Philippine Government Awards Filipino American USAFFE Veterans at the Embassy's "Araw ng Kagitingan" Celebrations
During celebrations conducted at the
Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. to commemorate the “Araw ng
Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) on 09 April 2008, the Philippine Government
awarded the WWII Victory Medals to USAFFE veterans Simplicio Goce and
Captain Jeffrey Dimen, and a Philippine Liberation Campaign Medal to
USAFFE veteran Nicholas Vanore. All three veterans served with the
USAFFE during World War II where they became Prisoners of War and
survived the infamous “Death March.” After the war, all three enlisted
in the regular U.S. Army in 1946.
PHOTO: (Upper left) Mr. Ed Goce, Executive Director of the National
League of Volunteers for Veterans and the son of Simplicio Goce,
receives the WWII Victory Medal on behalf of his father. (Upper right)
Capt. Jeffrey Dimen receiving the WWII Victory Medal. (Bottom) Atty.
Scott Kemp and Councilman Karl Noorgard of New Jersey receiving the
Philippine Liberation Medal on behalf of Nicholas Vanore.