PUHI — There was no need for words — the silent handshakes, hugs and stoic faces said it all.
More than 60 years have passed while these veterans have waited for their benefits from serving in the United States military in the Philippines during World War II, fighting the Japanese in the Pacific.
Thirteen Filipino veterans still living on Kaua‘i did not have to say anything as Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., Kaua‘i County Council Chair Kaipo Asing and other leaders acknowledged the wrong the nation did to more than 250,000 of their brethren who fought under the American flag in WWII.
Of those, just 18,000 are alive today. On Kaua‘i, 13 of these Filipino veterans are being honored, Asing said in the presentation of a commendation certificate.
When the Filipino soldiers went to war, they were promised veteran benefits, but that promise was revoked in the Rescission Act of 1946, stripping Filipino veterans of their status as U.S. veterans.
The silent and relentless battle for these benefits entitled to the Filipino veterans continued for more than 60 years before President Barack Obama signed the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which included a piece to correct this inequity and injustice, recognizing the veterans’ noble service with financial compensation.
Ernie Pasion, president of the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce, who introduced all of the soldiers involved, said Filipino veterans of American citizenship will receive a one-time compensation of $15,000. Non-American veterans will receive a one-time compensation of $9,000.
As these words were being spoken, there was one less than the 13 marked on the program because a veteran had passed away last month, his identity marked at the program by an empty chair with the “Reserved WWII Filipino veteran” sign taped on its back.
“The price of freedom is not free,” said Kylan Dela Cruz, deputy director of the county Parks and Recreation Department, in delivering the keynote address. He said Operation Military Appreciation is a time to celebrate and honor the armed forces and the sacrifices they make to keep our nation free.
Capt. Aaron Cudnohufsky, commanding officer of the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Mana, expressed his appreciation to the county, its leaders and people.
“It is important to have support, and we thank you for supporting us,” Cudnohufsky said. “We invite the people to PMRF on July 2 starting at 4 p.m. to enjoy the Fourth of July. It’s just a small way the base tries to give back to the community because we cannot do what we do without you.”
Tony Ricci coordinated the third annual event that Carvalho said would not happen without four major sponsors — The Sons of Hawai‘i motorcycle club, Garden Island Motorsports, Kaua‘i Harley-Davidson, and the Grove Farm Co.
Funds generated at this one-day event go directly to support families of Kaua‘i armed forces personnel who are deployed to stations overseas.
The Kaua‘i surviving Filipino veterans include: Bernardo Ancheta, Francisco Bisarra Sr., Gavino Cabanatan, Alberto Canonizado Sr., Federico Cuaresma, Demetrio Dasalla, Nemesio Gambeng, Felix Iloreta, Francisco Jardin, Vicente Lagoc, Portirio Mariano, Florentino Reyes and Sixto Tabay.
