Henry Lubong's Journal

Shame on you who denied benefits (which is rightfully theirs) for these Filipino veterans! These brave men fought side-by-side with U.S. under the American flag and should be honored in every way.

Road to recognition

• July 1941: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, fearing that war with Japan is imminent, drafts 140,000 soldiers from the Philippines, then a U.S. colony.
• March 1942: Congress passes a law allowing Filipino soldiers to become U.S. citizens after the war as a reward for their service. They”re also promised full U.S. military benefits.
• May 1942: U.S. forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese, but many U.S. and Filipino soldiers keep fighting. The U.S. later places Filipino guerrillas under Gen. Douglas MacArthur”s command.
• February 1946: President Harry Truman signs two bills denying Filipino vets most veterans” benefits.
• November 1990: President George H.W. Bush signs a law allowing Filipino vets from World War II to become instant U.S. citizens.
• February 2009: President Barack Obama signs the stimulus bill, which includes a provision to give Filipino vets who are U.S. citizens $15,000. Vets who are Filipino citizens get $9,000.

You can read the full story here – http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12124922?source=rss