Jan. 2001 - Philippine Defenders Main

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WESTERN STATES CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM Registration including banquet is $40 per person. There is no charge for EX-P.O.W. wives and widows. The charge for other guests for banquet only will be $30. Please make reservation before March 20, 2001. PLEASE PRINT Full name_______________________________________ Guest __________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Name preferred for name tag, if different from above. Address_________________________________________ Phone (_____) ___________________ City ____________________________________________ State _______ Zip________________ Unit in P.I.______________________________________ P.O.W. camp ____________________ Please indicate number of persons for each banquet selection. Prime rib _______ Teriyaki Chicken breast ________ 14 — THE QUAN POSSIBLE TOURS — INTERESTED?? ________ ________ NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY (combination of Naval yes no Air Station Point Mugu and Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme) ________ ________ RONALD REGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND yes no MUSEUM. PLEASE SEND REGISTRATION INFORMATION ABOVE NO LATER THAN MARCH 20, 2001 TO PETER LOCARNINI, 1734 PACIFIC AVE., SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577 — (510) 357-9689 FOR INFORMATION REGARDING VENTURA AREA, SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM LOS ANGELES, BURBANK, OXNARD AIRPORTS OR AMTRAK, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN OR TRUDY REAL, 4349 VASSAR ST., VENTURA, CA 93003 — (805) 642-5142. AMERICAN DEFENDERS OF BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR WESTERN STATES CHAPTER Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington Convention April 3, 4, 5, 2001 Holiday Inn Ventura Beach Resort 450 East Harbor Boulevard, Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 648-7731 (800) 842-0800 Fax (805) 653-6202 Rates: $80.00 — honored two days before/after, if available. Reservation cut-off date: March 20, 2001 — Group code ADBC-WC Arrival date _________ Departure date _________ First nights deposit or credit card is required to guarantee your reservation. Credit Card Type ___________ Number ____________________________ Expire __________ NAME___________________________________________ PHONE (_____)_________________ ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________ CITY ____________________________________ STATE ____________ ZIP _______________ Please use phone number and address above. RP, JAPAN REMEMBER WWII SUICIDE PILOTS By CHRIS P. GRUTAS Tribune CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Filipino and Japanese officials recently commemorated the 55th founding anniversary of the Kamikaze, a group of Japanese suicide pilots in World War II (WWII), during a simple wreath laying rite at the Lily Hill compound inside this former United States Air Force Base. Japanese Buddhist Ekan Ikeguichi, who officiated the prayer for the commemoration, said the Kamikaze “represents a dark portion of the world’s history” but was revered as heroes in their country. Ikeguichi, in his prayer, also asked that Japanese parents will never be asked to send their children to war. At the height of WWII, when Allied Forces were about to recover Clark Air Base from the Japanese Imperial Army, the invading troops retreated to nearby Mabalacat town for refuge. During their retreat spawned the world renowned and dreaded Kamikaze Organi - zation, a group of fearless Japanese pilots, established on October 20, 1944 at the house of Marcos Santos in Mabalacat. The Colacirfa Hill in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat was turned into a Japanese command post where Kamikaze pilots stood unchallenged in their war exploits for quite some time, which was headed by then Vice Adml. Takijiro Ohnishi, commander of the Japanese Naval Forces in the country. The pilots, also known as the first human bombs, deliberately crashed their planes on the decks of enemy warships. It was in early morning of October 20, 1944 that an announcement signed by the admiral was posted which read: “The 201st air group will organize a special attack corps that will destroy and disable, if possible, the energy carrier forces in the waters of the Philippines.” Twenty-three young pilots coming from the 201st air group and 1st air fleet were in a frenzy and voluntarily affixed their names to signify their participation in the Kamikaze Organization. BOOK Ms. Dorothy Dore Dowlen, a medical aid at a concentration camp located in Malabalay, Bukidnon, Mindanao, has written a book entitled “Enduring what cannot be endured. She was born in the Philippines to a British father and a Filipina Mestiza mother and now resides in San Jose, CA. Her book is sold by mcFarland & Co. — 800-253-2187. Cost is $29.95 + tax.
VA GETS TOP MARK ON PERFORMANCE REPORT WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee has released grades to 24 government agencies for their Fiscal Year 1999 Performance Reports, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received a grade of “A.” “These Performance Reports are supposed to inform Congress and the public about what agencies are doing and how well they’re doing it,” said Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Fred Thompson. “The VA clearly demonstrates a commitment to results- oriented performance and accountability.” The grades were based on an analysis of 24 of the largest agencies by the General Accounting Office, the Congressional Research Service and the agencies’ Inspectors General offices. “We graded the reports on a curve. Even so, we could only grade four of the 24 agencies above a ‘C’. On the other hand, seven agencies got ‘D’s or ‘F’s,” said Thompson. “VA’s mission is the most service- oriented of all Cabinet departments. Our customers include 24 million veterans and their families,” said Acting Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Edward (Ned) Powell, Jr. “Services and benefits are provided through a nationwide network of 172 medical centers, more than 760 outpatient clinics, 134 nursing homes, 58 veteran benefits regional offices and 119 national cemeteries. We have established customer service standards to ensure VA equals the best in business. Our goal is ‘putting veterans first,’ ” said Powell. According to a Governmental Affairs Committee news release, VA’s top grade for its performance Report was based on three criteria: 1) Performance — what the report said about how well VA delivered key performance results that citizens expect of VA. 2) Management — what it said about progress in resolving major management problems that could waste tax dollars and impede performance. 3) Usefulness — how useful was the report in explaining VA’s accomplishments. “A lot of people worked hard to put this report together,” said Powell. “We established benchmarks to measure outcomes and compare our performance with private sector organizations to ensure that VA services were truly efficient and effective. But more importantly, the report reflects the dedication and effort of thousands of VA employees who responded creatively to the challenges of improving veterans’ services while streamlining structure. “Throughout VA, we are actively changing old patterns and routines to meet a new definition of care and services,” added Powell. “Yet the Department has a rich tradition to uphold. We must and will ensure that our policies, our people, and our programs remain focused on their fundamental purpose: to fulfill the American public’s debt of gratitude to those who served this nation.” PRE-CONVENTION REGISTRATION We have had good past results with the pre-registration application, beats standing in long lines. We are going to change the card a little. The 1st line will be your 1st name (Bill/William for instance). On the P.O.W. Camps line use only your favorite. The rest of the blank fill out as stated. The registration will be $25.00 per person which includes the banquet and registration as has been in the past. The banquet ticket should be exchanged for table reservations. DO NOT send money. Pay when you come to the convention. Steiger, Rod (1925-) — Hollywood actor. He lied about his age and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941, serving in the South Pacific as a torpedoman on the destroyer U.S.S. Taussig. Steiger was involved in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, among others, being medically discharged for acute skin disease twenty-four hours after the Japanese surrendered. Stewart, Jimmy (1908-1997) — Holly wood actor and Academy Award winner for 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps eight months prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, becoming the first actor to do so. Stewart had been deferred from the draft because he was underweight (140 pounds) for his height (6’21⁄2”), so he put on ten pounds to barely qualify for en listment. For a while, he became a bombardier instructor at Moffet Field, California. In 1943 Stewart was transferred to England to the 445th Bombard ment Group of the Eighth Air Force. Stack, Robert (1919-) — Hollywood actor. He served as a gunnery officer for the U.S. Navy for three and a half years in World War II. At one time he taught gunnery at Pensacola. Susskind, David (1920-1987) — TV producer. In World War II, he served as a communications officer on a U.S. Navy attack transport and participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Susskind was discharged in 1946. Vallee, Rudy (1901-1986) — Popular singer, musician, and movie actor of the 1930’s and 1940’s. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, rising from chief petty officer to obtain a commission as a lieutenant senior grade. In 1943, Vallee became a bandmaster of the Eleventh Naval District, entertaining troops for the U.S.O. Previously in 1917, he had enlisted in the Navy to fight in World War I but was discharged because he was underage. REGISTRATION CARD — PLEASE PRINT FIRST NAME_____________________________________ GUEST ___________________________ FULL NAME _____________________________________ PHONE ( ________ ) _______________ ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________________ CITY____________________________________________STATE ___________ZIP ______________ UNIT IN P.I. _______________________________________________________________________ P.O.W. CAMP _____________________________________________________________________ WORLD WAR II VETS IN HOLLYWOOD END OF A SERIES Van Dyke, Dick (1925-) — Hollywood actor and comedian who spent two years in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Wallace, Mike (1918-) — CBS newscaster. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a communications officer in Hawaii, Australia, and aboard a sub marine tender. Wallach, Eli (1915-) — Hollywood actor. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II. Warden, Jack (1921-) — Hollywood actor. He was a U.S. Army paratrooper in World War II with the 101st Airborne Division. On the last practice jump over England prior to D-Day, Warden broke his leg and injured his back, which prevented him from making the D-Day jump. In the 1980 TV movie, A Private Battle, he portrayed Cornelius Ryan, who as a correspondent did jump with the 101st Airborne Division at D-Day. Warner, Jack L. (1892-1978) — Hollywood movie producer and head of Warner Bros. Studios. At the outbreak of World War II, he was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Air Force. Due to his studios’ proximity to the Lock heed aircraft plant, Warner had painted a huge sign on the rooftops of his sound stages pointing the way to Lockheed so that no one (the Japanese) would mistakenly bomb his facilities. The words “Lockheed thataway” were followed by an arrow. The sign was short-lived. Webb, Jack (1920-1982) — Hollywood actor and producer. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943 where he was trained as a B-26 pilot. Webb was discharged in 1945 having never left the States. (Continued on Page 18) JANUARY, 2001 — 15
Page 1 and 2: The VOLUME 55 PITTSBURGH, PA — JA
Page 3 and 4: RESTORING FAITH By DOROTHY CAVE ALD
Page 5 and 6: JAPANESE FIRM OK’S FUND FOR SLAVE
Page 7 and 8: AN ANGEL AMONG US MADELINE ULLOM UI
Page 9 and 10: SILVER STAR On 31 March 1942, the 3
Page 11 and 12: JAMES P. BENNETT WARREN — Service
Page 13: CHARLES P. FOWLER Charles P. Fowler
Page 17 and 18: TOUR OFFERINGS 2001 REUNION AMERICA
Page 19 and 20: THE CORREGIDOR SCHOOL This fitting

Jan. 2001 - Philippine Defenders Main

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