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General’s Courage Provides Inspiration for Sixth Annual Asian Heritage Awards
March 13, 2009 SAN DIEGO—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— Major General Antonio Taguba, whose report on Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison in 2004 drew international attention
and created accusations of prisoner abuse, has been chosen to receive the distinguished Special Recognition Honor at the Sixth
Annual Asian Heritage Awards.
Taguba, only the second Filipino American to attain the rank of major general in the
U.S. Army, published an extremely critical report on prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib that was leaked to the public, which led
to a Congressional investigation. But instead of being honored for his commitment to truth, General Taguba was reassigned
to the Pentagon and later, in January 2007, forced to retire.
In 2008, he wrote the preface to a report by Physicians
for Human Rights, in which he called for prosecution of the Bush Administration, writing, “There is no longer any doubt
that the current administration committed war crimes. The only question is whether those who ordered torture will be held
to account.”
Each year, Asia Media Inc., publishers of ASIA, The Journal of Culture & Commerce, and the Asian Heritage Society, single
out an individual for that person’s commitment and inspiration to the Asian Pacific Islander community. “Nothing
can be more inspiring than General Taguba’s long and distinguished military career and for his willingness to place
his career in jeopardy so that the truth of Abu Ghraib be told,” said Rosalynn Carmen, co-publisher of ASIA. “He is an inspiration not only for Asian Americans but for all who value truth and
justice,” she added.
General Taguba’s award will be a highlight of the July 25, 2009 gala ceremony aboard
the USS Midway Achievement in 15 other categories will also be acknowledged. In addition, the Sixth Annual Awards
“Legacy and Legends” will bring together representatives from all branches of the Armed Services in a
special salute to the military.
According to Leonard Novarro, Co-publisher of ASIA and vice president of Asia Media
Inc., this year’s ceremony aboard the USS Midway has special symbolic significance for the Asian Pacific Islander community,
having been the lifeline in rescuing thousands of Vietnamese fleeing their homeland during the fall of Saigon and for having
served in both the Vietnam and Korean Wars. The carrier was launched at the end of World War II and saw its first service
off the coast of Japan.
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Gold Star Moms Change Charter to Include Non-Citizens
Philippine News, News Report, Rita Gerona Adkins, Posted: Jul 06, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. –American Gold Star Mothers has changed its membership rule to include non-citizen mothers of soldiers
who died in battle. Mrs. Ligaya Lagman, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, will now resume her application to join the 77-year-old
organization. She had been rebuffed for not being a U.S. citizen.
The rule change was approved unanimously at the organization’s
68th convention held in Dallas from June 26-28.
“She has agreed to join the organization and accept the honor
of being a Gold Star Mother,” her husband, Joaquin Lagman, told Philippine News when reached by telephone at their home
in Yonkers, NY. “We are also happy to have our son Anthony honored again for his service and sacrifice.”
Army
Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, 26, was killed in action on March 18, 2004 in Afghanistan, along with another soldier, his buddy,
Miguel Esposito, 22, while on an extended assignment. Both were with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain
Division, and would often drive down together from Fort Drum where they were based.
Lagman’s mother, a 20-year
non-citizen resident from the Philippines, helped by a Yonkers-based veteran, Ben Spadaro of Veterans of Foreign Wars 2285,
applied for a AGMS membership but was turned down by then- president Ann Herd, who stood firm on the old citizenship requirement
rule. The Lagman case elicited reactions from public officials including New York Gov. George Pataki, urging the organization
to change its rules to accommodate non-citizen mothers.
The organization, whose objective is to honor with the title
“Gold Star Mother” American mothers of soldiers killed in action, has about 1,200 members and is run by a 12-member
board of directors.
Judith Young, the new president, was quoted by mainstream media as saying, “AGSM changes
will continue to be evolutionary rather than reactionary. This change to our constitution was the right thing to do, but we
had to make the change the right way."
She was not available for further comment at of press time. However, two ASMG
office volunteers were eager to make statements.
One was Mrs. Rosemary Pizzuito, whose brother was killed in Vietnam.
Expressing her gladness about the rule change, she opined, “As soon as Mrs. Lagman’s son was killed, she became
a Gold Star Mother.” She also said that an invitation and forms would be sent to Mrs. Lagman to complete her application,
as a result of the convention rule.
Mrs. Dorothy Oxendine, who served as president 2002-2003 and whose son Willie III
was killed in action in Vietnam, told PN, “Since I first heard about it [Mrs. Lagman’s case], I’ve tried
to make the change, which should have been done a long time ago. That boy paid the dues with his life so that we can have
our freedom and democracy.”
Referring to Mrs. Lagman, she added, “That mother hurt the same way I did…She
gave her most precious gift, her child, to our country. I know a lot of American citizen parents who won’t let their
sons join the service, and she did. To me, she is a much better person. So I am thrilled about the change.”
Mrs.
Oxendine also said that her husband, another Marine, had served in the Philippines during World War II.
The Lagman
issue had triggered an outpouring of support not only from veterans but also from families, citizen and non-citizen alike,
from all over the country. One veteran, Robert Foster was moved to write poems in honor of the grieving mothers:
“They
gave their life to save this land
They stilled the great attack
She gave to us her flesh and blood
We
never gave them back.”
Strong, emotional outbursts also emerged from the Filipino American community, especially
from veterans of World War II, some of whom use e-mail for transmitting their reactions.
Mrs. Lagman, who was at work
when PN called, had received over 800 letters of support when news about her being rejected by AGSM broke in the mainstream
media.
“We are very proud and grateful for that support,” Chris, another Lagman son, told PN.
Other
than Mrs. Lagman, there are two more applications that are already being processed, according to the headquarters volunteers.
It is expected that more will apply for membership. About 140 immigrant soldiers who have been killed in the current conflicts
in Iran and Afghanistan.
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