WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M) are reintroducing the bipartisan, bicameral Defenders of Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor the heroic veterans who defended Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines and Midway, Wake, Guam, Java, Mindanao, and the Aleutian Islands against Imperial Japanese forces during World War II.

The legislation would bestow a collective Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest and most distinguished civilian honor, to the troops from the United States who bravely fought in the Pacific Theater, as well as to the Saskinax people on Attu during World War II. After the fall of Bataan and Corregidor, many of these Americans endured one of the most harrowing prisoners of war experiences in history, known today as the Bataan Death March, and years of captivity in prisoner of war camps. Bestowing them with a Congressional Gold Medal would recognize their personal service and sacrifice.

"Nearly 2,000 New Mexico National Guardsmen fought alongside thousands of Allied troops in the Pacific during World War II. These brave Americans endured unfathomably harrowing conditions during the Bataan Death March and years of captivity in prisoner of war camps," said Heinrich. "The courage and sacrifices of so many Americans who bravely defended the Pacific ultimately made Allied victory possible. I'm honored to introduce this legislation to recognize these heroic veterans with our nation's highest and most distinguished honor."

"The American and Filipino defenders of Bataan and Corregidor demonstrated an unimaginable level of courage and strength in the face of unimaginable abuse," said Leger Fernández. "The Bataan Death March was a horrific example of cruelty and inhumanity. Especially as so many are passing, it's time we recognize the Bataan and Corregidor veterans—including many New Mexican heroes—with the highest honor."

In the Senate, the Defenders of Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu Congressional Gold Medal Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Nev.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Vt). Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

"Thousands of soldiers, including many New Mexicans, bravely defended the Bataan Peninsula during World War II before being forced to endure a deadly 65 mile march to a prison camp," said Luján. "America's debt to these Bataan veterans can never be repaid. Their bravery in the face of such suffering is extraordinary. I'm proud to support this bipartisan initiative to ensure that Congress recognizes and honors these heroes for their remarkable service and sacrifice."

"In New Mexico, we honor and support our veterans, their families, and the memory of their service. The brave soldiers - these Defenders of Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu - deserve high honors for their courage and sacrifices," said Stansbury. "Thousands of soldiers from New Mexico and across the country persisted through harrowing conditions during the Bataan Death March. It is time we mark their heroism with the Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu Congressional Gold Medal Act."

In the House, the Defenders of Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu Congressional Gold MedalAct is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Julia Brownley (D-Calif.).

The Defenders of Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu Congressional Gold Medal Act is endorsed by the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society, the New Mexico National Guard, the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico, and Attu Forever.

"Our fathers and mothers made huge sacrifices in service to their country — their war lasted the full duration of WWII," said Jan Thompson, President of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society.

"Honoring their service reminds us of what it means to be American, and more importantly, what it means to be free. We commend Senator Martin Heinrich for bringing attention to the full story of the American men and women who participated in the unique first defensive battles in the Pacific and who became POWs of Imperial Japan for the duration of World War II. Their sacrifice and grit embodies the American spirit."

"The Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor personified the spirit of New Mexican resilience," said Major General Miguel Aguilar, Adjutant General of the New Mexico National Guard. "Their service and sacrifice is never far from the minds of their descendants in New Mexico, nor our Soldiers and Airmen in the New Mexico National Guard. They leave behind a Legacy of Honor, and it is our solemn duty to ensure their story lives on. Despite abhorrent conditions and insufficient resources, the 200th and the 515th Coast Artillery delayed the plans of the 14th Japanese Army to take over the Pacific. Their resolve, defiance, and heroism on behalf of our nation are deserving of the Congressional Gold Medal. I fully support Senator Heinrich's and Representative Leger Fernández' efforts to recognize them appropriately."

Background:

On December 8, 1941, hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese bombers attacked U.S. military stations in the Philippines. Despite being cut off from supply lines and reinforcements, thousands of American and Filipino forces mounted a courageous, months-long defense of the Bataan Peninsula and then Corregidor Island in Manila Bay. This brave defense—alongside campaigns to defend the Midway Atoll, Wake Island, Guam, Java, Mindanao, and the Aleutians–changed the momentum of the war, delaying the Japanese conquest of the Philippines and providing the Allied Forces with critical time to mount a campaign to liberate the Pacific.

On April 9, 1942, after the Battle of Bataan, approximately 75,000 troops from both the United States and the Philippines were taken prisoner by the Japanese. They were forced to endure a torturous march of more than 60 miles that came to be known as the "Bataan Death March" to prison camps throughout the Philippines. The marchers endured intense tropical heat without food, water, or medical care. An estimated 10,000 men—including thousands of Filipinos and hundreds of Americans—died from starvation, exhaustion, and abuse.

Survivors of the Bataan Death March were held captive in Japanese prison camps for over three years, where they were subject to further torture, undernourishment, and forced labor. Others died when they were transported out of the Philippines, by way of unmarked Japanese Navy "hell ships" that were targeted by Allied Forces.

Out of the 1,816 New Mexico National Guardsmen in the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery who deployed to defend the Philippines in the fall of 1941, 829 never returned home.

The full text of the legislation is available HERE. A one-pager for the legislation can be found HERE