[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 92 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 191

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 20, 1996

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce this resolution (H. 
Con. Res. 191) to provide that long delayed recognition to persons 
considered to be members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army Veterans 
and members of the Special Philippine Scouts--by reason of service with 
the Allied Armed Forces during World War II.
  We must correct the grave injustice that has befallen this brave 
group of veterans, since their valiant service, on behalf of the United 
States, during the Second World War.
  On July 26, 1941, President Roosevelt issued a military order, 
pursuant to the Philippines Independence Act of 1934, calling members 
of the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the service of the United 
States Forces of the Far East, under the command of Lt. Gen. Douglas 
MacArthur.
  For almost 4 years, over 100,000 Filipinos, of the Philippine 
Commonwealth Army fought alongside the Allies to reclaim the Philippine 
Islands from Japan. Regrettably, in return, Congress enacted the 
Rescission Act of 1946. This measure denied the members of the 
Philippine Commonwealth Army the honor of being recognized as veterans 
of the United States Armed Forces.
  A second group, the Special Philippine Scouts called ``New Scouts'' 
who enlisted in the United States Armed Forces after October 6, 
1945, primarily to perform occupation duty in the Pacific, have also 
never received official recognition.

  I believe it is time to correct this injustice and to provide the 
official recognition long overdue for members of the Philippine 
Commonwealth Army and the Special Philippine Scouts that they valiantly 
earned for their service to the United States and the Allied cause 
during World War II.
  These members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the Special 
Philippine Scouts served just as courageously and made the same 
sacrifices as their American counterparts during the Pacific war. Their 
contribution helped disrupt the initial Japanese offensive timetable in 
1942, at a point when the Japanese were expanding almost unchecked 
throughout the western Pacific.
  This delay in the Japanese plans bought valuable time for scattered 
allied forces to regroup, reorganize, and prepare for checking the 
Japanese in the Coral Sea and at Midway.
  During the next 2 years, Filipino ``Scout'' units, operating from 
rural bases, tied down precious Japanese resources and manpower through 
guerilla warfare tactics.
  In 1944, Filipino Forces provided valuable assistance in the 
liberation of the Philippine Islands which in turn became an important 
base for taking the war to the Japanese homeland. Without the 
assistance of Filipino units and guerrilla forces, the liberation of 
the Philippine Islands would have taken much longer and been far 
costlier than it actually was.
  I urge my colleagues to carefully review this resolution that 
corrects this grave injustice and provides recognition to members of 
the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the members of the Special 
Philippine Scouts.
  The full text of the bill (H. Con. Res. 191) is included at this 
point in the Record.

                            H. Con. Res. 191

       Whereas the Commonwealth of the Philippines was 
     strategically located and thus vital to the defense of the 
     United States during World War II;
       Whereas the military forces of the Commonwealth of the 
     Philippines were called into the United States Armed Forces 
     during World War II by Executive order and were put under the 
     command of General Douglas MacArthur;
       Whereas the participation of the military forces of the 
     Commonwealth of the Philippines in the battles of Bataan and 
     Corregidor and in other smaller skirmishes delayed and 
     disrupted the initial Japanese effort to conquer the Western 
     Pacific;
       Whereas that delay and disruption allowed the United States 
     the vital time to prepare the forces which were needed to 
     drive the Japanese from the Western Pacific and to defeat 
     Japan;
       Whereas after the recovery of the Philippine Islands from 
     Japan, the United States was able to use the strategically 
     located Commonwealth of the Philippines as a base from which 
     to launch the final efforts to defeat Japan;
       Whereas every American deserves to know the important 
     contribution that the military forces of the Commonwealth of 
     the Philippines made to the outcome of World War II; and
       Whereas the Filipino World War II veterans deserve 
     recognition and honor for their important contribution to the 
     outcome of World War II: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress recognizes and honors the 
     Filipino World War II veterans for their defense of 
     democratic ideals and their important contribution to the 
     outcome of World War II.

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