CLASSIC ESCAPE TO FREEDOM

CLASSIC ESCAPE TO FREEDOM –  WW II Tales from Greatest Generation

by Frank Quesada

Part – I

Colonel  (Ret,US) Frank B. Quesada, an  associate,  Philippine Military Academy, class ’44. The class that was overtaken by World War II, and earned their baptism of fire before graduation. It was the class that did not have any  published yearbook ( memoire ) until its 50th anniversary. or the traditional sword for their top cavaliers.

They went to war belting the cavalier’s theme song with high hopes of quick  victory , albeit, was never there in sight. These strong hearts were full of favorable expectation only to be dampened by the cunning tactical manuever of the  obdurate Japanese   invading forces.thatoutnmbered the USAFFE defenders of the Philippines.

Combat Engagement

On record, members of  class ’44, .however, held the record of shooting down their first Japanese  fighter airplane zero, in December 1941 in  Sitio Balara. T the outskirt of Manila. They fought  over four-years  of punitive struggle since 1942  under the iron heels of the obdurate Japanese Imperial Forces which decimated the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) in the Philippines, led by Gen. Douglas McArthur in April 9, 1942.

Guerrilla Warfare

The enemy occupation of nearly four years, was quite troublesome for the Japanese occupation troops, who found themselves ill-prepared for a protracted Filipino guerrilla  irregular and unconventional warfare  with full mass support from the  Filipino people.

People’s Mass Support

It was said, no invading foreign forces ever won over any nation – that never gain successful triumphed without winning the hearts and minds of the  vanquished. This true of the  Japanese invaders that never learned its lesson in this  savaged conquest of China before World War II. And now in Iraq where our troops are dying like sitting ducks, and in turkey shoot pouts by the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Hunters-ROTC Guerrilla

The most formidable resistance movement was borne out of whack by members of PMA class ’43, ’44 and ’45 and ROTC cadets with  strong  hearts, who left their families, and  joined  the ragtag Hunters-ROTC Guerrilla. originally organized and led by Miguel Ver (PMA class ’43) and by Eleuterio Adveoso. PMA class ’44) followed by a hoard of  ROTC crack marksmen cadets from different colleges and universities.

A Ragtag  Band of Botherhood

Through the  ensuing years,  the Hunters perfected the art of beg-borrow and steal adroit operations, its ranks  grew from  the original dozen young Filipinos which grew to approximately 50,000 stout-hearted regular members at the end of 1945. that  proved to be valuable to McArthur for the liberation of the Philippines.

The Hunters held the fires of freedom and liberty from 1942 to 1945 in the country, as the most  dreaded resistance  against the Japanese occupation troops.  The Hunters inflicted heavy damage against Japanese installations,  not to leave out heavy  casualties in enemy personnel, albeit,  with the least casualties on the part. of guerrillas. 

Liberation Forces

In  late 1944, American and allied liberation forces reached the Philippines from the Southwest Pacific (Australia) and liberated the Philippines with the much-needed help of Filipino resistance fighters, and the whole population whose loyalty to America and the U.S flag never waned. And  was blinded by  crafty American propaganda swallowed hook line and sinker by gullible Filipinos.

Guns of War – Silent

By 1946, the Japanese stragglers were  defeated and  mopped up by the joint-U.S forces and by Filipino guerrillas. After which,  the Philippines once more established its Second Republic in July 4, 1946. Normalcy slowly returned, and the Philippine government functioned as an independent Republic, freed from United States colonial moorings. 

Senate  Committee Secretary

In the Senate, Quesada was later appointed as Senate Committee Secretary of the Veterans and Military Pensions, as an avid proponent for justice and fairness of  his comrades in World  War II veterans and their compulsory heirs.

Former POW

Being a former prisoner-of- war himself, he knows by heart, what the war-veteran as a  POW had undergone to survive, and what he must do for God and country, for his comrades and compulsory heirs  of veterans of  WW-II.

Credible Community Leader

As Senate Committee Secretary, he was conversant  to, and with the  injustice and unfairness by the US government against  Filipino ex-US servicemen of the U.S Armed Forces, who were deliberately  denied since 1946, their rightful compensation and benefits veterans earned in battles of Bataan, Corregidor and the Philippine Campaign (1941 to 1946). 

Invidiously Discriminated

He was among those held  hostage by a government that had looked down upon veterans as  second class citizen war-veteran,  unjustly denied  veteran’s rightful war-time  compensation and benefits. 

Deep Sense of Loyalty

However, his deep sense of loyalty to freedom and democracy held his hope for fairness and justice from Uncle Sam.  up to now which never came. Deep in his heart, he carries the torch that burns the spirit. which. however,  has done great injustice which was more disgraceful for the  oppressor than for the victim to suffer it.

Served  With Honor

He retired from the U.S armed services after reaching the apex of his career, as Deputy Chief of Staff of the State Defenses Forces (USARNG), and was appointed to the ad hoc  Defense  Committee chaired by Lt. Gen, Daniel O. Graham, during Pres. R. Reagan Administration.  And later retired  from the military to take up  a top position in the US Circuit Executives of the  Federal Court, respectively. 

Consultant to and of Veterans

He devoted his waking hours as consultant to the official lobby of Fil-Am WW-II veterans (the formerly to the Office of Veterans  Affairs, (OVA ) as  the Representative of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP)  to the USA, by virtue of his savvy and experience in legislative affairs through the years.

Over Half Century of Injustice

It has been 63 years (today in the year 2005) since he and his comrades were deluded and deceived by the government of that took away their  rightful compensation and benefits, barefacedly denied without just cause, not to leave out as un-constitutional,  abhorred by the U.S Constitution, and by the American citizen-taxpayers.

Involuntary Servitude

Unless paid his denied World WarII compensation and benefits, he belongs to the indentured U.S. servicemen that were sent to harm’s way by the government to fight for the U.S. flag under involuntary servitude no less as slaves, and racially and economically discriminated abhorred by the U.S constitution and by the American people.

Dying of Old age and Sickness

From the original 200,000 Fil-Am U.S. servicemen conscripted by Pres. F. Roosevelt in 1941, only less than 25,000 survivors were left wallowing in poverty, and want for 63 years of  indifference and travesty of justice.

Held Hostage under Greed

These heroes of Bataan, Corregidor and the Philippine Campaign (1941 t0 1946) die with umbrage in their hearts for having been so cruelly defrauded under government lawlessness un-checked.The memory of the just is  indeed blessed, but  the act and the name of the wicked is  not. (Proverbs,X, 7)

Duly Constituted Advocate

The VFP is the only duly authorized official lobbyist for the vested rights and property interest of Fil-Am WW-II U.S. veterans, chartered under Republic Act 2640 recognized by the U.S. government, which is the conduit of these  WW-II veterans with the U.S. government. 

Duty Sans Compensation

Quesada accepted the appointment as the Veterans Federation of the Philippines’ Representative to the United  States of America, without compensation, albeit to seek justice and fairness for his indentured comrades. Over the years, he spent his own personal  resources uncomplianing.

Many Others  Declined to Talk About Their Gallant  Exploits

He has reluctantly agreed to relate his wartime, and post-war exploits, as well as his hurt,   however, his interviewers (Cav. Nestor Lim, PMA ’60 and Ms. Vicky Viray Mendoza (daughter of the late Cav. Viray, USNA 56)  persuaded him to at least answer to some questions of his wartime experiences,  relevant to the current crusade of veterans for justice and fairness from the US government. 

Leadership and  Resolve

With this historic  background, it was believed  could lend credibility and prestige to the veteran’s  crusade for justice and fairness long overdue  from the U.S. government But not for him. As per his request.

As a prisoner-of-war in  World War II, he was among the thousands of Fil-Am U.S. servicemen caught and tortured by dreaded Kempei Tai (military police) who operated with the perfidious Makapilis (local Quislings) that provided aid and comfort to the Japanese invaders.