Forgotten Soldiers and a Lost Battlefield
By Hawaii State Senator Will Espero
These are two of the matters that others have brought to my attention, and asked that you join them by writing letters of support to those who both make decisions and influence decision-making in Washington.
Soldiers We Need to Remember
The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle’s publisher Chona Sonido earlier this year brought to everyone’s attention the widespread problem of discrimination against Filipinos. One of the more inexplicable instances of discrimination is found in the 1946 Rescission Act, which Congress has still to rectify. The law stripped Filipinos of all the benefits they were promised as members of the U.S. military during World War II. Over 250,000 Filipinos braved life and limb for our country. Their war efforts were no less courageous than our fellow Japanese soldiers whose heroism is better known. About 18,000 Filipino veterans are alive today.
The Rescission Act took away U.S. veteran status and its benefits for Filipinos only. Nationals from the 66 other countries who served under American command received U.S. veteran status. Only Filipinos were singled out for discriminatory treatment. Let’s not allow this unequal treatment to continue. We need the support of other veterans’ groups to gain passage of HR 670, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, to correct this gross injustice and reneging of promises made to those who bravely served the American flag. Filipinos deserve the full honor of the status and benefits that befit those who have fought for our country. Our representatives, Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono are already aware of this, and wider support among other Congressional leaders is needed. The National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity has asked people to urge other veterans’ groups and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass HR 670. Members of Congress can be reached through the Congressional website, www. House.gov.
For more information, contact Ben de Guzman, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity, NAFVE Campaign Coordinator at nafve2007@gmail.com or by phone at (202) 422-4909.
The Lost World War II Battlefield
World War II for the United States started on an airstrip in the plains of ‘Ewa on Oahu, Hawaii. In three passes early on that fateful morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese Zeroes struck low and fast, destroying most of the 50 U.S. aircraft there and killing four Marines before Kamikaze went on to bomb Pearl Harbor. An originally classified Defense Department report on the Japanese raid that precipitated American involvement in the war, said the attack on ‘Ewa was “so precise and well-executed that it appeared as though each plane previously had selected its particular target…with the purpose of riddling them, and setting fire to the gas tanks to render them useless for pursuit and interception.”
Thus commenced the very first act of Japanese aggression against America, and the entrance of the U.S. into World War II.
The ‘Ewa Marine Corps Air Station’s Marine Air group 21 had 11 Grumman F4F Wildcats, 32 Scout dive bombers, and six utility planes. Marines heroically defended the base that eventful morning, manning machine guns of damaged aircraft and fighting back with only small arms and rifles. Lt. Yoshio Shiga, commander of nine Zero fighters, recalled years later, his memory of one Leatherneck who stood transfixed on the field amidst the machine gun fire striking all around him, emptying his sidearm at Shiga’s plane as it roared past. Shiga described that “lone, defiant, and unknown Marine as the bravest American he had ever met.”
During World War II, fighters roared into the sky over the former ‘Ewa marine Corps Air Station. Famous dogfights involving Japanese fighters and George Welch and Ken Taylor, two Hale’iwa Field pilots, occurred over the airbase. In July 1944, the field was toured by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, General Douglas MacArthur, and Admiral Chester Nimitz.
In 2008, a wild jungle now covers the heroic battlefield, neglected and forgotten in the shadow of the better-known Arizona Memorial.
The airfield became part of the Barber’s Point Naval Air Station, which was officially closed in 1999 by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Stables now occupy some of the former aircraft revetments, to house horses owned by current military stationed in Hawaii. The ‘Ewa plain where the field is situated is currently in Navy hands but is scheduled to be turned over to a developer.
Ewa Beach resident John Bond has thoroughly researched the history of the air station, and is leading a campaign to preserve the original part of the airfield, what he calls the “Lost World War II Battlefield.” He believes that both runways that existed on December 7, 1941 should be set aside, along with the old mooring mast and control tower locations, and some of the entry roads, including the original main gate where President Roosevelt, Admiral Nimitz, and General MacArthur entered the base. He is pursuing nomination of the base land to the National Register of Historic Places. Mr. Bond is concerned because a planned land swap could lead to development of the area. The Navy is currently negotiating the 499 acres for 40 years with an option to take title to the property. The agreement is expected by the end of August 2008.
The bravery of the Marines who were the first Americans to be attacked and to defend their country against that pivotal Japanese invasion on the morning of December 7, 1941, deserves to be remembered and honored. Your assistance in preserving that portion of the air field involved in the very first site of World War II aggression would be greatly appreciated by our military and other patriotic citizens of Hawaii.
John believes that making ‘Ewa Air Field part of the “Wider Pearl Harbor Monument” would not only give recognition to the Marines lost, but raise awareness of the historic importance of the field. The millions of tourists who visit Pearl Harbor each year would feel the same pride and love of country in the bravery shown by our military at ‘Ewa Air Field. Preserving the site will bring visitors to Ewa just as it does to Pearl Harbor. Those who come to Hawaii to view our historic sites would also be interested in the brave battles fought over and from Ewa. If you’d like to help John with this effort, you can contact him at GM@december7.com.
I have been informed that ‘Ewa Air Field is on the President’s List for becoming a National Monument and recognition as a National American Battlefield. Official recognition will make the airstrip eligible for federal funding to be spent in West Oahu for historic preservation. Your support will help bring ‘Ewa Air Field “on the radar” of the decision-makers in Washington. Please write separately to President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush to ask them to make this happen. Their address is The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Blvd., Washington, D.C. 20500.
Senator Will Espero represents the 20th Senatorial District (Waipahu, Ewa, Ewa Beach and West Loch) on the Island of Oahu. He also serves as the Chair of the Senate’s Public Safety Committee.