IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1400 

Expressing the Nation’s sincerest appreciation for the service of the World 

War II Filipino veterans who fought in the Armed Forces on the 67th 

anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s military order. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 31, 2008 

Mr. ISSA (for himself, Mr. FILNER, and Mr. WILSON of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the Nation’s sincerest appreciation for the service 

of the World War II Filipino veterans who fought in 

the Armed Forces on the 67th anniversary of President 

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s military order. 

Whereas the Philippines Archipelago was acquired by the 

United States in 1898, became an organized United 

States territory in 1902, and remained American territory until its independence in 1945; 

Whereas the people of the Philippines and the United States 

developed strong ties based upon shared democratic values and security interests, which compelled the United 

States to defend the people of the Philippines even after 

independence; 


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•HRES 1400 IH 

Whereas on July 26, 1941, in anticipation of Japanese aggression in the Asia Pacific region, President Franklin D. 

Roosevelt issued a military order calling the organized 

military forces of the Government of the Philippines into 

service under the command of General Douglas MacArthur; 

Whereas President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s military order 

stated, ‘‘As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy 

of the United States, I hereby call and order into service 

of the Armed Forces of the United States for the period 

of the existing emergency, and place under the command 

of a General Officer, United States Army, to be designated by the Secretary of War from time to time, all 

of the organized military forces of the Government of the 

Commonwealth of the Philippines’’; 

Whereas on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and 

Clark Air Field in the Philippines were suddenly attacked, initiating fighting on the Pacific front during 

World War II, which led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers and countless civilian casualties; 

Whereas on February 20, 1946, President Harry Truman 

stated, ‘‘Philippine Army veterans are nationals of the 

United States and will continue in that status until July 

4, 1946. They fought, as American nationals, under the 

American flag, and under the direction of our military 

leaders. They fought with gallantry and courage under 

most difficult conditions.’’; 

Whereas on October 17, 1996, President William J. Clinton 

issued a proclamation on the anniversary of the 1944 return of United States forces under General MacArthur to 

liberate the Philippines and said, ‘‘I urge all Americans 


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•HRES 1400 IH 

to recall the courage, sacrifice, and loyalty of Filipino 

Veterans of World War II and honor them for their contribution to our freedom.’’; 

Whereas on July 26, 2001, President George W. Bush, in his 

greetings to the Filipino World War II veterans said, 

‘‘More than 120,000 Filipinos fought with unwavering 

loyalty and great gallantry under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. The combined United StatesPhilippine forces distinguished themselves by their valor 

and heroism in defense of freedom and democracy. Thousands of Filipino soldiers gave their lives in the battles 

of Bataan and Corregidor. These soldiers won for the 

United States the precious time needed to disrupt the enemy’s plan for conquest in the Pacific. During the 3 long 

years following these battles, the Filipino people valiantly 

resisted a brutal Japanese occupation with an indomitable spirit and steadfast loyalty to America.’’; 

Whereas originally 200,000 Filipinos served this cause, and 

there remain between 18,000 and 20,000 today; 

Whereas this year marks the 67th anniversary of the military 

order from President Franklin D. Roosevelt; and 

Whereas the contributions of the Filipino people and the sacrifices of their soldiers in World War II should be recognized on this anniversary: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 

2 and extends its sincere appreciation to the veterans of the 

3 Philippine Commonwealth Army during World War II for 

4 their sacrifice to our Nation during a time of war and for 

5 their selfless service. 

Æ 


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