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V4 2001 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 4, Number 51, December 16, 2001, Article 10 PEARL HARBOR AND THE PHILIPPINES Inspired by last week's item about the Pearl Harbor anniversary, Nick Graver writes: "I read an interesting article recently about the upcoming 60th. anniversary of "Non-Recognition" of an important W.W. II event. Japan conducted a similar surprise attack on American bases in the Philippines at about the same time as Pearl Harbor. [About ten hours later - Editor] But since that region is so much farther west (nearer to Japan) the official date was 12/8/41 even though it was at about the same time! The International Date Line dictated the time of record. So, it was reported then as the next day, and so it has been retold every year since, even in history books! Those troops held out for many months, but were essentially "written off" as beyond help, and ultimately made the largest surrender ever for a US Army, and the famous Bataan Death March, etc. These veterans never wanted special recognition, but have resented the fact that they did not get at least Equal Recognition with the forces at Pearl Harbor. It seems to be a chapter in the war that never was told correctly, and is not about to be clarified in modern times. I believe that Japan considers Pearl Harbor day (start of hostilities) to be Dec. 8th. since that was the date (in Japan) when it happened, and they got the news. It was Dec. 7th. where it actually happened, and when USA got the news. The people in Hawaii were still free and able to begin to rebuild and conduct the rest of the war. The troops in the Philippines were quickly overrun, and taken prisoner. They had it much worse, and got little credit or recognition. Everyone in the USA felt they were attacked the 'next day', sort of as an afterthought, or secondary objective. The simple solution to the "60 years of oversight" is next year for folks to say: "The 61st anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines...." [See the following links to the original article in Modern Maturity magazine, and a second account of the attacks. Following are links to pages containing illustrations of Japan's Philippine invasion currency. -Editor] http://www.modernmaturity.org/departments/2001/lifestyle/1010_lifestyle_a.html http://www.ualberta.ca/~vmitchel/fw6.html http://www.filipinapenfriends.com/first.htm http://www.filipinapenfriends.com/second.htm

Wayne Homren, Editor

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