ALLIANCE NEWS
June 14, 2011

REMEMBER AND COMMEMORATE THE VICTORY AT THE BATTLE OF BESSANG PASS, 1945

On June 14, 1945, one of the greatest battle of World War II ended in a victory for the Filipino and American soldiers in Bessang Pass, in the Cordilleras Northern Luzon, Philippines.

Before the light of day, on June 14, 1945, units of the 121st Infantry launched the final assault of Bucual Ridge, In dramatic but costly rushes they obliterated the last enemy soldier on Bessang Pass.

To the end with flourish, the greatest feat of Filipino arms in modern times, the Filipinos secured the hill held by the Japanese Imperial army. It was a payback for the defeat in Bataan, three years ago.

Presidential Citation

No higher honors can be bestowed on the heroes of the battle of Bessang Pass , who avenged the defeat of Bataan and Corregidor than the tribute of President Elpidio Quirino in 1952 to the United States Forces in Northern Luzon (USFIP-NL) during the 7th anniversary of the Battle of Bessang Pass:

“To win the liberation of Northen Luzon in which the USFIP-NL played a a major role, you accomplished no ordinary achievement. Your battle of bessang Pass in eastern ilocos Sur in n1945, for instance stands out prominently as one of the major decisive battles of the Philippine Liberation Campaign.”

The whole campaign in and around Bessang Pass was called coleletively because similar battles was fought for the campaign in Balite Pass ( now called Dalton pass) in Nueva Vizcaya, Loo Valley in Benguet and the Ilocos Sur-Abara-Beguet borders where Bessang Pass in located.

We salute you

Today in the United States .as we in the Filipino American community with the Justice for Filipino Veterans, SPACE and AWARE, commemorate the 66th year of the Battle of Bessang Pass,

We pay tribute and salute all veterans and their widows living or those who passed away who fought in the great battle of the different battles in and around Bessang Pass.

To Max Clamor, Peping Baclig, Mariano Pastorin, Arcadio Basat, Nick Gadia, Manuel Aquino, Bong Agbunag Col. Eduardo Borje, Col Rigor, Col. Volckman, Jaor Barnett, Major Blockburn, Major Ed Ramsey, Major Pat Dumlao, Major Eulogio Balao, and thousands of others who cannot be named but who were there, we salute you.

Today on American military holiday called Flag Day and on the 150th birthday of Dr. Jose Rizal and the 113th Independence Day of the Phillipines, we say MABUHAY!

PAGPUPUGAY KAMI AT IKINARARANGAL NAMIN ANG INYONG TAGUMPAY ANG TAGUMPAY NG BAYAN SA TAGUMPAY NATIN SA BESSANG PASS.