Press Release No. _07-13_

Bataan Day in Chicago: Reflecting on Shared Sacrifices

The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago celebrated with the Filipino community and the Filipino and American veterans the 71st Commemoration of Bataan Day in Chicago.

Consul General and Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim were joined by Secretary of State Jesse White and other guests in honoring the Filipino and American World War II veterans.

In his remarks, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim said: “More than remember and reflect on the uncommon valor shown by Filipino and American soldiers at the altar of freedom, our collective presence represents our shared resolve to make our generation worthy beneficiaries and responsible steward of freedom for future generation.”

In his Proclamation declaring “Bataan Day in Chicago,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel also “urges all Chicagoans to recognize the sacrifices and heroism made by American and Filipino veterans during the Second World War.” Consul General & Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim and Commissioner Samuel Miller Jr. led in the singing of the national anthems of the United States of America and the Philippines

Assistant Majority Leader and United States Senator Richard J. Durbin (Democrat-Illinois) also extended his greetings and said that: “As you gather to pay tribute to the veterans and survivors of the Bataan Death March, you have an opportunity to remember and reflect on the shared sacrifices and values of Filipino and American Soldiers during World War II.” United States Senator Mark Steven Kirk (Republican, Illinois), on the other hand, also extended his greetings: “Today, we want to recognize the American and Filipino veterans who fought in defense of Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. Our nation is grateful for your service. On this day we also remember those who perished in the infamous Bataan Death March. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Consul General and Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim were assisted by Secretary of State Jesse White in presenting the Philppine World War II awards to Filipinos American Veterans Pofirio l. Tabieros Sr., Dr. Eugene E. Bleil and Everall D. Olson (posthumuously. The awards for Mr. Olson and Dr. Bleil were received by Mr. Olson’s nephew – Mr. & Mrs. Darell Koon.

In her greeting to the veterans, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said that: “This infamous and horrific page from history needs to be remembered, in part so it is not repeated. But we also mark this day to remind ourselves of the sacrifices of these brave soldiers as well as of the strong bond forged between our nations. My thanks and thoughts go out to the remaining survivors of Bataan. We must never forget the amazing sacrifice they made.”

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who was the guest speaker during the Program at the Consulate, extended his “warmest welcome as the veterans gather in observance of the 71st Commemoration of Bataan Day. I salute your invaluable service during World War II as you pay tribute to thousand of Filipino and American soldiers, who displayed extraordinary courage in defending Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. Your dedication to protecting our freedom is deserving of our undying respect. The 71st Commemoration of Bataan Day not only provides an opportunity to reflect upon past accomplishments, but also provides hope and anticipation of continued success in the future. As you celebrate your heritage and raise awareness of the rich traditions that have defined your culture, know that the people of Illinois join me in offering our thanks for a job well done. Your outstanding contributions have truly helped make Illinois a better place to work, live and raise a family.”

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White delivering his message to the Filipino and America World War II Veteran

Among the guests were: the Filipino and American World War II veterans and their relatives, American Board Members and Officers of the Maywood Bataan Day organization, Filipino American veterans of Post 509, Filipino American Judge Israel Desierto (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois), Commissioner Samuel Miller Jr. (Chairman of the City of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs), Director Matthew Abbott (Office of U.S. Senator Mark Steven Kirk), Mr. Kenneth Clarke (President and CEO Of Pritzker Military Library, Chicago) and Director Nancy Houghton, Ms. Julien Ann Baburka (Assistant to the Chief Financial Operating Advisor to the Illinois Governor), Director Marie Ann Limjoco (Office of U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky), Director Eric Salcedo and Ms. Nettie Lasko of the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Gerard Moorer (Constituent Services Representative of U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis), Mr. Ed Ortiz and his partners and officers of the Public Accounting Firm EC Ortiz & Co., Commander Angelito Capati (Area Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal), some members of the U.S. Armed Services, Filipino American officers of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), leaders of the community, Veterans of the Foreign Wars of the United States, and members of the media.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Consul General & Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim with the members of the 2013 Bataan Day Planning Preparatory Committee As part of the celebration, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim, assisted by Mrs. Fidelis C. Herrera-Lim and Secretary of State Jesse White presented the Philippine World War II Awards (Philippine Independence Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badges and Certificates) to World War II Veterans – Mr. Porfirio L. Tabieros Sr. (90 years old), Dr. Eugene E. Bleil (93 years old), Dr. Lester Tenney (94 years old), Patrick Neil Kennedy (89 years old), and Everall D. Olson (posthumuously).

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Consul General & Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim, DCG Orontes V. Castro, Vice Consul Alena Grace S. Borra and other personnel of the Consulate. BACKGROUND OF THE 5 AWARDEES OF PHILIPPINE WORLD WAR II AWARDS

(1) Dr. Eugene E. Bleil was born on 29 August 1920 in Detroit, Michigan. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on 11 December 1939 at Selfridge Field, Michigan. He graduated from Chanute Field as an aircraft and engine mechanic and was sent to Nichols Field in the Philippine Islands with the 17th Pursuit Squadron where he was assigned the position as crew chief for squadron commander Captain Kirtley J. Gregg and 1st Lt. Boyd D. (Buzz) Wagner. After the war, he married Opal L. Brazee on 14 June 1947. He graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1950 from Michigan State University, completing medical school in 1955 at the University of Michigan. Eugene and Opal have two daughters, Claudia and Cynthia, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They make their home in East Lansing, Michigan. He continued to practice medicine for fifty six (56) years, and has written a book about his experience during the Second World War in the Philippines, entitled “Consigned to Death Six Times: Surviving Bataan, the Death March, and Life as a POW.”

(2) Patrick Neil Kennedy was born on 10 January 1924 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He served with the U.S. Navy and participated in the liberation of the Philippines during the Second World War. He continues to live in the State of Wisconsin and he has been taking the rounds lately as guest speakers in several veterans-related events and other civic activities sharing his experiences in life and lessons learned during the war.

(3) Everall D. Olson was born on 26 August 1921 in Lebanon, Kansas. He was the elevents (11th) and youngest child of William and Myrtle Olson. He has four (4) brothers and six (6) sisters, including his late sister Edith Viola who outlived him after the war. A family of heroes, his two brothers also served in the U.S. military during the Second World War – Herald was a bomber in B-29 who flew over China for military operations over Japan, and Rey who served as combat engineer in the European theater of the war. He served as Staff Sergeant with the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines during World War II. Unfortunately, he died as a Japanese prisoner-of-war in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines on 03 January 1943.

(4) Porfirio L. Tabieros Sr. was born on 04 February 1923 in Peñablanca, Cagayan Province, Philippines. He served with the U.S. Army (USAFFE) in the Philippines during the Second World War. After the war, he continued serving his country as village chief or Barangay Captain for several years in San Isidro, Iguig, Province of Cagayan. He concurrently served as the President of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in his hometown of Iguig, Cagayan and worked tirelessly with the Office of the President of the Philippines (OP) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the improvement of the infrastucture conditions in his hometown. After he retired from public service, he went to the United States and was naturalized as an American citizen. He also received the Philippine Military Civic Action Medal for his “invaluable and outstanding service as Barangay Captain of San Isidro, Iquig, Cagayan and the adjoining Barangays after his military service.”

(5) Dr. Lester I. Tenney is Professor Emeritus of Finance in the college of Business Administration at Arizona State University. He received his doctors degree from the University of Southern California and began teaching at San Diego State University. He is a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March and experienced 3 1/2 years as a prisoner of the Japanese. He served in the U.S. Army as a radio operator and later as a tank commander in the 192nd Tank Battalion ”Company B”. He has been awarded many military decorations for valor while serving in the Philippine Islands and while fighting on Bataan during WW II. In spite of the brutal and inhuman treatment he received while on the Bataan Death March and while working in a Japanese coalmine, he was able to survive because of his strong positive attitude, his love of country, and his goal-setting philosophy. Lester Tenney has long ago forgiven the Japanese for the treatment meted out to him while a POW, but he says: “I will never forget.” After many years of contacting members of the Japanese Diet, Dr. Tenney was finally asked by the Japanese Ambassador to the United States to lead a visitation program of former POWs to Japan known as the “Japanese/American POW Friendship Program.” The visitation culminated with an apology from the Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Japanese Government, for the inhumane treatment of American POWs by Japanese soldiers during WW II.

Dr. Tenney wrote his award winning story, a first person account of the Bataan Death March, and life as a Prisoner of the Japanese, in his book, “My Hitch In Hell.” On 09 April 1942, General King, commander of all forces in Bataan, gave orders to all military personnel fighting on Bataan, to surrender to the advancing Japanese Army. He presently resides in Carlsbad, California with his wife of 53 years, Betty. Dr. Tenney’s picture and excerpts from his book are on display at the Smithsonian Museum in the Museum of American History. Dr. Tenney was the last National Commander of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, having served during 2009-2010.