Some thoughts on Memorial Day
Over this Memorial Day weekend, I was able to speak to one of the few remaining Filipino veterans of the Second World War.
Mr. Guerrero [not his real name] is still handsome at 78; he walks slowly, but with the certainty and dignity that comes with his age. He joined a USAFFE guerilla unit at the age of 15, in 1943, towards the end of the war in the Pacific. He fought with the guerrillas until his unit was officially disbanded in September of 1945.
After the war, he was able to come to the United States to study. He spent four years at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kingsport, New York, and went on to become a merchant marine captain.
He receives veterans’ benefits through the Philippine Government, and is additionally entitled to medical treatment at the U.S. Veterans’ Hospital in Manila. He is seeking naturalization to the United States, in recognition of his wartime service to the United States. His case has been pending for many years, and is currently stuck in administrative limbo.
“I was here in 2000,” he told me. “Many of us [veterans] were there, demonstrating in front of the White House and Congress.” He raised his fist, miming protest. He shook his head“Pero alam mo naman...I suspect, with these Americans, they will wait until li-lima lang kaming natitira, tsaka na lang ibibigyan nila.” [But you know...I suspect with these Americans, they will wait until there are only five of us left alive, and only then will they grant the benefits.)
He went on. “When I joined the guerrillas, I didn’t think about benefits, or rewards, or anything like that. I joined because minamahal ko ang aking bansang Pilipinas!” (I loved my country, the Philippines!). He brings his hand over his heart, forcefully--beating his breast with pride. “If it were about rewards--I think I have more than enough. I was able to come here, and study here for four years, get my degree, become a Merchant Marine officer. That’s more than enough. I am seeking naturalization not because I want to come here, necessarily-- I am already old--but for my children, and for the help that it would give them. That’s all.”
Mr. Guerrero [not his real name] is still handsome at 78; he walks slowly, but with the certainty and dignity that comes with his age. He joined a USAFFE guerilla unit at the age of 15, in 1943, towards the end of the war in the Pacific. He fought with the guerrillas until his unit was officially disbanded in September of 1945.
After the war, he was able to come to the United States to study. He spent four years at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kingsport, New York, and went on to become a merchant marine captain.
He receives veterans’ benefits through the Philippine Government, and is additionally entitled to medical treatment at the U.S. Veterans’ Hospital in Manila. He is seeking naturalization to the United States, in recognition of his wartime service to the United States. His case has been pending for many years, and is currently stuck in administrative limbo.
“I was here in 2000,” he told me. “Many of us [veterans] were there, demonstrating in front of the White House and Congress.” He raised his fist, miming protest. He shook his head“Pero alam mo naman...I suspect, with these Americans, they will wait until li-lima lang kaming natitira, tsaka na lang ibibigyan nila.” [But you know...I suspect with these Americans, they will wait until there are only five of us left alive, and only then will they grant the benefits.)
He went on. “When I joined the guerrillas, I didn’t think about benefits, or rewards, or anything like that. I joined because minamahal ko ang aking bansang Pilipinas!” (I loved my country, the Philippines!). He brings his hand over his heart, forcefully--beating his breast with pride. “If it were about rewards--I think I have more than enough. I was able to come here, and study here for four years, get my degree, become a Merchant Marine officer. That’s more than enough. I am seeking naturalization not because I want to come here, necessarily-- I am already old--but for my children, and for the help that it would give them. That’s all.”