Forty WWII veterans receive US Congressional Gold Medal

Retired Court of Appelas Justice Emmanuel Pamaran, Hunters RPTC Veteran and President  of the Veterans Federation of the PH congratulates veteran 2Lt Jaime E. Grafil, INF. He served at the" 51st Medical Battalion, 51st Division  and received the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) for his brave exploits in defense of Bataan, particularly, as part of the II Corps on the Abucay-Morong and Pilar-Bagac Line, during World War II.  Also in photo (L-R) PVAO Administrator Ernesto Carolina, US Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission John Law, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. (Photo courtesy of DND)

QUEZON CITY, July 11 (PIA)—Forty World War II veterans recently received the US congressional Gold Medal during the awarding ceremony hosted by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) together with the United States Embassy.

The U.S. CGM is a recognition granted to Filipino WWII veterans for their efforts and distinguished achievements during the war. It is the highest civilian honor the U.S. Congress can bestow to an individual or collective for significant contributions that have helped shape American history.

The event held on June 10, 2019 at the Tejeros Hall, AFPCOC,Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City was led by defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Dir. Tracey Betts and Deputy Chief of Mission John Law from the US Embassy, Manila.

Forty (40) Filipino WWII veterans were conferred the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. Nineteen (19) of these awardees are living WWII veterans, namely:

SSgt Alberto M. Galarpe (90 years old); Col Francisco T. San Miguel (91); Pvt Elino G. Evangelista (90); Sgt Jose Felix F. Caparas (91); SSgt Hilario B. Lascota (92); Pvt Venancio C. Oblena (93); Pvt Elias P. Miranda (93); PFC Pedro P. De Jesus (94); Sgt Enrique K. Lim (94); PFC Policarpio L. Baguisi (94); PFC Luis B. Mendoza (95); Pvt Wilfredo G. Valenzuela (95); Cpl Mauricio J. Jandomon (96); Sgt Miguel C. Perez (96); 2nd Lt Jaime E. Grafil (99); 2nd Lt Eugenio G. Palileo (100); PFC Eduardo C. Abaya (100); 1st Lt Alejandro T. De Castro (102); Sgt Jose S. Quilatan Sr. (104)

Meanwhile, the twenty-one (21) posthumous awardees are:

BGen Arnulfo D. Bañez; Col Artemio A. Alejo; Col Felipe M. Fetalvero; Col Floro H. Henson; Col Ciceron P. Dela Cruz; Col Jose V. Agdamag Jr.; LtCol Leon I. Valencia; Lt.Col.Saturnino R. Silva; LtCol Mauro S. Caballes; Maj Rafael J. De Leon; Maj Francisco C. Millena; Capt Delfin M. Wenceslao Sr.; 2nd Lt Reynaldo B. Bayona; 2nd Lt Vicente B. Bayona; 2nd Lt Louis Pike Jalbuena; MSgt Jesus B. Delos Santos; TSgt Primo T. Santos; TSgt Adriano N. Sagun; Sgt Dionisio D. Villanueva; Sgt Eufrocino T. Tagayuna; Pvt Pedro U. Calleja

During the event Lorenzana, shared his fulfilling experience in successfully lobbying for the recognition of the veterans during his stint as Head of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

He said he worked hard for the approval of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Act of 2009 with the U.S. Congress.

The awardees are the second batch of U.S. CGM recipients for the NCR. The next batch is scheduled to be awarded at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo this July. The first awarding was held at the U.S Embassy in Manila last 13 September 2018. (PIA InfoComm/DND)