COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING
Myths
& Realities about Immigration Today
Vets Affairs Testimony
National
Statement Supporting Human Rights by NNIR
The
Struggle to Pass the Equity Bill
Strive
Act a False Promise
Vets Affairs Testimony
2
House
Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing
Submitted Testimony
on the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007
February 15, 2007
My name is Lillian Galedo. I am the Co-chair of the National
Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE) a recently
formed national coalition of organizations and individuals
who have fought for the past twelve years for the right
of Filipino World War II veterans to equal status in the
eyes of the U.S. government. I am also the Executive Director
of Filipinos for Affirmative Action, in Oakland, California.
It is the National
Alliance's fervent hope that the U.S. Congress will finally
correct a 60+-year injustice, and restore to Filipino WWII
veterans their rightful claim to U.S. veterans' status.
For the past six decades these brave veterans have sought
to end the discrimination they have endured and be recognized
as equal to all other WWII veterans who fought under U.S.
command.
The Filipino
community, which is now 2.5 million strong and has a 100+
history here in the U.S., has made this issue a priority
since these veterans were finally granted the ability to
apply for U.S. citizenship in the early 1990's.
Historically,
WWII is remembered as the 'the good war' against the threat
of fascism. As a nation Americans remain ignorant of the
Pacific 'theater' of WWII against Japan. In the national
'minds eye' we see American combatants in the Pacific, and
blot out the contributions of the thousands of Filipinos
and Pacific Islanders who fought and died on this front.
Americans have
very little appreciation for the debt we owe the Filipino
people. As a colony of the U.S. Filipinos were inducted
into the U.S. military by Executive Order. They fought alongside
Americans, under the same commander, for the same reasons.
The most sustained campaign against Japanese tyranny was
fought in the Philippines. The Filipino people's resistance
to the Japan's invasion and to the subsequent occupation
of the Philippines provided the U.S. the Ôbreathing
room' to rebuild American forces after Pearl Harbor and
rethink our war strategy. The valiant resistance by Filipinos
forced the Japanese to maintain resources in the Philippine
occupation, weakening Japanese ability to defend themselves
in other parts of the Pacific.
Risking everything
so we in the U.S. wouldn't experience the terror of war
on our soil, the Filipino military -- regular and guerrilla
-- fought against overwhelming odds to spare Americans the
agony of war. Because Filipinos fought the Japanese so courageously
in Luzon, Americans did not have to fight the war in Monterey,
San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The cost of war
for the Filipino people was 300,000 dead, a thoroughly damaged
infrastructure, and a devastated economy. For their sacrifices,
the U.S. Congress in 1945 legislated that the service of
Filipinos did not constitute service in the U.S. military!
Today Filipino
WWII veterans are in their late 70's and 80's, and living
in poverty; unappreciated for their service to preserving
democracy in the U.S. Their substandard living conditions
are compounded by separation from a supportive family network,
poor health, and in some cases depression.
What
price freedom?
The Filipino community's struggle to correct this injustice
has been met year after year with false-concerns for the
financial impact of 'doing the right thing.' How do we place
a price tag on our freedom? How in a period of patriotism,
and increased military spending, can Americans turn our
backs on Filipino soldiers who displayed supreme patriotism?
Surely, a government that appreciates the fact that America
remained a free country after WWII will find the resources
to compensate those who helped make it possible. Given the
advanced age of the veterans and the high rate of deaths
that is occurring, we are anxious to correct this injustice
while there is a significant number of veterans to realize
this victory.
We urge the 110th
Congress to grant full military status, entitlement to the
same benefits that other U.S. veterans receive, and the
recognition of the role Filipinos played in preserving American
democracy, by passing H.R. 760.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lillian Galedo
Co-chair, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity
(NAFVE)
and
Executive Director, Filipinos for Affirmative Action (FAA)
