[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11490]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 11490]]

                  BATAAN DEATH MARCH VETERANS SURVIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2001

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of our veterans, 
but in particular a group of them from World War II. These heroes 
survived the Bataan Death March only to be transported to Japan in the 
infamous Death Ships and were forced to work for private Japanese 
companies under the most horrendous conditions. Private employees of 
these companies repeatedly and systematically tortured and physically 
abused these American GI's. Not only did these corporations refuse to 
pay our former GI's their wages (as required by international law), 
they also withheld essential medical care and even the most minimal 
amounts of food. The brutality suffered by our POWs was truly 
staggering. During the Second World War, more than 11,000 died in the 
hands of their Japanese corporate employers, among the worst records of 
physical abuse of POWs in recorded history.
  After the War, approximately 16,000 returned--all battered and nearly 
starved, many permanently disabled, all changed forever. To serve U.S. 
policy, the U.S. and Japanese governments joined together to keep their 
ordeal from public attention. Now, like many other victims of World War 
II-era atrocities, the remaining survivors and the estates of those who 
have since passed away are seeking justice and historical recognition 
of their ordeal. They do not seek any redress from the Japanese 
Government or by the Japanese people. Rather, they seek compensation 
from the multinationals that withheld food and medicine for more than 
three years so that they could increase their profits.
  Representatives Mike Honda and Dana Rohrabacher have introduced 
legislation, H.R. 1198, which will allow these veterans a day in court. 
I am a strong supporter and a cosponsor of the bill.
  In addition, at the end of the month the new Japanese Prime Minister 
will visit the United States. I urge him and President Bush to directly 
address this issue. It is my hope that this opportunity will be used to 
reach a historic agreement that will address the concerns of our 
veterans who suffered inhumane treatment at the hands of Japanese 
companies during World War II.

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