[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               A NEVADA HERO: FRANCISCO ``FRANK'' CEDULA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Heck) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HECK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a heroic Nevadan 
who passed away February 2, 2011. His name was Francisco ``Frank'' 
Cedula. He was born in the Philippines in Pasay City on January 7, 
1923. Frank studied journalism at the University of Santo Tomas until 
he joined the Philippine resistance in 1941. At just 17 years old, he 
fought to disrupt the Japanese military's occupation. Eventually, Frank 
was captured and tortured by the Japanese, but he managed to escape and 
rejoin the guerilla fighters.
  On December 26, 1941, Frank fought in the Battle of Piis. More than 
100 American and Filipino soldiers fought and died in the battle. Their 
sacrifice gave General MacArthur's troops, his small USAFFE forces, 
enough time to assemble in Bataan. Commander Cedula was the lone 
survivor of the 3-day battle. He was bayonetted four times and left for 
dead. The natives assigned to bury the dead found him alive and nursed 
him back to health. Once healthy, he again rejoined the guerilla forces 
and continued the fight. Later in the war, Frank helped liberate 
American prisoners of war.
  When the war ended, Frank served as the Filipino Veterans Legion 
National Commander for almost three decades. During his term as 
National Commander, the Filipino Veterans Legion created significant 
new benefits for their members. In 2005, Commander Cedula authored 
``Filipino Veterans of WWII--An Endangered Human Specie'' to help 
inform congressional Members and veteran supporters about World War II 
Filipino veterans who were promised, and later denied, recognition and 
benefits for 60 years.
  Frank was a man who set goals, then accomplished them. Frank achieved 
one goal when the World War II Filipino Veterans Equity Bill became 
law. After the law passed, Frank coauthored a new book, ``Denial and 
Restitution by America.'' This sequel to his first book thanked the 
congressional and Senate leaders who fought to turn the World War II 
Filipino Veterans Equity Bill into law.
  For 20 years, he planned to construct a memorial marker at kilometer 
134 in Quezon, Philippines, to honor and memorialize the men who lost 
their lives in the battle. Commander Cedula returned from a trip to the 
Philippines where he finalized the funding for that dream.
  I am honored to call Commander Cedula a friend and a Nevadan.

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