World War II veteran David Vergara Joson, now 98, was awarded the US Congressional Gold Medal recently in recognition of his wartime achievements and honorable service to the United States of America during the war against the Japanese.
Now an American citizen living in Chicago, Joson rendered wartime military service from August 19, 1942 to March 31, 1945 as a supply sergeant of the Catanduanes Liberators Battalion under the command of Major Salvador Rodolfo.
At the ceremony held last Jan. 29, 2024 at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Country in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, the medal was received by his son, Dr. Rafael Joson from Department of National Defense (DND) Usec. Pablo Lorenzo, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) administrator Usec. Reynaldo Mapagu, US Embassy Political Counselor Michael James Kelleher, and US Department of Veterans Affairs Asst. Director Kevin McAllister.
The awardee’s late wife, Elisa Sorreta Joson, who also served during World War II, received the same award a few years earlier.
The Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) is an award bestowed by Congress and is the highest civilian award in the United States.
The decoration is awarded to an individual or unit who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.
In accordance with Public Law 114-265, the US Congress passed the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 that awarded a Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) collectively to the Filipino Veterans of World War II.
The U.S. Mint designed and struck a CGM specifically to honor and commemorate the Filipino, American, and Filipino American Veterans of World War II for whom the medal is awarded.
The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), headed by Major General Antonio M. Taguba, U.S. Army Retired, led a nationwide campaign to achieve the nation’s highest civilian award.
Since its implementation in Oct 25, 2017, FilVetREP has conducted more than ninety ceremonies across the U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska. Similar ceremonies have also been held in the Philippines. To date, more than 5,000 living veterans and next-of-kin have received this medal.