Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Winter/Spring 2014 Preserving the history, heritage, and legacy of the Philippine Scouts for present and future generations. Message from National President Jose Calugas, Jr. Time sure went fast and I hope that everyone has a nice and enjoyable summer. Spring is coming and we are ready for our next PSHS newsletter. Last April 12-13, 2013 we celebrated the 29th National Reunion at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Tacoma, Washington. The Capt. Jose Calugas, Sr. Chapter hosted the memorable reunion. Jose “Joe” Calugas, Jr. I want to thank the President and PSHS President members Tacoma chapter for their support to the success of the reunion. It was great to see John Patterson, PSHS Chapter President Zenaida Crisostomo President Emeritus and his wife Lilian Slemp not only planned for the reunion, and the rest of the guests: Mrs. Olive but published the souvenir program with Rosen, wife of Col. Melvin Rosen who the new logo made by her daughter. came with her son David from Virginia, Dr. Raquel Ramsey, wife of the late LTC The reunion coincided with the Battle Edwin Ramsey and her son as well as of the Bulge veterans who also have the widows, sons, daughters, grandchildren, reunion at La Quinta. It was a memorable great grandchildren of the Philippine experience to see all these veterans despite Scouts and friends who came to attend their age from the Pacific theatre and and support the Society. European to be together again. Stories and group pictures with the veterans and re-enactors were taken. Continued on page 4... What’s Inside - The President’s Message 1 - Editor’s Message 2 - 29th National Reunion Photos 6 - True Heroism: An Essay 7 - Congressional Recognition for Forgotten Soldiers 8 - Philippine-Scouts.org Updates 8 - Philippine Scout Wall of Heroes 9 - The General’s Corner 10 - GC: Invictus 11 - GC: Longoskawayan Point 11 - GC: The Last Cavalry Charge 12 - 30th National Reunion Registration Form 13 - 30th National Reunion Lodging Information 14 - 30th Reunion Souvenir Program Ad Form 15 be the legacy Their legacies live if their stories are remembered. Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Message from Newsletter Editor Paul Ruiz Strange as it may be, I originally started this newsletter immediately following the April 2013 reunion in Tacoma. I had just arrived at SeaTac airport on my way home. It was 10:30am, I had 3 hours until my flight, and I was silently raising tall glasses of beer to our veterans while deciding, in that beer-induced giddiness, to start memorializing our somber and historic reunion. I typed 2 pages, caught my flight home, re-engaged with work and family, and promptly got sucked back into my normal routines. As a self- diagnosed perfectionist who, ironically neither turns out perfect work nor work in perfect time, I deleted what may have been passable for this more sobered script. I mention all of this because: 1. Sometimes we simply squeeze in PSHS work wherever and whenever we can, Philippine Scout and Battle of the Bulge Veterans at the 29th Reunion. 2. I want to publicly castigate myself to and during the event, which went One very interesting coincidence during for my serial tardiness, and 3. (reasons seamlessly. If anyone deserved a beer at the reunion was that we were conducting always come in “3s” don’t they?) I have 10:30 in the morning on the day the ours at the same time and location that absolutely no political aspirations for reunion ended, it was Zenaida and the the US Army veterans who had fought anyone to know I joyfully consumed 44 officers of the Tacoma Chapter. Cheers! during the Battle of the Bulge were ounces of beer before lunch – although having theirs! In several respects, both given the recent events of one would-be The morning session began with the reunions were mirror images of each NYC mayoral candidate and one current “scholar panel” consisting of UC Berkeley other with elderly veterans; younger Toronto mayor, my indulgence would PhD candidate, Jordan Gonzalez and generation attendees in period uniforms appear to be a non-issue. author Cecilia Gaerlan who each gave of their respective theaters of operation; detailed power point presentations. For those of you who were in Tacoma this and various exhibits of both the Pacific The afternoon session included a photo past April, you were treated to a fantastic and European theaters lining the hallways presentation by yours truly of the prior reunion (thank you Tacoma Chapter, near the adjacent reunions. After an reunion that had been held in the well done!) As we know, for our reunions impromptu discussion with the director Philippines. to be pulled off requires event planning for the Battle of the Bulge reunion, we at a level similar to that of a wedding, The second day of the reunion began brought in our Scouts for a group photo and Tacoma Chapter President Zenaida with the award-winning film, Forgotten with their veterans, and wished them Slemp and her crew rose to the occasion. Soldiers, along with a question and well. We were honored to be with the They paid attention to many fine details answer period by filmmaker Donald Bulge veterans, and they too expressed that occurred behind the scenes, and I Plata and writer Chris Schaefer. This was their honor to be with our Scouts. know they were furiously working prior followed by a veterans panel of Scouts That evening, Brigadier General Oscar who discussed their experiences. This is Hilman presided over the dinner with (front page) Gen. Douglas MacArthur awarded turn was followed by a General’s panel the Distinguished Service Cross to Maj. Edwin formality, warmth, and humor. The which included sons and grandsons of Scout re-enactors, in period uniform, P. Ramsey in recognition for his work in Scouts who are now Generals. Lastly organizing guerrilla units in the Philippines. presented the colors. During the dinner, Taken June 2, 1945. More on Col. Ramsey on was a panel of the Philippine Scout re- a slide show presentation, set to music, page 12. (Signal Corps Photo) enactors. commemorated last year’s reunion in Page 2 Winter/Spring 2014 the Philippines. LTC (retired) Al Cosio that follows them to be more actively Nothing before or possibly after is likely was our keynote speaker and recalled the engaged. A transition is now necessary, to approach the scope and gravitas of that prior reunion held in the Philippines, as one that has been recognized even during event, given the location, expenditures well as calling on members of the PSHS the organization’s infancy over 20 years involved, national participation by the to recognize that they are the future of ago. The organization is in need of the Philippine government, and particularly the organization and to get involved. available talent within the membership. because several of our Scouts—two of After the dinner, the Tacoma Chapter Those with backgrounds in accounting, whom have since passed on—were able conducted a beautiful rose ceremony, law, event planning, management, to make the trip. If you were there, you commemorating the Scouts with a yellow would be helpful. However, those who know what I mean. rose handed to each surviving Scout and can give of some of their time and effort member of a Scout family. to continue the mission of the PSHS are But, I call your attention to the 2014 needed. Please let us know if you can reunion that will be held at Ft. Sam LTC Cosio is absolutely right and echoes help. Talk to us at the reunion, or reach Houston, Texas! This place also has a sentiment that has been repeated at out to us via the website. As second and special meaning for the Scouts, which every reunion – that for this organization third generation members step into roles serves as the home of our museum. to survive and continue to flourish, family within the organization, the PSHS will Included in this newsletter will be the members and friends need to step up continue to evolve, as it should. When reunion materials, which I recommend and help run the PSHS. Recently, either I attended my first reunion in 1995, you fill out and return as soon as possible. elderly Scout veterans or next generation I was a bystander in the purest sense. I Bring the whole family, maybe make a relatives/friends held these positions. never would have thought I would be road trip of it, enjoy the beauty of Texas, Those veterans, now in their 90s, are handling any type of office and certainly but remember…Don’t mess with Texas either gone or otherwise unable to handle not trying to fill Mike Houlahan’s large (ain’t that right, Lilly?). This reunion the duties of the various positions should shoes as Newsletter Editor. will require the help of volunteers both not be surprising. In fact, the generation within and outside of Texas. Please which followed our Scouts now consists As many of you know, the 2012 reunion refer to the remainder of this newsletter of many in their 60s and 70s. This was held in the Philippines on the for further details on how you can get speaks to the need for the generation 70th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. involved. A word about the cost of this newsletter. It is expensive for our organization, with its very modest budget, to maintain the printing and mailing goals set many years ago. If you can opt for an emailed copy, please let me know. We will attach it in an email to you.