Veteranos

Veteranos are Filipino soldiers who fought in the Philippines in World War II under the command of the United States military against the Japanese. The US enlisted the service of over 250,000 to over 400,000 and 850,000 Filipinos during the war in the Pacific.

The Veteranos and the Philippines were the only group of soldiers allied with the United States, during World War II, to not receive full equity and benefits, due to the passing of the Rescission Act of 1946. Before this act, Filipino veterans were considered United States veterans with active service by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, but when this act was passed, this standing of being a United States veteran was taken away and full equity was never received, nor were their services to the United States military recognized. To this date the Filipino World War II "Veteranos" have yet to receive their full equity and benefits initially promised by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Although they have yet to receive full equity and benefits, the veteranos were able to claim a small victory with the passing of President Obama's stimulus package. Through the support of Hawaiian Senator Daniel K. Inouye, a provision was attached to the stimulus package that would provide for the payment of a lump sum of $15,000 to Filipino veterans who are American citizens and $9000 to those who are not. The provision however included a clause that stated that if the veteranos were to accept their lump sum payment, they would no longer be owed anything by the United States. This means that although the veteranos were able to acquire some of the money owed to them by the United States government, they would still not be able to receive full veteran benefits and status.