Filipino WWII Vets Seek U.S. Recognition

CHICAGO - Jose V. Juachon was among thousands of Philippine nationals inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces in 1941, when their country was under American control.

The United States promised them the same benefits as American soldiers at the time, then rescinded that promise five years later.

"Every time, I always cry," Juachon says, his eyes filling with tears as he talks about the $50 a month he receives for a war injury, all he can expect under current law.

Bills now in Congress would reverse the nearly 60-year-old slight — giving Filipino veterans full U.S. benefits. Similar legislation has failed in the past, but the cause has taken on new urgency as aging veterans like Juachon race against time.

"For all these years, I have served the U.S. government," the 86-year-old veteran said. "We are trying to get the U.S. government to recognize us. When most of this was happening, our senators and congressmen were not even born yet. They don't know."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=542&e=8&u=/ap/20050404/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/filipino_veterans

Not born or aWol or hiding from the draft like Delay and Limbutt and Wolfie.