Untold Triumph
Episode 1 of 1

This program is a landmark piece that documents and honors the 7,000 men of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments of the U.S. Army who fought in World War II. Director Noel M. Izon intimately captures their stories through the voices of the veterans themselves, only half of whom are still alive today. Despite the fact that they endured a bleak, racist prewar climate, Filipinos in America rallied to join the American war effort after the fateful bombing of Pearl Harbor. With a strong desire to show support for both their Philippine homeland and their adopted country, their drive finally succeeded on January 2, 1942, when President Roosevelt signed an executive order allowing Filipinos to join the U.S. Army and form a volunteer, all-Filipino unit. These volunteer troops proved to be skilled fighters and an indispensable force in freeing the Philippines from the Japanese and -- ultimately -- in the winning of World War II. A fitting testament to these brave soldiers, this film imparts touching personal accounts of the men's contributions and sacrifices during the war. More importantly, it inducts Filipino- American veterans into their rightful place in American history.