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Veterans Day 2009 celebrates justice for Filipino veterans
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Filipino veterans in Hawaii April 2009 at a ceremony in their honor
When Filipino soldiers fought for the U.S. against the Japanese in the Pacific theater during World War II, Congress promised U.S. citizenship and veterans' benefits equal to those other veterans received. This commitment was retracted in the 1946 Rescission Act.
Thus began the long struggle of the Filipino U.S. Armed Services veterans. It was not until 1990 that an amendment to the Immigration and Naturalization Act awarded Filipino WWII veterans the right to apply for US citizenship and almost 20 years later that other benefits were allocated. HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the economic stimulus bill), passed in February 2009 and granted Filipino WWII soldiers full veterans' rights.
The provision compensates these veterans with lump-sum payments of $15,000 for U.S. citizens or $9,000 for Filipino citizens at a total cost of $198 million. The money had been allocated in 2008 and therefore did not affect the stimulus bill funding.
Some U.S. veterans cried foul upon hearing this news, stating they were not given compensation for their sacrifices during the war. But the struggle of the Filipino veterans was extraordinary. Although they joined the U.S. forces and fought next to U.S. soldiers with the belief they would be treated the same as any other veteran, they waited 65 years to be awarded veterans' benefits.
Many veterans who fought for the U.S. hoped to immigrate to the U.S. with their families to escape the destruction and resultant poverty in the Philippine Islands after the war. Many came to the U.S. ready to work and save to bring their families to a better life. Some fell prey to abusive labor practices perpetrated by those who sought to take advantage of these hopeful but naïve young men.
In 1941 the Philippines was a U.S. colony. By the end of the war, as many as 200,000 Filipinos had fought under Gen. Douglas MacArthur, including many in the Bataan death march. It is estimated that 18,000, or less than 10%, Filipino veterans of the U.S. Armed services are alive today and able to accept the benefits they were promised long ago.
Filipino veterans have until February 16, 2010 to register for benefits.
Information about how to register
Veteran’s must complete and register form Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund - Form 21-4138 (CF), Statement in Support of Claim. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs must receive this form on or before February 16, 2010.
Click here for more information on the struggle of the Filipino veterans
National Federation of Filipino American Associations
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