Two American politicians, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM 3rd District), have introduced a renewed push to award veterans of the Pacific Theater the Congressional Gold Medal. The “Defenders of Bataan, Corrigedor, and Attu Congressional Gold Medal Act” would see those who fought in the region recognized for their bravery, along with those who served in the “forgotten” Aleutian Islands Campaign in Alaska.
The bill was initially introduced to the US Congress in 2021, with it appearing to stall after the Senate referred it to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It had centered around veterans who’d served at Bataan and Corregidor. However, this second attempt by Heinrich and Fernández is also pushing for those who fought in the Aleutian Islands Campaign and at Midway, Wake Island, Guam, Mindanao and Java to be recognized.
The “Defenders of Bataan, Corrigedor, and Attu Congressional Gold Medal Act” specifically cites the actions of the 200th and 515th Artillery Regiments, both stationed in New Mexico. Deployed to the Philippines to aid in the defense of Clark Field, they were among the “first to fire” at enemy troops.
Fought as part of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the Battle of Bataan resulted in an enemy victory and the capture of an estimated 76,000 American and Filipino troops, who were then subjected to what’s become known as the “Bataan Death March.” Taking place from April 9-17, 1942, the prisoners of war (POWs) were forced to walk 65 miles to various camps, during which the Japanese physically abused and killed many of them.
It’s estimated between 5,500 and 18,650 POWs died during the march, which was one of the worst war crimes committed in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War.
Heinrich shared in a statement, “Nearly 2,000 New Mexico National Guardsmen fought alongside thousands of Allied troops in the Pacific during World War II. These brave Americans endured unfathomably harrowing conditions during the Bataan Death March and years of captivity in prisoner of war camps. The courage and sacrifices of so many Americans who bravely defended the Pacific ultimately made Allied victory possible.”
Fernández also added, “The American and Filipino defenders of Bataan and Corregidor demonstrated an unimaginable level of courage and strength in the face of unimaginable abuse. The Bataan Death March was a horrific example of cruelty and inhumanity. Especially as so many are passing, it’s time we recognize the Bataan and Corregidor veterans – including many New Mexican heroes – with the highest honor.”
As aforementioned, the bill also now covers those who served in other areas of the Pacific Theater, including in Alaska during the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Beginning with the bombing of Dutch Harbor, the early months of the offensive resulted in the area’s occupation by the Japanese. This was the first time since the War of 1812 that enemy troops has landed on the continental United States.
What followed was an over year-long campaign that resulted in the region’s Indigenous Unangax̂ population being treated poorly, the destruction of military bases and the loss of countless lives. It wasn’t until August 1943 and the infamous Operation Cottage that the Allies were able to regain full control of the Aleutians.
“We’re trying to honor anybody that had been a POW under Imperial Japan, because it was such a unique experience,” Jan Thompson, president of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society, told the press.
“We’d rather be inclusive than not,” she added.
The “Defenders of Bataan, Corrigedor, and Attu Congressional Gold Medal Act” is currently sponsored by a primarily Democratic group of politicians, with two Republicans, John Hoeven (R-ND) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Independent Angus King (I-ME), being listed, as well.
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Thompson is trying to be optimistic the bill will pass this time around. “I’d like to be optimistic but I do understand that things are quite dysfunctional, which is a real shame,” she said. “It should be bipartisan. […] We are honoring the Greatest Generation.”