Bataan Memorial Society, Hilo Hawaii 1945

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Everyone,

 

Another item from my Pineapple Army Archives,

The Bataan Memorial Society founded by Attorney Gonzalo Manibog in 1945 at Hilo Hawaii (Big Island)

 

 

Extract of biography and photograph from the Manibog Law PC website

 

Gonzalo Manibog, the first generation Manibog lawyer, is believed to be one of the first if not the first Filipino to be admitted to practice law in the United States, having received Bachelors and Masters of Laws degrees from the University of Indianapolis in 1917. A highly educated man, Gonzalo also became a professor of history, law and Spanish at the University of Kansas before returning to the Philippines. In Manila, he met and married Adela Montilla. Gonzalo, Adela and their three children at the time moved to Hawaii where Gonzalo became a successful lawyer and businessman. With his legal education and background, he soon became a leader of the Filipino community in Hawaii. In addition to running his own law practice, Gonzalo also founded the Philippine Legal Aid Bureau which provided legal aid to Filipino immigrant farm workers. He also published the “Tulong” magazine in the Ilocano dialect, the language of the majority of the Filipino workers in Hawaii at the time. During World War II, Gonzalo led community war bond efforts, rallying the local Hawaiian Filipino community to contribute generously to the war effort. His achievements were recognized by the Honolulu Star Bulletin when he became the first Filipino named to the newspaper’s prestigious Men of Hawaii list. In 1948, Gonzalo returned to the Philippines, this time with his wife and seven children, intent on bringing change and progress to his homeland.

 

More biographical info on Gonzalo Manibog here at Manibog Law PC

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Baatan Memorial Society, Hilo Hawaii January 1945 - An appeal from Gonzalo Manibog

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Bataan Memorial Society Letter, from (Mrs.) Adela M. Manibog, Vice-President & Treas. Hilo Hawaii January 1945

[Salvage Sailor]

 

Bataan Memorial Society January 1945

Testimonial letter with contributions from:

 

Brigadier General Carlos P. Romulo, then Resident Commissioner of the Philippines. A Filipino diplomat, statesman, soldier, journalist and author. He was a reporter at 16, a newspaper editor by the age of 20, and a publisher at 32. He was a co-founder of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, a general in the US Army and the Philippine Army, university president, President of the UN General Assembly, was eventually named one of the Philippines' National Artists in Literature, and was the recipient of many other honors and honorary degrees.

 

Lt. Col Andres Soriano - He was a Spanish citizen and leader of the Philippine Falange during the late 1930s until he applied for Filipino citizenship. After becoming a Filipino citizen, Soriano served as secretary of finance, agriculture and commerce during the wartime cabinet of the Quezon administration. Soriano also served with USAFFE and later as a colonel on General Douglas MacArthur's staff in the Southwest Pacific Theater. He was granted American citizenship for his wartime services and remained an American citizen until his death.

 

Thomas Pedro, Jr. - Senator, First District, Territory of Hawaii (also a member of the Hawaiian National Guard) see attached obituary

 

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Bataan Memorial Society Testimonials - Wartime appeal January 1945

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Images of Old Hawaii - Hilo Walk of Fame, Started on October 24, 1933

 

On November 15, 1935, Attorney Gonzalo and Adela Manibog, prominent Hilo community leaders in the 1930s and 40s, were given the honor of planting a banyan tree commemorating the birth of a new nation, the Philippine Commonwealth (now a republic.)

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The appeal sent to the mainland and donations returned from Rev. Clyde W. Meadows and his congregation

 

 

In December 1941, Clyde W. Meadows held revival services at the Trenton Hills UB church in Adrian, Mich. On the afternoon of Sunday, December 7, he and Rev. H. B. Peter went visiting in the Adrian community. As they drove down a country road, they were flagged down by another card. The driver scrambled out and said, “Did you know the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor this morning?”

 

At the time, Meadows chaired the draft board in Chambersburg, Pa., where he pastored the King Street United Brethren church (it would be another 20 years before he was elected bishop). Up to that point, it was a fairly simple job, with only a few people being inducted each month. But with America’s entrance into the war, they began drafting dozens of men at the same time.

 

Meadows went to Judge Watson Davidson, who served on the committe that selected the three members of the draft board. He argued, “I don’t think it’s right for me to pastor a church and chair the draft board in the same community. I’d like to resign as chairman and enter the military as a chaplain. I’m qualified for that.”

 

Judge Davidson refused his request. “There are some things from which you can’t resign. Being a father is one of them. Another is your patriotic duty.”

 

Meadows chaired the draft board 1940-1946; the other two members were World War I veterans. The Chambersburg community sent over 2500 young men into World War II. Many, of course, either died or returned with terrible wounds. Meadows could not escape recognizing his role in the lives of these men.

 

 

Extract from Denominational Higher Education during World War II, photo from find a grave, appeal letter (with the donation coupon removed) and air mail envelope from my collection.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

....and a post script on Rev. Clyde W. Meadows. A 1942 Christmas greetings card from one of his drafted soldiers, HQ & HQ Det. A.P.O. 955 (Fort Malakole, T.H.) Headquarters of the Hawaiian Antiaircraft Artillery Command

 

 

 

 

Hawaiian Antiaircraft Artillery Command - Nice vintage signed scrapbook

 

[KASTAUFFER]

Thanks for posting this!

[Salvage Sailor]

HONONRING AND REMEMBERING PHILIPPINE WWII VETERANS

Hamakua Times, Hilo (Big Island), Hawaii

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Bataan Memorial Stuart Tank - Camp SLO