Another day without FULL EQUITY

Thursday, March 3
6:30PM
MU Mee Room (3rd Floor)

Days ago, Magdaleno Sanchez Duenas, a Pilipino Veteran of World War II passed away. This is another hero that has passed away without the honor that undeniably should have been granted to him by the United States. About seven Veteranos die every day, and the struggle to award them with the FULL EQUITY that they deserve rages on.

Thursday, March 3rd, the UC Davis senate will be having a meeting. They will be discussing the passage of a resolution to declare their support of the two FULL EQUITY bills which are currently in Congress: HR-302 in the House of Representatives and S-146 in the Senate.

With the support of powerful organizations like ASUCD, we hope to gain further recognition for this struggle to strengthen our voice. If you support our cause, please be at the Mee room in the Memorial Union at 6:30 on Thursday. We will be heard.

Enclosed is the life story of Magdaleno Sanchez Duenas that was put together by Student Action for Veteran's Equity.

-Victor
xpo::one.eight.five::zeta.delta

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Magdaleno Sanchez Duenas, 90
May 27, 1914 - February 27, 2005

Courageous Filipino World War II Veteran Passes Away at 90

Magdaleno Duenas was born in Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines on May 27, 1914. His parents were Raymundo Caolino Duenas and Rosa Ortiz Sanchez. He had 7 siblings, all of who have passed away. He is survived by his half brother and sister, Raymundo and Concepcion Duenas who reside in Marikina, Philippines.

As a child Mr. Duenas lived in the Institute of San Jose in Leyte. He grew up in a convent, and after finishing grade school he went to Cebu to work as an errand boy for a certain Manang Lolay.

In 1937, Mr. Duenas went with his friend, Jesus La Serna, to Davao City to work for Charles Parson, owner of Luzon Stevedoring. In November 1941, he received a telegram from Edward Goldsborough and Robert Fletcher and asked him to report for duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Mr. Duenas joined the 101st Infantry in Davao, Philippines.

In 1943, Mr. Duenas joined the guerilla forces and lived in the mountains. While in the mountains, he did not have any shoes and he survived by eating yam (camote) and lugaw (soup). On December 24, 1942, he was captured by the Japanese soldiers while getting food supply at the request of the American soldiers. He was questioned on the whereabouts of the American soldiers, of which he denied any knowledge. At nighttime, he successfully escaped and returned to the guerilla forces in the mountains. On the evening of April 4, 1943, while the Japanese guards were asleep, Mr. Duenas assisted in the escape of 10 U.S. soldiers from the Davao Penal Colony. These 10 U.S. soldiers then joined the guerilla forces until the liberation. Mr. Duenas ensured that they had enough f! ood to survive the difficulty of hiding.

After the liberation, Mr. Duenas lived in Misamis Occidental. He was enlisted by the government as one of the many Filipino soldiers who fought alongside with the Americans during World War II. Since 1948, he received a token every Christmas from General Schoefner, who was one of the 10 soldiers that Mr. Duenas helped escape from Davao Penal Colony.

In 1991, Mr. Duenas was approached by a certain Mr. Dazo to help him get his documentation to obtain his U.S. citizenship. After Mr. Duenas arrived in Richmond, California, in 1992, Mr. Dazo took advantage and abused Mr. Duenas. In 1993, a group of Filipino American community advocates discovered the living conditions of Mr. Duenas and other Filipino World War II veterans and rescued them from the hands of Mr. Dazo. It was discovered that Mr. Duenas' welfare check were being taken by Mr. Dazo. Mr. Dazo forced Mr. Duenas to work against his will, and pu! nished him by tying him on his bed with a chain and was fed dog food.

Mr. Duenas began residing in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco in 1993. All these years, he waited, for the recognition of the U.S. government for the services he had rendered during World War II. Mr. Duenas was featured in two documentaries, Tears of Old by Joy Lacanienta and Second Class Veterans by Don Young. He died still waiting for the full equity bill in the U.S. Congress to be passed.

The San Francisco Veterans Equity Center will hold a memorial service for Mr. Duenas on March 7, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. at the War Memorial, 401 South Van Ness, San Francisco. For more information, please contact the SFVEC at (415) 255-2347 or email at sfvec2000@yahoo.com.