Ambassador Francis Ricciardone
Remarks at
60TH COMMEMORATION OF THE CABANATUAN RAID
January 30, 2005
Senator and Mrs. Gordon, Governor and Mrs. Joson, Vice-Governor and
Congresswoman Joson, Mayor and Mrs. Vergara, Secretary Ermita, general
officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, soldiers of the United
States of America and the Republic of the Philippines, General Eikenberry,
honored veterans, colleagues of the diplomatic corps, good people
of Nueva Ecija: Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat. Thank you all very
much for joining us today here in this bright sunshine and heat.
Today’s event is so important for all the reasons
that Senator Gordon, Secretary Ermita, and Governor Joson have pointed
out. We come here today to honor the sacrifices made by the preceding
generation to give us our freedom and the prosperity. We’ve
been able to build that prosperity thanks to their sacrifice, thanks
to the blood shed on both sides, thanks to the mingling of the colors
of our two countries, from their time to our current time.
When Douglas MacArthur spoke of the war and he awarded
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci, the Commander of the Raiders that
day, the Distinguished Service Cross for his action, he wrote that
no incident of the Philippine Campaign had given him such personal
satisfaction as that joint and combined raid. Two thousand six hundred
fifty six Americans perished in Cabanatuan. Their names lie on the
wall behind me. Thousands of others who passed through these gates
died elsewhere, in prison camps in Taiwan or in mainland Japan, or
on their way to those places.
And like later raids to free the civilian detainees
at Santo Thomas and Los Banos, which we will also be celebrating,
the raid on Cabanatuan represented an effort to keep faith with those
prisoners, and to keep faith with the Filipinos and redeem our promises.
We honor the courage and the bravery of those Americans and Filipinos
who risked their lives so others could be free. And we salute as well
the inheritors of their tradition, the American Army Rangers and the
Philippine Scout Rangers, who stand side by side today with us to
commemorate the heroism of their forefathers.
Today, we battle together new enemies: terrorism, of
course; but also poverty, injustice, corruption, and even natural
disaster. In December, our American and Filipino soldiers again stood
side by side, not far from here. I visited Governor Joson, with Senator
Gordon, at that time as we inspected how our forces working together
helped provide relief to the people in neighboring provinces of Aurora
and Quezon. They demonstrated the value of our practice together throughout
the year, every year; the value of the Visiting Forces Agreement;
and the value of our annual exercises that we do together. Our ability
to deliver, our ability to protect our people and serve our two peoples
together is no accident. We’re able to do it because we expend
a lot of effort and treasure, and sometimes blood, to keep our forces
able to work together so well.
Just as sixty years ago, so today we continue to stand
together. We have these ceremonies not only to honor the people who
gave us all we have, but also to rededicate ourselves to paying forward
their legacy. That is, to make sure we will protect and defend the
democracy, the freedom, and the prosperity that they passed on to
us. To make sure that our children will enjoy what they gave to us:
the liberty to unleash our people’s talents, and build this
great country, and build this great alliance even further than we
have.
Our partnership runs deep, as we see today and as we
remember today. It is based on common values, shared institutions,
a love of freedom, and the blood shed together. As we honor our heroes,
let us renew that commitment to keep faith with them and their ideals,
and to pass them on to our own children.
I’d like to close by reading a special message
from the surviving Alamo Scouts – those who helped liberate
this camp sixty years ago. The message is addressed to all of us here
today:
The surviving members of the Alamo Scouts regret that we are unable
to attend the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the liberation
of Cabanatuan POW Camp #1. But although we are not there in body,
we rejoice with you in spirit in remembrance of the brave souls
on both sides of the wire, Filipino and American, who witnessed
what happened here.
Sixty years ago today at this very site and places nearby, the
6th Army Rangers, Filipino guerrilla units, heroic civilians, and
fourteen Alamo Scouts engaged in a daring mission to determine freedom
or servitude; hope or despair; life or death for 516 men; many of
whom had endured almost three long years of cruelty and deprivation
at the hands of a ruthless and implacable enemy; and all of whom
had had their liberty stripped; their innocence stolen; and their
physical, emotional, and spiritual mettle tested to the limit of
human endurance. They, the prisoners of war; the ghost soldiers
of Bataan and Corregidor, and countless other struggles, are the
true heroes. This is their day. And we were but willing and eager
participants. Yes, it was our duty. But it was more than that. These
men, who had endured horrors that we could only imagine, deserved
a second chance at life despite the risk involved. We owed them
that much.
Sadly, most of the participants who were here that day are gone--consumed
by the passage of time. But as long as the events of that day, and
the underlying themes of duty, honor, and service are remembered--we
all will be remembered. And let us never forget those who fell in
this war and in all wars for the cause of freedom. It is their legacy
to you.
Sincerely,
The Alamo Scouts
The living members of Nellist and Rounsaville Teams who participated
in the liberation of Cabanatuan POW camp: Galen Kittleson - Sabas
Asis - Gilbert Cox - Franklin Fox and Alfred Alfonso.
*Written by Alamo Scouts Historian, Lance Zedric with permission
by and on behalf of the Alamo Scouts.
