Veteranos
Encyclopedia
Veteranos are Filipino
soldiers who fought in the Philippines in World War II
under the command of the United States military against the Japanese. The US enlisted the service of over 250,000 to over 400,000 Filipinos during the war in the Pacific.
The Veteranos and the Philippines were the only group of soldiers allied with the United States, during World War II, to not receive full equity and benefits, due to the passing of the Rescission Act of 1946
. Before this act, Filipino veterans were considered United States veterans with active service by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, but when this act was passed, this standing of being a United States veteran was taken away and full equity was never received, nor were their services to the United States military recognized. To this date the Filipino World War II "Veteranos" have yet to receive their full equity and benefits initially promised by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
.
Although they have yet to receive full equity and benefits, the veteranos were able to claim a small victory with the passing of President Obama's stimulus package
. Through the support of Hawaiian Senator Daniel K. Inouye, a provision was attached to the stimulus package that would provide for the payment of a lump sum of $15,000 to Filipino veterans who are American citizens and $9000 to those who are not. The provision however included a clause that stated that if the veteranos were to accept their lump sum payment, they would no longer be owed anything by the United States. This means that although the veteranos were able to acquire some of the money owed to them by the United States government, they would still not be able to receive full veteran benefits and status.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
soldiers who fought in the Philippines in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
under the command of the United States military against the Japanese. The US enlisted the service of over 250,000 to over 400,000 Filipinos during the war in the Pacific.
The Veteranos and the Philippines were the only group of soldiers allied with the United States, during World War II, to not receive full equity and benefits, due to the passing of the Rescission Act of 1946
Rescission Act of 1946
-Summary:Service before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the military order of the President dated July 26, 1941, including among such...
. Before this act, Filipino veterans were considered United States veterans with active service by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, but when this act was passed, this standing of being a United States veteran was taken away and full equity was never received, nor were their services to the United States military recognized. To this date the Filipino World War II "Veteranos" have yet to receive their full equity and benefits initially promised by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
.
Although they have yet to receive full equity and benefits, the veteranos were able to claim a small victory with the passing of President Obama's stimulus package
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
. Through the support of Hawaiian Senator Daniel K. Inouye, a provision was attached to the stimulus package that would provide for the payment of a lump sum of $15,000 to Filipino veterans who are American citizens and $9000 to those who are not. The provision however included a clause that stated that if the veteranos were to accept their lump sum payment, they would no longer be owed anything by the United States. This means that although the veteranos were able to acquire some of the money owed to them by the United States government, they would still not be able to receive full veteran benefits and status.