I would like to share a portion of a document recently discovered. A Memorandum, dated 18 March 1988, “Subject: Awards for Soldiers in the Philippines”. It identified an AAF veteran of the 34th Pursuit Squadron (one of the units mentioned on the Information Paper), 24th Pursuit Group. The former Sergeant Hayne W.J. Dominick fought the enemy as an infantryman, meeting circumstances listed in War Department Circulars (WDC’s) 269, dated 27 October 1943 and 105, dated 13 March 1944. The latter amended the former WDC and made retroactive on or after 6 December 1941. There are no circumstances requiring the combatant to be assigned to an Infantry unit or possess the military occupational specialty (MOS) of an infantryman. [Please note: WDC 105, page 2, para IV states (in part) the Combat Infantryman badge may be awarded to any infantryman]. An alternative to awarding the CIB to Army Air Force (AAF) veterans was requested by the Secretary of the Army. LTC Hickman suggested to award the BSM en masse to every soldier who fought on Luzon and Corregidor from 7 December 1941 to 10 May 1942. The Secretary approved this alternative. There is no doubt use of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), Article 92. Failure to obey order or regulation was not followed by LTC Hickman. Furthermore, according to Executive Order 9075, dated February 26, 1942, the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and directed to issue a citation in the name of the President of the United States, as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction, to any organization, unit, detachment, or installation of the Army of the United States or the Army of the Philippine Commonwealth for outstanding performance of duty in action on or after December 7, 1941. According to War Department Army General Order (WD AGO) 22-42 as amended by Department of the Army General Order (DA GO) 46-48 states "Citation of units of both military and naval forces of the United States and Philippine Governments-As authorized by Executive Order 9075 (sec II, Bull II, W. D., 1942) a citation in the name of the President of the United States, as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction, is awarded to all units of both military and naval forces of the United States and Philippine Governments engaged in the defense of the Philippine Islands since 7 December 1941. [A. G. 210.54 (4-12-42)]” Every member of the military who participated in the campaign since 7 December 1941 are entitled at least one Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) aka Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). Every recipient is entitled the BSM. (Ref: Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22, and Code of Federal Regulations). The Memorandum also states “there were some Navy in the Philippines and one regiment of Marines which was under the operational control of the Army between 7 December 1941 and 10 May 1942. Every Secretary of the Navy has rejected appeals from its veterans for award of the mass BSM. The Navy has not seen fit to follow the Army and Air Force on this matter.” Ref: Under the provisions of NAVMC 2922, MMMP, dated 1 March 2006, the 4th Marine Regiment was awarded the following: 1. Army Presidential Unit Citation, For action in the Philippines 7 Dec 41 - 10 May 42. 2. Army Presidential Unit Citation w/1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, For action in defending Manila, 14 Mar - 9 Apr 1942. All personnel (including Navy and Army) assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment are entitled to the PUC w/OLC. Again, all recipients of the DUC aka PUC are entitled the BSM. There are a number of concerned Americans who formatted a letter (pending endorsements) to submit to Secretary of Defense Hagel. Purpose: To expose the unbalanced scale of recognition applied from 1948 to February 2013. If interested, I may share a copy of the letter. Robert

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