Senator Heller Seeks Panetta’s Help on Fil-Vets Records |
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Sections - Filipino-Veterans' Lobby | |||
Saturday, 21 July 2012 19:34 | |||
By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA (© 2012 Journal Group Link International) C HICAGO (jGLi) – United States Sen. Dean A. Heller (R-NV) urged Wednesday (July 18) Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta to “establish a process for Filipinos, who claim to have fought alongside U.S. military during World War II” that would prove their service. The junior senator from Mr. Heller gave Mr. Panetta until A press release issued by Mr. Heller’s press staff, Stewart Bybee, said, “After WWII, the U.S. Army created the “Missouri List” based on individuals who came forward after the war to receive healthcare. This list has been the sole document used by the military to verify those who served alongside “It is possible that some Filipinos who fought were not added to this list and therefore would not be eligible for veteran benefits. In the letter, Senator Heller urges Panetta to make every effort to develop a method for individuals who say they fought and have documentation to work with military historians so they can receive benefits they deserve.” In his letter, Heller said, “Filipino soldiers served honorably in the Commonwealth Army of the “Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that some individuals who served alongside the “T he “It is my belief that in working with military historians, you can establish standards for documentation to support whether or not an individual had served during World War II in the “Filipino veterans are a respected part of the Meanwhile, Luke Perry, press and government relations director of the Filipino-American Veterans & families of America-NV Chapter, praise “Senator Heller for trying another way to have the records honored, as many of these warriors are dying every day. P erry added Nevada Congressman Joe Heck (R-NV-3) has sent “his staff to the NPRC to demand to view all our denied Filipino records. I am waiting for the result of that visit.” Perry relayed the developments to Ceasar Elpidio, Founder and President of the FAVFA-NV in a conference call on Wednesday. Mr. Elpidio congratulated Perry for his effort with the Senator. Elpidio stated that Senator Heller’s initiative to get the Secretary involved with military historians will create more logical standards for documentation in support of the Filipino veterans and he will now become part of the war history that has kept 24,200 Philippine veterans from being called Elpidio and Perry further stated that the process has been bogged down too long and the system does not work in place now. However, their records can be found in the Army archives in the Because of disputes over records coming from the Watch out for the upcoming media-outlet oriented, subscription-based website of Journal Group Link International that guarantees originally sourced stories, features, photos, audios and videos and multi-media contents.) Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at: (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
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