Post by VeeVee on Sept 27, 2010 5:40:55 GMT -5
Old article from May 2010. I didn't know Joe has an "impression." It would be great if he could wear it to one of the PS reunions sometime. 
The staff writer doesn't know the difference between the Bataan campaign and the Bataan Death March...
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community gathered at Madigan Army Medical Center May 14 to celebrate Asian Pacific American heritage.
This year's theme, "A diverse leadership for a diverse workforce," focused on the contributions and diversity of Asian Americans. The event was hosted by Bravo Company of the Warrior Transition Battalion.
"We are here today to celebrate Asian Americans, their cultures, their customs and their remarkable contributions to our society and organizations," said 1st Sgt. Garry Dietzman, B Company, WTB.
In 1978, a joint resolution signed by President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the week of May 4 to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Week.
"In 1992, Congress said, 'We need more of that because of what the Asians have given to this country, in so many conflicts around the world,' so they then made May the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month," Dietzman said.
May was selected because of many significant milestones during that month, including the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, which was made possible largely by Chinese-American laborers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 14 million Asian Americans currently living in the U.S. Of those, approximately 3.6 million are of Chinese descent, 2.9 million Filipino and 2.7 Asian Indian, and the numbers are expected to grow.
"The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who identify themselves as Asian Americans will be approximately 33 million," said Dietzman, who is of Korean descent.
Guest speaker, Jose Calugas Jr., shared his experiences as an Asian American born in the Philippines. Calugas joined the U.S. Army after moving here, and retired after six years of active duty and 16 years in the Reserves.
Wearing a Filipino Scouts World War II era uniform, Calugas held up a map as he showed the audience where to find his native country. Located in the western Pacific Ocean in southeast Asia, the Republic of the Philippines is the world's 12th-most-populous country with approximately 92 million people. The country's 7,100-plus islands are grouped into three provinces. Although the country's primary language is Tagalog, Calugas said natives are taught English and speak it fluently.
"You could go anyplace in the Philippines, and everyone speaks English," Calugas said.
Calugas touched on the country's rich history, dating back to the 1800s when it was controlled by Spain. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, Spain gave up the Philippines to the United States, during which time the Philippine Scouts were formed.
Calugas' father, the late Capt. Jose Calugas Sr., served as a Philippine Scout during World War II. He went on to be the only Filipino to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of his actions during the Bataan Death March. Calugas Sr. manned a cannon under intense fire when his comrades retreated.
"He was able to (destroy) about 62 vehicles and their occupants, it said in his (award) citation," Calugas said. "I don't know how he did it. I don't understand, but he manned it by himself for about four hours."
As many as 10,000 people died in the march alone, Calugas said. His father survived.
"They went 65 miles with no food or nothing whatsoever," Calugas said. "When you got caught drinking water, or you were too slow, you got shot. Can you imagine?"
Calugas joined the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society after learning more about his father's experiences in World War II.
"A lot of the Philippine Scouts are from World War II," he said. "They're in their 80s and 90s, and there aren't too many of them still around, so we try to preserve the history and legacy of the Philippine Scouts."
Today, Calugas is president of the society, and spends much of his time educating others on Asian Americans' rich history. He and his wife, Goody, are also active in collecting donations of books and school supplies for their native country.
Dancers from the Filipino American Youth Organization based in Tacoma wrapped up the celebration with native dances, and everyone was invited to sample Asian American food.
Laura M. Levering is a reporter with Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian.
Photo credit Ingrid Barrentine
Jose Calugas, Jr., a retired Army Sgt. 1st Class and son of the only Filipino recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor during WWII, points out the Philippines on a map of the Pacific during his speech at the MAMC and WTB Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration May 14.
The staff writer doesn't know the difference between the Bataan campaign and the Bataan Death March...
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community gathered at Madigan Army Medical Center May 14 to celebrate Asian Pacific American heritage.
This year's theme, "A diverse leadership for a diverse workforce," focused on the contributions and diversity of Asian Americans. The event was hosted by Bravo Company of the Warrior Transition Battalion.
"We are here today to celebrate Asian Americans, their cultures, their customs and their remarkable contributions to our society and organizations," said 1st Sgt. Garry Dietzman, B Company, WTB.
In 1978, a joint resolution signed by President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the week of May 4 to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Week.
"In 1992, Congress said, 'We need more of that because of what the Asians have given to this country, in so many conflicts around the world,' so they then made May the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month," Dietzman said.
May was selected because of many significant milestones during that month, including the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, which was made possible largely by Chinese-American laborers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 14 million Asian Americans currently living in the U.S. Of those, approximately 3.6 million are of Chinese descent, 2.9 million Filipino and 2.7 Asian Indian, and the numbers are expected to grow.
"The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who identify themselves as Asian Americans will be approximately 33 million," said Dietzman, who is of Korean descent.
Guest speaker, Jose Calugas Jr., shared his experiences as an Asian American born in the Philippines. Calugas joined the U.S. Army after moving here, and retired after six years of active duty and 16 years in the Reserves.
Wearing a Filipino Scouts World War II era uniform, Calugas held up a map as he showed the audience where to find his native country. Located in the western Pacific Ocean in southeast Asia, the Republic of the Philippines is the world's 12th-most-populous country with approximately 92 million people. The country's 7,100-plus islands are grouped into three provinces. Although the country's primary language is Tagalog, Calugas said natives are taught English and speak it fluently.
"You could go anyplace in the Philippines, and everyone speaks English," Calugas said.
Calugas touched on the country's rich history, dating back to the 1800s when it was controlled by Spain. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, Spain gave up the Philippines to the United States, during which time the Philippine Scouts were formed.
Calugas' father, the late Capt. Jose Calugas Sr., served as a Philippine Scout during World War II. He went on to be the only Filipino to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of his actions during the Bataan Death March. Calugas Sr. manned a cannon under intense fire when his comrades retreated.
"He was able to (destroy) about 62 vehicles and their occupants, it said in his (award) citation," Calugas said. "I don't know how he did it. I don't understand, but he manned it by himself for about four hours."
As many as 10,000 people died in the march alone, Calugas said. His father survived.
"They went 65 miles with no food or nothing whatsoever," Calugas said. "When you got caught drinking water, or you were too slow, you got shot. Can you imagine?"
Calugas joined the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society after learning more about his father's experiences in World War II.
"A lot of the Philippine Scouts are from World War II," he said. "They're in their 80s and 90s, and there aren't too many of them still around, so we try to preserve the history and legacy of the Philippine Scouts."
Today, Calugas is president of the society, and spends much of his time educating others on Asian Americans' rich history. He and his wife, Goody, are also active in collecting donations of books and school supplies for their native country.
Dancers from the Filipino American Youth Organization based in Tacoma wrapped up the celebration with native dances, and everyone was invited to sample Asian American food.
Laura M. Levering is a reporter with Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian.
Photo credit Ingrid Barrentine
Jose Calugas, Jr., a retired Army Sgt. 1st Class and son of the only Filipino recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor during WWII, points out the Philippines on a map of the Pacific during his speech at the MAMC and WTB Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration May 14.