Posted: July 7th, 2022

World War II Filipino Veterans

World War II Filipino Veterans
Veterans of World War II from the Philippines
When World War II began in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appealed to individuals of all backgrounds to join the fight for the country. Over 250,000 Filipino soldiers were among those who responded to the appeal for help (Laqua 120). They made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good. During the Japanese conquest of the Philippines and the Far East, they fought as American soldiers in the United States Army’s Expeditionary Force. Later on, they became proud citizens of the United States. For many years, however, they were relegated to the margins of society by the United States government. Both the general public and World War II veterans have lobbied for recompense for those who fought in the war in Europe. The response from the government was sluggish.

It is crucial to remember that more than 57,000 Filipino soldiers died while fighting alongside the United States during the conflict. President Harry Truman withdrew the commitment made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide benefits to veterans when the president failed to deliver on his word. Filipino soldiers fought alongside the American army in World War II with the objective of winning the war, but they were neglected by the American administration for many years as a result of civil upheaval and war.

After deciding to serve the American government, the country offered Filipino soldiers a variety of privileges, including money and citizenship in exchange for their sacrifices. However, following the end of the war, many of the benefits that the government had promised to World War II veterans were not delivered. According to McCallus (59), these were the unsung heroes of American history who went unnoticed. This betrayal of the soldiers’ and their families’ trust was a blot on the history of the United States of America. There were a disproportionately small number of heroes who received the benefits that they had earned. Despite their best efforts, lawmakers were unable to establish laws to ensure that the country recognized and honored the women and men who heroically fought alongside them during World War II. It is critical to remember that the United States annexed the Philippines during World War II. As a result, many people battled for their country’s interests (Bartosz 92). They made significant contributions to the triumph that America achieved during the war. They went unnoticed by the rest of the country. Under the leadership of President Roosevelt, the United States guaranteed soldiers that they would get full veterans benefits in exchange for their service in the Armed Forces. However, it fell short of its promise, and it was only until President Truman took office that it was brought back to life.

During World War II, when the Japanese seized the islands, there was a Philippine Resistance Movement that fought the Japanese occupation’s actions (Laqua 121). Guerrilla warfare was the major style of resistance employed by this group, and it was one that they had used for a long period of time. Civil instability was also a part of the mix. The guerrillas were battled by two main factions from Japan. One of them was the Japanese regular forces, and the other was the Bureau of Constabulary, which was established by the Japanese government specifically to combat the Filipino guerillas in the Philippines (Laqua 121). Later on, the second squad took the name Philippine Constabulary to distinguish themselves from the first. More than 260,000 Filipinos joined in guerrilla organizations and created clandestine memberships to attain the same goal of driving the Japanese out of the Philippines, according to postwar history studies (Laqua 121). During the war, the group was quite effective. Following the war’s conclusion, the Filipinos were able to regain control of 36 of the country’s 48 provinces (Laqua 121).

Because of the United States’ acquisition of the Philippines at the time, the two countries were able to fight alongside one another. As a result, the United States equipped and restructured a number of units in order to achieve the same goal as before. For example, the United States Air Force provided equipment to the Philippine Constabulary and Army (Laqua 121). Additionally, it provided formal bonuses and reimbursements to the many ethnic groups who fought alongside the Allies to bring the war to a close, as well as to civilians. Filipino war veterans were denied benefits by the United States government as part of its acknowledgement of those who fought in the conflict. After many years, the Filipino veterans’ contribution to the United States’ victory in the Vietnam War was finally recognized by the country. Approximately 260,715 people were involved in 277 independent guerilla units, according to the conclusions of Bartosz (92). They were formally acknowledged by the United States as having participated in the resistance movement. Prior to it, the United States had refused to recognize the Filipino war heroes who had fought alongside them in the war, despite the initial promises made by the government of the country.

Following its acquisition by the United States, the Philippines became an American protectorate during World War II. As a result, when Japan ambushed it unexpectedly, it was interpreted as an indirect attack on the United States. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Filipino civilians began to experience social unrest, necessitating the United States to intervene in their defense (McCallus 79). Filipino soldiers, on the other hand, turned to guerilla warfare as their principal means of resistance. There were tiny groups of combatants, such as armed civilians and paramilitary forces, who adopted an irregular style of warfare to achieve victory. To combat the massive Japanese military, combatants in the battle employed military techniques such as sabotage, ambushes, mobility, hit-and run tactics, rids, and petty warfare, as described by McCallus (87). Because the United States Armed Forces Helped the Filipinos, they were able to beat the Japanese using asymmetric warfare. It increased the mobility of the Asian country’s soldiers, which in turn weakened its adversary, the Japanese, through attrition, eventually forcing them to relinquish control of at least 36 of the provinces over which they held jurisdiction. The Filipino rebels avoided direct conflict with the Japanese troops, instead attacking them in small groups, stealing their resources and reducing their manpower reserves.

The Filipino guerrillas were successful in their resistance to Japanese occupation during World War II. They were able to seize control of 36 of the country’s 48 princes, with the remaining 12 remaining under Japanese control (McCallus 91). Notably, most of the provinces in Mindanao had already been liberated before to the arrival of the Americans in the region. Additionally, the Philippines controlled the two most important islands, Cebu and Visayas. Throughout the war and occupation, the United States was slow to provide the Helpance that the Philippines so needed. They, on the other hand, did not give up hope. It was their major goal not just to combat the Japanese, but also to prepare for the return of the American soldiers. According to Laqua (122) the Filipinos played an important role in Helping the United States in liberating the other sections of the islands from Japanese occupation. Following the war’s conclusion, both the Philippine and American governments recognized the critical role that some of the individuals and units played in achieving victory in the conflict. They did not, however, follow through on all of the promises that they made. The two countries, particularly the United States, later recognized the Filipino veterans’ achievements and provided them with the full rewards that they had promised.

During World War II, the Japanese carried out heinous atrocities against the people of the Philippines. They sought to take control of the islands. They also perpetrated religious establishments that served merely to encroach on the rights of the Filipino people and were therefore illegal. The Filipinos, on the other hand, formed guerilla units that battled the Japanese occupation through guerilla warfare and civil disobedience. The Armed Forces Helped the country since it was a protectorate of the United States, and they did so by giving tactical Helpance, resources, and manpower. They were able to overcome the Japanese by working together. President Roosevelt’s administration promised major benefits to veterans and their families, which it followed through on to ensure their well-being. The Filipino veterans have been suffering for many years. It was through President Truman that veterans were finally able to receive their benefits, after years of advocacy and activity on their behalf. History considers this to be a pivotal epoch. It demonstrates that the United States government failed to deliver on its promises, but that it eventually reassessed the issue and recognized the significant contribution made by Filipino forces and citizens to the country’s victory in World War II.

Several sources are cited.
“Guide to the Polish Veterans of World War II Records,” by Bartosz Nowoycki, is available online. A review published in Polish American Studies (vol. 74, no. 2, 2017), page 92. University of Illinois Press, doi:10.5406/poliamerstud.74.2.0092 (Poliamer Study, Vol. 74.2.0092).
Daniel Laqua wrote a book review titled “Book Review: The Great War and Veterans’ Internationalism.” Julia Eichenberg and John Paul Newman (eds.) are the authors of this work. Julia Newman John Paul (Eds), The Great War And Veterans’ Internationalism. Xii + 233 pages, published by Palgrave Macmillan in Basingstoke and New York in 2013.” War In History, vol 24, no. 1, 2017, pp. 120-122. SAGE Publications, doi:10.1177/0968344516679751f.
McCallus, Joseph P. Forgotten Under A Tropical Sun. The Kent State University Press, 2017.

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