New US ambassador’s cousin a ‘Death March’ survivor

MT. SAMAT, Bataan — Though it was only her first time to attend the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) ceremonies here, United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney was overcome by memories of her close cousin who survived the Death March during World War II.

In her message at the commemoration of the 64th anniversary of the Battle of Bataan, Kenney disclosed that during WWII her father, Gerry Kenney, was on a battleship in the Pacific; her father-in-law, retired general Albert Brownfield, landed in Normandy; while her cousin, Marine captain Sonny Brownfield, who fought alongside Filipino soldiers and was among the last to surrender in Bataan, had survived the Death March to Capas, Tarlac.

"We come here with pride for the valor of those (who) served here. Pride in the courage of those who defended their nations," Kenney said, her voice cracking. "All of you (war veterans) had been called very rightly the greatest generation."

She added that Filipinos and Americans "owe a great debt" to the three men and others like them who fought for freedom.

She later told reporters, "I’ve never been here before so to honor the memory of a family member is incredibly special. I’ve now been in the Philippines for two and half weeks, it has been a wonderful two and half weeks."

Kenney said her cousin continued serving with the US Marines after the war and returned to his home in Texas to farm. He died about 10 years ago, while her father passed away recently. Her father-in-law, at 92, is "still farming in west Texas, he’s a fine man," she said.

The Japanese Imperial Army forced some 300,000 Filipino and American soldiers and guerrillas to walk to the concentration camp in Capas after Bataan and Corregidor fell to Japanese forces on April 9, 1942.

The forced march took about a week, but along the way some 10,000 died of hunger, wounds, disease or were bayoneted on the spot by their Japanese guards.

Freedom from terror, poverty

In her speech at the same ceremony, President Arroyo said that in today’s "globalized regime," the Philippines "no longer differentiate the causes of the Filipino, American and Japanese soldiers" during WWII.

She said the three countries are now all "brothers and sisters in democracy."

"Whatever side they (soldiers) were on, whatever country they came from, they passed the tests of their time with full honors," Mrs. Arroyo said. "But, in our time, (we fight) no longer for freedom from invaders... we are now all fighting for freedom from hunger, from crime, from corruption, from terrorism, from communism and from religious and ethnic misunderstanding and warfare."

Kenney said the countries must continue the work left by those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom during WWII.

"We face today, our nations, the threat of terrorism and of violence, those who take away our opportunity to live in peace and freedom. We face the threat of poverty, we face the threat that our citizens may not have a bright future. We must have the strength to ensure that our children’s world is more peaceful and more prosperous," she said.

Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki, in his message, reiterated his government’s determination to contribute to the "peace and prosperity of the world without waging a war." He said he continues to be impressed "by the noble spirit of reconciliation on the part of the Filipino people."

Yamazaki said Japan aims to further deepen its relations with the Philippines as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties this year.

"I’m also very pleased to note that the 50th anniversary offers excellent opportunities for tailoring our bilateral relations to suit the needs of the 21st century. One such prospect is to conclude the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), which will make our economic bilateral relations more comprehensive, more interactive and more mutually beneficial," he said.

He also said Japan would continue its aid to Mindanao as it anticipates the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.