HR0288 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0288 LRB095 11819 KXB 34962 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The American GI Forum was charted by Congress because of the inequities and discrimination inflicted upon returning Mexican-American Veterans after their distinguished service in World War II, and its primary purpose is to serve Hispanic and Latino Veterans and their families; and

WHEREAS, Hispanic and Latino Americans, as members of the Armed Forces of the United States, served with valor and distinction during World War II, fighting and dying for the principles of equality, justice, and freedom for all; and

WHEREAS, Hispanic and Latino Americans during World War II were the most decorated minority group to receive this country's highest award, The Congressional Medal of Honor; and

WHEREAS, Hispanic and Latino Americans, as an ethnic group, made tremendous and significant contributions during World War II, including the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) battalions stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines, 65 miles west of Manila; and

WHEREAS, These National Guard units were largely made up of Mexican-American officers and enlisted personnel from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas and were activated and dispatched in 1940 while America was still at peace; and

WHEREAS, Within days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked American positions in the Philippines; outnumbered and desperate, General Douglas MacArthur moved his forces, including the 200th and 515th, to the Bataan Peninsula west of Manila; fighting alongside their Filipino comrades, the National Guard units made a heroic three-month stand against the large, well-equipped invading forces; as the weeks passed, rations, medical supplies, and ammunition diminished and became scarce; on April 9, 1942, starving and greatly outnumbered, most of the surviving troops were ordered to surrender; and

WHEREAS, After their capture, the American and Filipino soldiers had to endure the 12-day, 85-mile "Death March" from Bataan to the prison camps, followed by 34 months of captivity; three years later, General Jonathan Wainright praised the men of the 200th and 515th units, saying that "they were the first to fire and the last to lay down their arms and only reluctantly doing so after being given a direct order"; and

WHEREAS, The 158th Regimental Combat Team, an Arizona National Guard unit comprised of many Hispanic soldiers, saw heavy combat in the Pacific Theater and earned the respect of General MacArthur, who referred to them as "the greatest fighting combat team ever deployed for battle"; and

WHEREAS, Company E of the 141st Regiment of the 36th Texas Infantry Division was made up entirely of Hispanic Americans, and after 361 days of combat in Italy and France, the 141st Regiment sustained 1,126 killed, 5,000 wounded, and over 500 missing in action; in recognition of their extended service and valor, the members of the 141st garnered 31 Distinguished Services Crosses, 12 Legion of Merits, 492 Silver Stars, 11 Soldier's Medals, 1,685 Bronze Stars, as well as numerous commendations and decorations; and

WHEREAS, From 1940 to 1946, more than 65,000 Puerto Ricans served in the American military, most of them going overseas, and the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the Puerto Rican National Guard participated in the Pacific Theater while other Puerto Ricans served in Europe; and

WHEREAS, Twelve Hispanic soldiers received the Medal of Honor for the services during World War II; and

WHEREAS, The Public Broadcasting Service has announced it is airing the documentary series, "The War," by Ken Burns beginning September, 2007, and this seven-part, 14 hour documentary series explores the history and horror of World War II from an American perspective, and it follows the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who were caught up in the greatest cataclysm in recent human history; and

WHEREAS, This documentary exposes the racism of World War II directed at African-American and Japanese-Americans; however, it fails to outline the same racism as it affected Hispanic and Latino Americans; and

WHEREAS, This documentary purports to honor the heroism of all Americans, when in fact it glaringly fails to honor those heroic Hispanic Americans who have earned such an honor; and

WHEREAS, Whether intentionally or inadvertently, the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in World War II were omitted; this oversight appears to have violated the Public Broadcasting Service's own policy on Diversity; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn this documentary for not presenting the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans during World War II; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Public Broadcasting Service is urged to refrain from broadcasting the documentary until this omission is corrected; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, President of the U.S. Senate, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the Illinois congressional delegation, national and local directors of the Public Broadcasting Service, and to the National Commander of the American GI Forum.