Oscar Bangui, 91, of Waipahu, was just a teenager when he joined the guerillas resisting the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in Northern Luzon during World War II.
He helped hide his cousins, who had an American father, then an escaped American soldier.
With Bangui’s help, the soldier made his way to the mountains to organize the resistance. About three months later, the soldier came back and told Bangui he was giving him a battlefield promotion and Oscar was now a lieutenant in charge of the guerillas in his area.
It was a dangerous time, he recalled. You didn’t always know for sure who was a collaborator and who was a guerilla fighter.
“You had to choose,” Bangui said. “I chose America.”
On Oct. 25, Congress is finally recognizing Bangui’s service to the United States and the bravery and sacrifice of all of the Filipino veterans of World War II because of a bill sponsored by Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono and Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
The bill, now Public Law 114-265, awards them the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award that Congress can bestow.
The Filipino World War II veterans finally join the Nisei World War II soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo code talkers and other minority veterans, who have already received the award.
It’s an honor 75 years overdue, said retired Maj. Gen. Tony Taguba, the chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project. “It has taken us this long. I’m sorry it has taken us this long.”
We’re losing surviving veterans every day, Taguba noted. So it’s important that they be recognized and that their families know what they did for America and the Philippines.
Taguba, the son of a Philippines Scout who served in the same area as Bangui, notes that some guerillas and Philippines soldiers are still waiting for full veterans benefits, which were taken away by the Rescission Act of 1946. But they remain loyal and patriotic.
Taguba, who grew up in Wahiawa, was in Honolulu recently to meet with Hawaii veterans at AARP Hawaii’s office. AARP is supporting the effort and helping pay for bronze replica medals, which will be presented to surviving veterans and their families.
He urged surviving veterans and families of veterans who have died to register on the FilVetRep.org website so they can be receive a replica medal at ceremonies and dinners being planned across the country next year, including in Hawaii.
Taguba estimates there were about 10,000 surviving veterans a couple of years ago. But it’s hard to get an exact count because many have not registered.
The FilVetRep group is also collecting stories of the veterans, whose actions during the war are not as well-known as other veterans.
Stories like that of Salome Calderon, a woman who served in military intelligence.
Calderon said she collected and organized information on Japanese positions and installations in the Philippines so that American bombers could take them out.
“My children told me, ‘Nana, you’re entitled. You should enjoy,’” she said.
Calderon and Bangui’s stories and service will be preserved on an educational website, Taguba said, so that future generations will “really appreciate the sacrifice and the value of the Congressional Gold Medal and the actions of those who made it possible for them to live in freedom.”
HOW TO HELP
To register for the Congressional Gold Medal or donate to help pay for the bronze replica and ceremonies honoring the veterans go to FilVetRep.org.
