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40 more Filipino WWII veterans get US Congressional Gold Medal

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Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/08/29/20190829-wwii-veteran-medal-awarding-jc-8376.jpg"/><figcaption>Major Fortunato S. Perez receives the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award given by the United States, for his efforts in the second World War during ceremonies held at the World War II Veterans Museum in Taguig. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (UPDATED) - Forty Filipino World War II (WWII) veterans were honored Thursday with the US Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor the United States Congress confers.Among them was 96-year-old retired Maj. Fortunato Perez, who served in the Bulacan Military District during the Japanese occupation.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">96-year-old veteran Major Fortunato Perez and 95-year-old veteran Sgt. Isabel Perez receive the US Congressional Gold Medal for their service during the second world war <a href="https://t.co/vw66OmAIpz">pic.twitter.com/vw66OmAIpz</a>— Vivienne Gulla (@VivienneGulla) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivienneGulla/status/1166967799941480449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>Perez was only 18 years old and was a freshman engineering student when he was recruited to join the force against the Japanese. At one point, he was captured but managed to escape.Also among the awardees is 95-year-old retired Sgt. Isabel Perez. Perez was part of the Hunters ROTC Guerillas, where she was responsible for the general supplies for her fellow guerillas.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/08/29/20190829-isabel-perez-jc.jpg"/><figcaption>Sargeant Isabel Perez INF (INACT) receives the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award given by the United States, for her efforts in the second World War during ceremonies held at the World War II Veterans Museum in Taguig on August 29, 2019. Sgt., Isabel entered the service as Quartermaster, Hunter ROTC Guerillas and was responsible for supplies and provision for her fellow guerillas who raided the Japanese prison in Muntinlupa, to free her comrades and obtain arms. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Retired Staff Sgt. Antonio Yu was the third living veteran on the list of Thursday’s awardees. The other 37 were conferred with the award posthumously.US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said the recognition of Filipino WWII veterans is a “symbol of friendship and alliance” between the Philippines and the United States.Filipino and American forces fought side by side against Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the war, which ended with Japan&#x27;s defeat in 1945.“As we face today’s complex challenges, it is important to reflect on the lessons of our history and the contributions of these brave men, how our forefathers fought for our nations,” Kim said Thursday.“Courage, bravery, and mutual respect made us stronger together,” he added.According to Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, of the more than 300,000 Filipino WWII veterans, only around 4,000 are still alive.“We are running out of time. We want them to receive the award while they are still around. We have given them priority,” he said, noting that they plan to hold the awarding ceremony once a month.<div>Here is the complete list of 40 awardees:</div>Living Veterans 1. Maj. Fortunato Perez 2. Sgt. Isabel Perez 3. Staff Sgt. Antonio YuPosthumous 1. Col. Eleuterio Adevoso 2. Col. Gustavo Ingles 3. Lt. Col. Juan Mauri Claravall 4. Lt. Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo 5. Lt. Col. Feliz Rubio 6. Maj. Benito Manalo 7. Lt. Guillermo Parayno 8. 1Lt. Andres Clemente 9. 1Lt. Jose de Ocampo 10. 1Lt. Democrito Mendoza 11. 1Lt. Romeo Gironella 12. 2Lt. Rizalina Claravall 13. 2Lt. Joaquin Octaviano 14. 2Lt. Manuel Grio 15. 3Lt. Jose Nuñez 16. MSgt. Francisco Calucin 17. Sgt. Fermino Lubugin 18. Sgt. Virgilio Milana 19. Sgt. Aurelio Madlangbayan 20. Sgt. Jaime Marquez 21. Sgt. Gregorio Anonas Jr. 22. Sgt. Marcelo Aquino 23. Sgt. Eladio Nierva 24. Staff Sgt. Luiz Victor 25. Staff Sgt. Bienvenido Bueno 26. Cpl. Juan Macalindong 27. Cpl. Segundo Racho 28. Pfc. Vitaliano Antonio 29. Pfc. Egmedio Ragandan 30. Pvt. Tomas Cloa 31. Pvt. Sancho Tamayo 32. Pvt. Castor Bagaconza 33. Pvt. Francisco Magsajo 34. Pvt. Florencio dela Rea 35. Pvt. Francisco Espina 36. Pvt. Ramon Miranda 37. Pvt. Paterno Bombase

MANILA (UPDATED) - Forty Filipino World War II (WWII) veterans were honored Thursday with the US Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor the United States Congress confers.

MANILA (UPDATED) - Forty Filipino World War II (WWII) veterans were honored Thursday with the US Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor the United States Congress confers.

40 more Filipino WWII veterans get US Congressional Gold Medal

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40 more Filipino WWII veterans get US Congressional Gold Medal

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 29, 2019 08:08 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 30, 2019 04:19 PM PHT

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