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H.R. 760, The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 (25 comments ↓)
H.R. 760 would amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
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Mignonette A. Agustino-Flora
Giving equal benefits to WWII Filipino Veterans or to their surviving widows is the right thing to do. In 1941, after signing up, Filipino Soldiers were promised full benefits but after the war in 1946, Congress broke this promise and over 225,000 Filipinos were left without benefits. Where is Integrity? Promise is a promise, America should keep its word!
tedbohne
Jesus Christ! How much more money is this idiotic country going to give away, or throw away, or lose, or whatever. The Philipinos can provide for themselves! The VA already doesn't have the funding to take care of Americans. Is ALL sanity in this country gone?
tedbohne
Rocky
Actually, the VA has plenty of money. It is just controlled by so many people that it takes forever to get to the right person. The Filipino Veterans provided service to the USA and in return they were promised a benefit. It would be easy to ignore since the population of our WWII vets is rapidly decreasing, but that does not make it the right thing to do. We have turned our backs on too many people that helped us reach a goal. We need to do the honorable thing here and provide for these brave men and their surviving widows.
Guest Who
Filipino vets served the US well during WWII. The Philippines was a US Commonwealth then and therefore, the Filipino veterans should be treated equally like any other Americans who fought for USA.
Guest Vet
Watch how many 90-year old Fil vets marry a sixteen year old wife before they die. Then they'll collect spousal benefits for another 80 years. A thousand dollars a month isn't that much in the states, but it's a FORTUNE in the Philippines. There are still surviving spouses of Filipino veterans of the Spanish-American war - drawing benefits! (These are paid by the Philippine government). Are these legitimate claimants? Of course not! But the U.S. is asking for the same kind of blatant abuse if they open the door to these veterans.
National Veterans Foundation
Ted is obviously misinformed about Filipino Veterans. The point is not that the Filipinos can take care of themselves, the point is that the United States of America made a promise to the Filipinos that served for us in WWII that we would compensate them for it, and we neglected to follow through with that when the war was over. As Americans, we should want to honor our word and make good on a promise and the government should fully support this bill, as should ALL Americans. Is our word meaningless? NO. We owe it to them. And if they "marry a 16 y.o." as the "Guest Vet" has said, then by all means we should pay them benefits, because we have failed to give them anything for the last 60+ years and we promised them and as an American, you should honor your word.
70% Disabled Navy Veteran
If we legitemately promised benefits then fine; we should absolutely live up to that committment. My concern is where the money comes from to pay for this. I do NOT think it should come out of the pockets of deserving UNITED STATES DISABLED VETERANS! How about taking it out of the pensions of our "Disabled" Lawmakers. This is a travesty and I should think that ALL VETERANS GROUPS SHOULD FIGHT IT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. It doesn't seem right that I and others like me loose a benefit that we earned, at some great cost, in order to fulfill a "promise" made two generations ago. Congress CAN fix this, WILL THEY, most likely not at least not without some serious noise from Veteran's Groups.
JOSE RIZAL
I think Ted didn't know what he is saying, if he research the history he will not say anything to his brother Filipino. Ted, "From the past god see us as the worker of his deed for your country's glory (U.S.A.)but in this future god see us as the Implementors of gods' deed to benefit the whole world including you, your family, your friend, and love ones". Ted, my brother treat us as your brother, what due is due.... see my brother.
Kaya
It is unfortunate that the Filipino veterans were left out of the little benefits they deserved after 60 years. The US is now providing money to unfriendly countries just to win their support. However, these Filipino vets fought for the US to achieve democracy and peace for Armerica and the world.
rodrigo
we the defendents of pow vet are looking for some grattitude that will be given by states to world warii vets.promise to fullfil to earn gratefullness anywhere in the wide world.......
Eufrosena C.Sabarre
we are just hoping that the benefits for filipino war veterans be given right away.61 years had passed we are grateful if that will be given. my father is already 86 years old.His unlimited service during the war be compensated.We wanted that before he will journey to another life he will enjoy the fruit of his labor.thank you very much. May God bless you.
ronald moore
I cant imagine why the US has renigued on paying this benefit. It should be paid now!!!!!!However, when it is paid it should only be paid to legitimat individuals. The Philippines is the most corrupt country in Asia and phony documents can be had anywhere in Manila. The U.S. needs to be very careful when paying the benefits. Dont think for one minute that thousands of phonies by the thousands will be lined up to collect if they can. We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers hard earned cash on thieving dictators in the Philippines and a portion of that money should have gone to deserving veterens.
Julius Amistad
Is the bill already been approved,, please send me the details in my email address zorjoab@yahoo.com as soon as posible,, ty and more power
Im proud to be a Filipino!!!!
Curb
As a Desert Storm veteran (USAF), I can honestly say this is the most ridiculous piece of garbage legislation peddled by the Democrats so far this year. To contribute benefits to non-US citizens (at the expense of disabled U.S. veterans) is a travesty. No patriot should ever support this kind of PC and immoral capriciousness.
budz522
" LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND"
it doesnt matter who you are. Filipinos or not.they're all soldiers.
Vets' Grandson
"I,[Name], do solemnly swear... that I will bear true faith and allegiance...to the United States of America...that I will serve them honestly and faithfully...against all their enemies whomsoever...and I will obey the orders...of the President of the United States...And the orders of the officers appointed over me...according to the rules and Articles of War."
That was the oath my grandfather took when he enlisted in the war. He pledged allegiance to the USA and they promised him full citizenship and equal benefits in return. What did he get? A couple thousand dollars because he took a gunshot wound when operating a heavy machine gun. I wasn't even able to see my grandpa because fell ill and money was scarce.
I am sadden to know that the place I have called home for many years now have lied and betrayed my family and people. The Japanese promised sovereignty and alliance to the Filipinos if they gave it in return. I can't help it, but it makes me wonder.
Mike B.
This act is about supporting all of the troops who have fought under the American flag. As American nationals under the Commonwealth of the Philippines, these soldiers were under U.S. command and spilled blood with other Americans.
It does not matter that the Philippines was not a state: veterans from Washington, D.C. still receive benefits, and rightfully so.
It does not matter that the Philippines is now an independent country: of the 66 present-day countries allied with the U.S. in World War II, the Philippines is the only one that did not receive military benefits from the United States.
All U.S. veterans should support this measure.
Tess
Filipinos soldiers were DRAFTED by Roosevelt as the Philippines was part of the US Commonwealth at the time. Why could Roosevelt draft Filipinos? Because the US had played a devils bargain with Chinese in order to gain the Philippines - Dewey steamed into Manila Bay, played the Filipinos to "help liberate" their country, then had many executed in order to stop an "insurgency" that wanted Filipino Independence. Gotta love our foreign policy - Deny Delay until they pass away.
Ron Mandell
I'm a Marine 'Nam vet. In addition, I have been an Officer in the Army Reserve for the past 35 years. Some of you are missing the point. In 1941, President Roosevelt inducted the entire Philippine Commonwealth Army into the U.S. Armed Forces. As a U.S. Commonwealth, by law, they didn't have any choice. These guys were serving officially as U.S. Soldiers, under American officers. Because they were U.S. Soldiers, they were promised the benefits of U.S. Soldiers. This was not only Roosevelt's personal promise to them, through the Commonwealth President (Manuel Quezon), but Douglas MacArthur's promise. At the time, we were desperate for their services. The Japanese had invaded the Philippines with 45,000 troops, and we had less than 20,000 American troops in the islands.
US Vet's Son
My father immigrated over here before the war...served 32 years in the US Navy. It was the proudest time of his life to serve this country. If he were alive to day it would sicken him that this government would not stand by its promise in 1941. His family back in the PI laid their lives down. As for me...well..after all that's happened lately--I'm not surprised. Just disgusted.
us filipino vet's daughter
the question is will these brave and distinguished men who fought for the US receive any money? i doubt it. i am saddened to think that any veteran would slander another veteran just because he/she chose not to become a us citizen and who still lives in the philippines, and if they recieved these benefits would be considered RICH in the PI. These filipino's fought alongside american soldiers and gave their lives for the US!! regardless of whether the war was 5, 10, 60 years ago, a promise made should be kept. but again, 60 years too late. and most likely these brave men and their families will see none of these benefits.
US Army Vet
@curb - you should go out to Walter Reed and other VA hospitals and tell your sentiments about not providing benefits to non-US citizen members of the military. Last time I checked there's plenty of them in Iraq and Afghanistan right now.
There's nothing PC about this. What makes you more of a "vet" than these people? They fought for the same cause, flag, leaders. They bled and died the same way as any other vets. They are not asking for a lot. An estimated cost of $1B in 10 years? Hell, we spent more than that building 1 B2-bomber. 60+ years has been long enough. Time to recognize these people's sacrifices.
estelle quimbo boeschen
i hope that this benefit for the still living Filipino veterans soon be approved before the unlimited support of Senator Akaka, Senator Inouye, Congressman Bob Filner etc. be greatly honored by the majority of the Filipino community in the US as well as in the Philippines.
I greatly salute these Senators and Congressmen who are fighting for the rights of the "deceived and unforgotten heroes" who fought for the flag of the U.S.A
jyramite001
As a grandaughter of a WWII Guerrilla Fighter and a daughter of a Desert Storm Veteran, it really saddens me that there's even a debate about this topic. It's quite simple to see (if do your research, and open your mind up to the truth about this topic and legislature)that these WWII Veterans deserve what relatively little is being asked. Think about the fact that these brave souls are at their end stages of life; how (if you had a heart yourself) could you deny them some type of peace of mind in these last years on Earth? These are HUMAN BEINGS: individuals who did the fighting, the sacrificing, and the 60+ years of suffering. For what? THIS "great" gov't that is currently sending billions of dollars to do the same to the soldiers who will be treated the same? This bill will pave the way for future veterans, and, at the very least, give them hope that the U.S. won't turn its back on them when it's their turn to receive benefits. Peace:.
Wennie
My mother is almost 86 years old, her husband, a filipino soldier, died a year after their marriage for defending the USA flag in the Philippine soil. How many years more is she going to wait .... time is running out.