VETERANS DAY 2014 IS COMING SOON SO LETS TAKE THE TIME TO HONOR THIS FILIPINO AMERICAN WWII HERO!! On September 24, 1942 Leo Giron was inducted into the U.S. Army and would be attached to the 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiment at Camp Cooke, California. After he finished basic training, he was sent to radio signal operators school. Sgt 1st Class Giron was later assigned to the famous 978th Signal Service Company and the Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) in Australia. This was a select group of men who served as secret operatives for General Douglas MacArthur. This unit was known as the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Special). Then Sergeant Leo Giron would be dropped behind enemy lines by submarine nearly one (1) full year before any American soldier would set foot on Philippine soil. It was his assignment to search out the enemy, extend lines of communication and secure vital weather data. He also obtained military information and was not to be detected by the enemy. Sergeant Giron lead a group of American and Filipino soldiers through the most hazardous conditions of WWII deep in the jungles of the Philippines. Many encounters were documented in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Because of his heroic actions during WWII, Sergeant First Class Giron received the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the combat infantryman badge (CIB). Most importantly he received a letter of commendation from the President of the United States of America. He contributed using the bolo knife as a combat weapon for the men of the Fighting Filipino Regiments. After the war he opened a school teaching the martial art skills of Filipino stick fighting called Escrima, Arnis and Kali. His vast knowledge and skills enabled him to later become a Grand Master. LAGING UNA - ALWAYS FIRST SULUNG - FORWARD BAHALA NA! - COME WHAT MAY! IN HONOR OF OUR FATHERS! 72ND ANNIVERSARY (1942-2014)
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 05:16:31 +0000