Gil’s love
for the Philippine Scouts, the legendary U.S. Army Unit in World War II, began
in the 1960’s when he was a young man. It started with the stories told by two
influential uncles, Eugenio Mislang and Primo Trinidad, both members of the Philippine
Scouts. On the rare occasions that they would discuss their experiences during
those early dark days of the war, Gil had a glimpse of the hardships and
sacrifices of these soldiers, proud to be members of a professional U.S. Army
unit. He heard the story of how Eugenio, on the last days of the Battle of
Bataan, was told by his American Officer not to surrender, to blend in with the
local population and return home. He did this by going thru the jungles and
mountains of Zambales to avoid the enemy patrols. Starving and weak, he made
the 80 mile trek back home. Primo endured the infamous 60 mile “Death March”.
He survived imprisonment in Camp O’ Donnell, where 50,000 men were held, and
where more than half of them died. Also should be noted were 2 uncles, Domingo
Benavidez and Florencio Quijano who both died during the early fighting in the
war.
It was these
stories and more that Gil remembered. In 2007, he decided he could do his part to
ensure that the memories of the soldiers of the Philippine Scouts were not
forgotten. He was a member of a group of re-enactors that communicated with the
Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, the national organization dedicated in
preserving the history, heritage and legacy of the Scouts. The group requested
for and was given permission to reactivate the Lt. Alexander R. Nininger
Chapter of Los Angeles. Lt. Alexander R. Nininger was a hero in the Battle of Bataan.
He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Gil was one of
the primary forces in organizing and maintaining the group for several years
until his health forced him to withdraw from the Chapter’s activities. Some of
his happiest moments came when the movie “Forgotten Soldiers” produced by Donald
Plata was released. This documentary was put together using video footage taken
by Donald of the re-enactors of the Nininger Chapter. Another event was the
chapter’s involvement in the 2017 Rose Parade. The group entered an equestrian
unit representing the Philippine Scouts’ famed “26th Cavalry Mounted
Regiment”. A special time was when he flew back to the Philippines to attend
the 28th National Reunion in Pampanga, Philippines at Fort
Stotsenberg which was headquarters for the main units of the Philippine Scouts.
Still others events like “Old Fort
MacArthur Days” in San Pedro and
“Marching through History” at Prado Park, where the group enjoyed overnight
campouts that he truly enjoyed.
Lastly, the
times that the group showed their respect to the Philippine Scout veterans who
passed away, sad events that Gil was honored to participate in the group’s
color guard unit. It was Gil’s desire to preserve the memory of the hardships
and sacrifices of these Philippine Scout soldiers and thus the sacrifices of
our uncles, and to pass on their history to future generations.
-Feliciano Mislang Jr.