Address: BHS Museum of History
No. 06, Rizal Ave. (MacArthur Hi-way),
Brgy. Lourdes, Bamban, Tarlac C2317 Philippines
Email: rhonie_bmbn@yahoo.com, rhonie_bamban1945@yahoo.com, rhonie.bmbn@gmail.com
Cell No. 0063-908-915-0686, 0063-922-280-1271
Last Updated: June 21, 2009

Sunday, June 21, 2009

BAMBAN KAYABE JOINS AMERICAN MEMORIAL DAY 2009






May 24, 2009
By: Joshua Little John Dela Cruz



During the Second World War, thousands of young soldiers from the far county of rural America answered the call of their nation and enlisted in the military. As young as eighteen years old, these men and women were drafted and sent to far away places like the Philippines which were almost unknown to them. Some were anxious as to what lie ahead of them in the fiercest battle against the Japanese who occupied the islands for more than three years. Of course, they were fighting for America but they were also to give the ultimate sacrifice to liberate the Filipinos from the clout of the Japanese invaders. At the beginning of battle of Luzon campaign, with Bamban and Bamban Hills protecting the Japanese defenses, two American infantry divisions; the 40th and the 37th were poised to wrestle the fanatic Japanese army and navy forces. Another three American divisions would follow suit in order to eliminate the remaining Japanese forces holed up in the crevices of the Bamban mountains and deep into the Zambales mountains With the aftermath of the campaign in the hills and ridges pockmarked with hundreds upon hundreds of tunnels that were meant to delay the American advance to liberate Manila and the other areas, more than two thousand American soldiers gave their lives in order to give Filipinos their liberty from the then enemy. In one of the intense battles with the fanatical Japanese soldiers hiding in the numerous holes in the mountains of Bamban, Private First Class William H. Thomas, 149th Infantry, 38th Division received the highest military award for bravery; the Congressional Medal of Honor after eliminating Japanese positions until his last bullet and grenade expended while suffering from massive wounds due to grenades hurled against him by the well-entrenched enemies.

Every last Monday of the month of May, Americans commemorates the US men and women who died while in the military duty. This is known as Memorial Day and it encompass all those who died in the action against enemy, much like what had happened in the Battle of Bamban Hills. JCI Bamban Kayabe in partnership with the Bamban Historical Society participates in the annual commemoration of the Memorial Day in memory of those American soldiers from the 40th, 43rd, 38th and 6th Divisions who died in the Battle of Bamban Hills and the Zambales mountains.

JCI Rhonie C. Dela Cruz, the immediate past president of the JCI Bamban Kayabe and the only credible local historical of Bamban; a researcher and field explorer in the real sense, narrates how American soldiers as mentioned above fought the Japanese along side with the local Bruce Guerilla of Bamban and the Aeta Squadron 30 in fierce engagements against the Japanese holding up in the mountain positions locked up in numerous crevices and tunnels dug from the hard sandstone of the Bamban Hills.

A delegation was created and composed of twelve members with JCI Rhonie Dela Cruz himself as the Committee Chairman with his position as concurrent president of the Bamban Historical Society. The delegation was warmly welcomed by no less than the director of the US Department of Veterans Affairs; Jon Skelly along with the vice-president of the American Chamber of Commerce and high-ranking officer of Filipino-American Memorial Endowment, Inc. (FAME); Mrs. Leslie Murray. Various dignitaries and diplomats from various foreign embassies attended the event. The Philippines was represented by Lt. Gen. Yano, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Bamban Kayabe delegation was joined by the Junior Chamber International Philippines’ national officers headed by the National President, Fulbert Woo and Glendo Dasmarinas. A wreath dedicated to the dead American soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Philippines was presented by JCI Bamban Kayabe along with the JCI Philippines and various organizations.

The United States of America, represented by the ambassador, Honorable Kristie Kenney, gave her speech reminding everyone about the sacrifice of the American soldiers and all those in the military serving in various services. She also thanked all those participating organizations like the JCI Bamban Kayabe for such a worthy endeavor in remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the liberation of our country.

After the event, Ambassador Kristie Kenney joined the delegation of the JCI Bamban Kayabe and personally thanked the group for their active participation on all historical commemorations like the Memorial Day and the Veterans’ Day. After the ceremony, JCI Bamban Kayabe joined various officials and head of organizations and took souvenir photos, highlighting that freedom is not free; as in this case, the lives of young American soldiers were given so that a new Philippines will be borne in the aftermath of the Second World War.