Press Release
No. _07-13_
Bataan Day in Chicago:
Reflecting on Shared Sacrifices
The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago celebrated with the Filipino
community and the Filipino and American veterans the 71st Commemoration of
Bataan Day in Chicago.
Consul General and Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim were joined by Secretary of State Jesse White and other
guests in honoring the Filipino and American World War II veterans.
In his remarks, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim said: “More than
remember and reflect on the uncommon valor shown by Filipino and American
soldiers at the altar of freedom, our collective presence represents our shared
resolve to make our generation worthy beneficiaries and responsible steward of
freedom for future generation.”
In his Proclamation declaring “Bataan Day in Chicago,” Mayor Rahm
Emanuel also “urges all Chicagoans to recognize the sacrifices and heroism
made by American and Filipino veterans during the Second World War.”
Consul General & Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim and Commissioner Samuel Miller Jr. led in the singing of the
national anthems of the United States of America and the Philippines
Assistant Majority Leader and United States Senator Richard J. Durbin
(Democrat-Illinois) also extended his greetings and said that: “As you gather to
pay tribute to the veterans and survivors of the Bataan Death March, you have
an opportunity to remember and reflect on the shared sacrifices and values of
Filipino and American Soldiers during World War II.” United States Senator Mark
Steven Kirk (Republican, Illinois), on the other hand, also extended his greetings:
“Today, we want to recognize the American and Filipino veterans who fought in
defense of Bataan and Corregidor in 1942. Our nation is grateful for your
service. On this day we also remember those who perished in the infamous
Bataan Death March. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Consul General and Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim were assisted by Secretary of State Jesse White in presenting
the Philppine World War II awards to Filipinos American Veterans Pofirio l. Tabieros Sr., Dr. Eugene E. Bleil
and Everall D. Olson (posthumuously. The awards for Mr. Olson and Dr. Bleil were received by Mr. Olson’s
nephew – Mr. & Mrs. Darell Koon.
In her greeting to the veterans, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said
that: “This infamous and horrific page from history needs to be remembered, in
part so it is not repeated. But we also mark this day to remind ourselves of the
sacrifices of these brave soldiers as well as of the strong bond forged between
our nations. My thanks and thoughts go out to the remaining survivors of
Bataan. We must never forget the amazing sacrifice they made.”
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who was the guest speaker during
the Program at the Consulate, extended his “warmest welcome as the veterans
gather in observance of the 71st Commemoration of Bataan Day. I salute your
invaluable service during World War II as you pay tribute to thousand of Filipino
and American soldiers, who displayed extraordinary courage in defending Bataan
and Corregidor in 1942. Your dedication to protecting our freedom is deserving
of our undying respect. The 71st Commemoration of Bataan Day not only
provides an opportunity to reflect upon past accomplishments, but also provides
hope and anticipation of continued success in the future. As you celebrate your
heritage and raise awareness of the rich traditions that have defined your culture,
know that the people of Illinois join me in offering our thanks for a job well done.
Your outstanding contributions have truly helped make Illinois a better place to
work, live and raise a family.”
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White delivering his message to the Filipino and America World War II
Veteran
Among the guests were: the Filipino and American World War II veterans
and their relatives, American Board Members and Officers of the Maywood
Bataan Day organization, Filipino American veterans of Post 509, Filipino
American Judge Israel Desierto (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois),
Commissioner Samuel Miller Jr. (Chairman of the City of Chicago’s Commission
on Human Relations Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs), Director Matthew
Abbott (Office of U.S. Senator Mark Steven Kirk), Mr. Kenneth Clarke (President
and CEO Of Pritzker Military Library, Chicago) and Director Nancy Houghton,
Ms. Julien Ann Baburka (Assistant to the Chief Financial Operating Advisor to the
Illinois Governor), Director Marie Ann Limjoco (Office of U.S. Representative Jan
Schakowsky), Director Eric Salcedo and Ms. Nettie Lasko of the Attorney
General’s Office, Mr. Gerard Moorer (Constituent Services Representative of
U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis), Mr. Ed Ortiz and his partners and officers
of the Public Accounting Firm EC Ortiz & Co., Commander Angelito Capati (Area
Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal), some members of the U.S.
Armed Services, Filipino American officers of the Chicago Police Department
(CPD), leaders of the community, Veterans of the Foreign Wars of the United
States, and members of the media.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Consul General & Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim with the members
of the 2013 Bataan Day Planning Preparatory Committee
As part of the celebration, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim, assisted
by Mrs. Fidelis C. Herrera-Lim and Secretary of State Jesse White presented the
Philippine World War II Awards (Philippine Independence Medal, Philippine
Defense Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badges and Certificates) to World
War II Veterans – Mr. Porfirio L. Tabieros Sr. (90 years old), Dr. Eugene E. Bleil
(93 years old), Dr. Lester Tenney (94 years old), Patrick Neil Kennedy (89 years
old), and Everall D. Olson (posthumuously).
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Consul General & Mrs. Leo M. Herrera-Lim, DCG Orontes V.
Castro, Vice Consul Alena Grace S. Borra and other personnel of the Consulate.
BACKGROUND OF THE 5 AWARDEES OF
PHILIPPINE WORLD WAR II AWARDS
(1) Dr. Eugene E. Bleil was born on 29 August 1920 in Detroit, Michigan. He
entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on 11 December 1939 at Selfridge Field,
Michigan. He graduated from Chanute Field as an aircraft and engine mechanic
and was sent to Nichols Field in the Philippine Islands with the 17th Pursuit
Squadron where he was assigned the position as crew chief for squadron
commander Captain Kirtley J. Gregg and 1st Lt. Boyd D. (Buzz) Wagner. After
the war, he married Opal L. Brazee on 14 June 1947. He graduated with a B.S.
in Chemistry in 1950 from Michigan State University, completing medical school
in 1955 at the University of Michigan. Eugene and Opal have two daughters,
Claudia and Cynthia, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They make
their home in East Lansing, Michigan. He continued to practice medicine for fifty
six (56) years, and has written a book about his experience during the Second
World War in the Philippines, entitled “Consigned to Death Six Times: Surviving
Bataan, the Death March, and Life as a POW.”
(2) Patrick Neil Kennedy was born on 10 January 1924 in Green Bay,
Wisconsin. He served with the U.S. Navy and participated in the liberation of the
Philippines during the Second World War. He continues to live in the State of
Wisconsin and he has been taking the rounds lately as guest speakers in several
veterans-related events and other civic activities sharing his experiences in life
and lessons learned during the war.
(3) Everall D. Olson was born on 26 August 1921 in Lebanon, Kansas. He was
the elevents (11th) and youngest child of William and Myrtle Olson. He has four
(4) brothers and six (6) sisters, including his late sister Edith Viola who outlived
him after the war. A family of heroes, his two brothers also served in the U.S.
military during the Second World War – Herald was a bomber in B-29 who flew
over China for military operations over Japan, and Rey who served as combat
engineer in the European theater of the war. He served as Staff Sergeant with
the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines during World War II. Unfortunately, he died
as a Japanese prisoner-of-war in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines on 03
January 1943.
(4) Porfirio L. Tabieros Sr. was born on 04 February 1923 in Peñablanca,
Cagayan Province, Philippines. He served with the U.S. Army (USAFFE) in the
Philippines during the Second World War. After the war, he continued serving
his country as village chief or Barangay Captain for several years in San Isidro,
Iguig, Province of Cagayan. He concurrently served as the President of the
Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in his hometown of Iguig, Cagayan and
worked tirelessly with the Office of the President of the Philippines (OP) and the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the improvement of the
infrastucture conditions in his hometown. After he retired from public service, he
went to the United States and was naturalized as an American citizen. He also
received the Philippine Military Civic Action Medal for his “invaluable and
outstanding service as Barangay Captain of San Isidro, Iquig, Cagayan and the
adjoining Barangays after his military service.”
(5) Dr. Lester I. Tenney is Professor Emeritus of Finance in the college of
Business Administration at Arizona State University. He received his doctors
degree from the University of Southern California and began teaching at San
Diego State University. He is a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March and
experienced 3 1/2 years as a prisoner of the Japanese. He served in the U.S.
Army as a radio operator and later as a tank commander in the 192nd Tank
Battalion ”Company B”. He has been awarded many military decorations for valor
while serving in the Philippine Islands and while fighting on Bataan during WW II.
In spite of the brutal and inhuman treatment he received while on the Bataan
Death March and while working in a Japanese coalmine, he was able to survive
because of his strong positive attitude, his love of country, and his goal-setting
philosophy. Lester Tenney has long ago forgiven the Japanese for the treatment
meted out to him while a POW, but he says: “I will never forget.” After many
years of contacting members of the Japanese Diet, Dr. Tenney was finally asked
by the Japanese Ambassador to the United States to lead a visitation program of
former POWs to Japan known as the “Japanese/American POW Friendship
Program.”
The visitation culminated with an apology from the Minister of
Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Japanese Government, for the inhumane
treatment of American POWs by Japanese soldiers during WW II.
Dr. Tenney wrote his award winning story, a first person account of the Bataan
Death March, and life as a Prisoner of the Japanese, in his book, “My Hitch In
Hell.” On 09 April 1942, General King, commander of all forces in Bataan, gave
orders to all military personnel fighting on Bataan, to surrender to the advancing
Japanese Army. He presently resides in Carlsbad, California with his wife of 53
years, Betty. Dr. Tenney’s picture and excerpts from his book are on display at
the Smithsonian Museum in the Museum of American History. Dr. Tenney was
the last National Commander of the American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor, having served during 2009-2010.