which gives a one-time payment of $15,000 to veterans living in the US and $9,000 to those in the Philippines. Widows will receive nothing. But due to other pressing concerns, Congress focused on the flagging economy and adjourned on Oct. 3. ignoring the Filipino veteran bills altogether.
US Army records state that 265,000 Filipinos responded to the call of then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and fought under the Commonwealth Army in World War II as American nationals. The Veterans' Affairs Office said there are only around 33,000 left. At the end of the war, Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946 which basically took away veterans' benefits from these Filipino soldiers – except those with proven service-connected disability, the only ones of 66 US allies to be stripped of rightful benefits for military service. But despite history's iniquities and the lack of official recognition from a country they have gladly given their lives to, the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments of the US Army will continue to be fixtures of Veteran's Day. It is only appropriate that every Hummer bearing a veteran towed a howitzer, with a platitude - Duty, Honor, Loyalty, Country, which perfectly describes these men.
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Post by frank on Nov 17, 2008 21:43:02 GMT -5
Get in touch with Ted Ortega brother of Ray in California. I heard he just obtained one and may be putting it up on E-bay.
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Post by frank on Sept 2, 2008 17:28:03 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the pics. Frank
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Post by frank on Aug 29, 2008 17:36:01 GMT -5
Vic,
How about posting thumbnails of the different prints?
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Post by frank on Aug 12, 2008 20:10:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the plug. Good to know info. Keep us posted on schedules. That we may scout out if time allows us to travel.
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Post by frank on Aug 12, 2008 20:06:06 GMT -5
I jokingly suggested we stick some red stars on the helmets to Col. Aguilar. He said they should be yellow. But it would have made the sculpture turning Japanese...!
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Post by frank on Aug 12, 2008 20:01:23 GMT -5
Air show this weekend. You can print out discount coupons from web. www.camarilloairshow.com/Cut%20Out%20Internet%20Coupon.pdfVisit the EAA booth to learn more about our chapter and our Young Eagles program that offers free first flights each month to youth 8-18. A new feature this year is the Learn to Fly Discovery Center where anyone 15 years old or older with an interest in learning to fly can get a thorough orientation about what learning to fly is all about. FAA licensed instructors will provide this orientation and first lesson. Upon completion of the introductory simulator lesson, the person will have a pilots log book with a first lesson logged in it. There will be many aircraft flying and on display throughout the day, and a three-hour narrated "Planes On Parade" program each afternoon. www.camarilloairshow.com/airexpo.html
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Post by frank on Aug 8, 2008 21:46:55 GMT -5
It seems Dr. Ashton is up here north of Oxnard. We should invite him to a meeting when we have it sometime here at my place.
Frank
Paul L. Ashton, M.D. YVONNE ASHTON 306 East Los Olivos Street Santa Barbara, Calif. 93105
Phone: (805) 682-7622 E-mail:pashton@west.net
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M60
Aug 8, 2008 20:31:09 GMT -5
Post by frank on Aug 8, 2008 20:31:09 GMT -5
The reason they are so expensive in the US is the Automatic Weapon License Stamp. This allows the weapons to be sold / traded in the USA.
It would be cheaper to put one together from parts kits.
Look a Shot Gun News and similar publications.
Do they really allow full functioning automatic weapons in New Zealand?
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Post by frank on Aug 8, 2008 20:18:05 GMT -5
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Post by frank on Aug 8, 2008 20:04:24 GMT -5
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Post by frank on Aug 8, 2008 19:48:44 GMT -5
Same place same time. Those who need rifle practice at 200 yards in the Sitting, Standing and prone positions.
Bring your M1 Garands, Carbines or M1903 or M1917s. Frank
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Post by frank on Aug 3, 2008 18:52:02 GMT -5
In the history book of the Philippine Navy published in 1972. It stated 2 or three inter-island vessels belonging to the Lopez's of Balayan were put into service of the new Republic's navy. Sixto Lopez was imprisoned on Talim Island by the US occupation forces. One of his sisters went to Washington DC to pleade for his release. I belive this is documented in the book the Lopezes of Balayan. PS: A copy of this book is in the UCLA library.
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Post by frank on Jul 26, 2008 5:43:44 GMT -5
Training Info: Southern California
Small Arms Qualification; US .30 cal. M1 Garand; US .30 cal. 1903 Springfield.
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Post by frank on Jul 24, 2008 15:24:47 GMT -5
www.memorialmuseum.org/TankGrp.htm15. BREN CARRIERS. - About this time the Group commander was directed to prepare a plan for the utilization of some forty Bren carriers arrived in Manila on a fugitive British ship. The Bren guns were not available. The plans provided for the organization into two companies, the ordnance to install machine guns; the crews to be grounded aviation personnel; the units thus provided to operate with the tanks as much needed reconnaissance, holding, and . This plan was not implemented because of the rapidly developing situation. These vehicles joined the tanks in the field subsequent to the move to the north front of the Group Headquarters--on 24th December. 15 were allotted to each battalion initially, and 10 to the Group Headquarters. They were delivered and driven by air corps personnel and Filipino civilians. The Group S-4, Major Snell, by direction of Group Headquarters, stopped at Stotsenburg where destruction of supplies was in progress; halted long enough to load with high-octane gas in 5-gallon bidons and with small-arms ammunition. The latter with the transporting Bren carriers (about half) were turned over to the divisions and the 26th Cavalry. A few of these had been gunned by the Manila Ordnance Depot. Those retained by the tank units were eventually armed, as machine guns were salvaged from the tank casualties. While their cargo capacity was small, they were very handy in emergency supply, on cross country and on doubtful terrain before committing tanks. It was early discovered that heat-baked ground with every appearance of stability would not support even the Brens because of the high water table, just below the crust, impounded in the d**ed and terraced fields along the highways, usually paralleled by deep ditches full of water. Bridges except on Highways 3, 5, and 7 would not sustain tank traffic without eventual failure.
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Post by frank on Jul 24, 2008 13:44:56 GMT -5
Hey Ray My version of a Contra Filipino 1980's somewhere in Central America 26/Cav Let's see. Lizard Camo(French surplus, PLO, Israeli, Syrian); Uzi... Who could have been supplied by the MOSAD? Guatemala, El Salvador,...
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Post by frank on Jul 24, 2008 13:41:45 GMT -5
NEED A G3?
I can get you one.
When do you need it?
Frank
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Post by frank on Jul 24, 2008 11:51:06 GMT -5
Congratulations!.
Hold on. We will get there to join you!
I know the editor of Military Machines International, and he covers that event. Let me inquire from him if he can locate a Bren Gun Carrier that you may get a ride on. So we can have some images or video for here.
Frank
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