Philippines — All Stories — More Than A Headstone

It is no small task to occupy the role of both veteran and advocate. But their calls to service are similar. Both are patriotic acts that strive to better the country which one calls home. One man in particular, named Godofredo “Fred” S. Gomez, shows how the two intersect.

Lifetime of Service, Distant Wars, Obstacles & OpportunitiesEsteban GomezOctober 3, 2021U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), ROTC, Filipinos, Philippines, Battle of Leyte, World War II Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC), Recission Act of 1946, Veteran Affairs Commission in San Francisco, Congressional Gold Medal

Filipinos on the Frontlines

Although there are over 4 million Filipinx-Americans in the United States, their culture, languages, and traditions are rarely represented in predominantly white spaces and narratives. Second and third-generation Filipinos must lean on the legacy left by those like Felix B. Magalong Sr., who prove that Asians are accomplished enough to serve both their country at large and communities at home.

Lifetime of Service, Distant Wars, Obstacles & OpportunitiesEsteban GomezOctober 3, 2021Philippines, colonization, Philippine Scouts, Bataan Death March, prisoner of war, POW, Camp O’Donnell, Philippine Independence Act of 1934, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War Recission Act of 1946, Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, Congressional Gold Medal; Filipino American Community of Colorado (FACC), Metropolitan State University of Denver

A Paratrooper in the Pacific

Despite the hardships he faced growing up, Tony did his duty to his country and volunteered for the Army as soon as he graduated high school.