Letter: Veteran’s family grateful for medal

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KAT WADE / SPECIAL TO THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER

Retired Army Maj. General Antonio Taguba presents 94-year-old WWII veteran Domingo Los Banos with a bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal in the Coral Ballroom at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Sunday, May 6, 2018 in Honolulu, Hi.

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When I read the article about honoring the Filipino World War II veterans, by Rosemarie Bernardo (“Filipino World War II vets to be honored,” Star-Advertiser, May 3), I immediately wondered if my 91-year-old father Juan “John” Ferrer was eligible to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. My father had enlisted in the Navy in April 1945 shortly after turning 17.

After contacting the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FILVETREP) and submitting the required documents, I was informed that U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Tony Taguba approved the medal.

Dad was presented with the medal on June 24, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Aging. Dignitaries from the VA, fellow veterans and family were in attendance. My father proudly wore his Navy uniform to receive the medal.

Our family is grateful to the VA for his care and to the Star-Advertiser for bringing the medal to our attention so that he could be honored and recognized before his passing on Aug. 7. To find out if your family member qualifies, please contact www.filvetrep.org

Jicky Ferrer

Mililani

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