Filipinos
Filipino WW II Veterans; courtesy Antonio Somera/Daguhoy Museum
Service in World War II
Initially barred from joining the armed services, Filipino nationals were given special permission to fight on behalf of the United States during World War II. The Philippines itself was the site of key battles between the Japanese and the United States. For instance, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the Philippines on the same day.
250,000 Filipino Soldiers Denied Veterans Benefits
250,000 Filipinos served and fought in WWII. Despite their sacrifice, the U.S. passed the Rescission Act of 1946, denying Filipino servicemen formal veteran status with benefits. The Act stated that Filipinos "shall not be deemed to be or to have been of service in the military or national forces of the United States or any component thereof or any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges or benefits." Approximately 66,000 other foreign WWII soldiers were granted the status of United States veteran. Only Filipinos were denied the honor.
Today, the few surviving Filipino Americans who served in World War II still await veterans' benefits for their service.