Post by VeeVee on May 8, 2010 8:08:21 GMT -5
Just got here last night... will post pictures eventually. Here's an article for now:
www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/08/1178776/reunion-fosters-their-culture.html
Legendary WWII survivors, the Philippine Scouts, gather in Tacoma
Tacoma: Philippine Scouts of WWII gather
Harry Robinson The memories are more than 65 years old, but the sensory details have stuck with the aging World War II survivors who told stories Friday about fighting in the Philippines, the Bataan Death March or the Japanese prison camps.
They speak of humid air and the night the birds went silent. The speak of diesel fumes and the bright phosphorus flares that signaled that U.S. troops had arrived to liberate them.
“Oh my gosh, that’s as vivid as the day is long,” said Harry Robinson, who was 14 when his civilian family was imprisoned by the Japanese at the Santo Tomas camp in Manila.
“Liberation is a great experience, if you ever have a chance,” he said.
People from around the nation gathered in Tacoma for the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society’s 26th annual reunion, which continues today at La Quinta Hotel.
The Philippine Scouts were a U.S. Army unit consisting of Filipino men led by U.S. officers. They fought in places such as Bataan and Corregidor.
As Robinson talked of the liberation of Santo Tomas, 90-year-old Dan Figuracion spoke up.
“I was there,” he said.
Figuracion, a member of the Philippine Scouts, survived the Bataan march and was imprisoned himself. He said he escaped, then fought for three years with a guerrilla unit that eventually helped Americans liberate the camp.
The next morning, the Army brought in a first meal for prisoners: a trailer full of Spam stew.
“To this day, I’m still a great fan of Spam,” Robinson said.
As age takes a toll, the group of veterans is dwindling. Their widows, children and grandchildren are working to preserve their stories.
“I promised my dad before he passed away that I was going to continue his participation in the Philippine Scouts,” said Sheree Clark of Tacoma. Her father, Constante Villalobos, was a member of the unit. He died in 2003.
The first three Congressional Medals of Honor awarded during the war went to Philippine Scouts. One of those medal recipients was Jose Calugas, who retired in Tacoma and died in 1998. His son Joe served as host for the weekend gathering.
Figuracion mentioned the great U.S. generals Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur.
“They were trained by the Scouts,” he said. “They learned how to fight in the Philippines.”
At the reunion, Figuracion’s grandson, 20-year-old Sky Figuracion of Tacoma, served on a panel that addressed ways to get more younger people involved in preserving the unit’s history. He said he has been involved in Filipino cultural events since he was 4. It’s a part of who he is.
“I believe that if you know your culture, you know yourself,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know where they come from.”
“It’s interesting to me,” he said. “And soon, there won’t be any actual people who were there to tell the stories. People will have to hear it from us.”
Dan Figuracion said there used to be 40 Scouts living in the Puget Sound area. Now there are five, he said, and he’s the last one who can walk.
“Every time a Scout dies, I always go to their funeral,” he said. “I say that I’ll be the last one to die. But who will attend my funeral when I die?”
Cole Cosgrove: 253-597-8267 cole.cosgrove@thenewstribune.com
IF YOU GO
What: The Philippine Scouts Heritage Society’s 26th annual reunion.
When: It continues from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. today.
Where: La Quinta Hotel, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma.
Website: www.philippine-scouts.org
www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/08/1178776/reunion-fosters-their-culture.html
Legendary WWII survivors, the Philippine Scouts, gather in Tacoma
Tacoma: Philippine Scouts of WWII gather
Harry Robinson The memories are more than 65 years old, but the sensory details have stuck with the aging World War II survivors who told stories Friday about fighting in the Philippines, the Bataan Death March or the Japanese prison camps.
They speak of humid air and the night the birds went silent. The speak of diesel fumes and the bright phosphorus flares that signaled that U.S. troops had arrived to liberate them.
“Oh my gosh, that’s as vivid as the day is long,” said Harry Robinson, who was 14 when his civilian family was imprisoned by the Japanese at the Santo Tomas camp in Manila.
“Liberation is a great experience, if you ever have a chance,” he said.
People from around the nation gathered in Tacoma for the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society’s 26th annual reunion, which continues today at La Quinta Hotel.
The Philippine Scouts were a U.S. Army unit consisting of Filipino men led by U.S. officers. They fought in places such as Bataan and Corregidor.
As Robinson talked of the liberation of Santo Tomas, 90-year-old Dan Figuracion spoke up.
“I was there,” he said.
Figuracion, a member of the Philippine Scouts, survived the Bataan march and was imprisoned himself. He said he escaped, then fought for three years with a guerrilla unit that eventually helped Americans liberate the camp.
The next morning, the Army brought in a first meal for prisoners: a trailer full of Spam stew.
“To this day, I’m still a great fan of Spam,” Robinson said.
As age takes a toll, the group of veterans is dwindling. Their widows, children and grandchildren are working to preserve their stories.
“I promised my dad before he passed away that I was going to continue his participation in the Philippine Scouts,” said Sheree Clark of Tacoma. Her father, Constante Villalobos, was a member of the unit. He died in 2003.
The first three Congressional Medals of Honor awarded during the war went to Philippine Scouts. One of those medal recipients was Jose Calugas, who retired in Tacoma and died in 1998. His son Joe served as host for the weekend gathering.
Figuracion mentioned the great U.S. generals Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur.
“They were trained by the Scouts,” he said. “They learned how to fight in the Philippines.”
At the reunion, Figuracion’s grandson, 20-year-old Sky Figuracion of Tacoma, served on a panel that addressed ways to get more younger people involved in preserving the unit’s history. He said he has been involved in Filipino cultural events since he was 4. It’s a part of who he is.
“I believe that if you know your culture, you know yourself,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know where they come from.”
“It’s interesting to me,” he said. “And soon, there won’t be any actual people who were there to tell the stories. People will have to hear it from us.”
Dan Figuracion said there used to be 40 Scouts living in the Puget Sound area. Now there are five, he said, and he’s the last one who can walk.
“Every time a Scout dies, I always go to their funeral,” he said. “I say that I’ll be the last one to die. But who will attend my funeral when I die?”
Cole Cosgrove: 253-597-8267 cole.cosgrove@thenewstribune.com
IF YOU GO
What: The Philippine Scouts Heritage Society’s 26th annual reunion.
When: It continues from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. today.
Where: La Quinta Hotel, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma.
Website: www.philippine-scouts.org