did they enlist filipinos in the us navy during the vietnam war

Becky Beckham, a Navy spokeswoman, but “they aren’t eligible for citizenship.

Since the end of the war, 3,000 Filipinos have enlisted in the Navy, said Lt.

When the Vietnam War was declared over in 1978, however, that guarantee expired. A hitch with the Navy long has been considered by Filipinos a chance to escape the grinding poverty of their homeland and a virtual guarantee for United States citizenship. Duncan Hunter (R-San Diego) to introduce legislation that would make it easier for them to become citizens.įilipinos have been enlisting in the Navy since the early 1900s, when the islands were a U.S. But our people are very dedicated, and so far we haven’t seen any effects on professionalism or morale because of it.”įilipino members of the Navy have met with local attorneys to discuss legal alternatives. “This entire issue came as a surprise to me. Versailles, a spokesman for the Naval Surface Force, U.S. But several Navy officials interviewed by The Times said they didn’t know about this provision.Ĭhief Petty Officer Paul Versailles’ reaction was representative of those expressed by other Navy officials. citizens.”Īll of the sailors interviewed for this story said they were told upon their enlistment that joining the Navy would not automatically qualify them for U.S. If you want to be callous about it, you can say that they are hired as mercenaries, and as mercenaries they can’t expect the same rights accorded to U.S. “The Philippines is the only country where the United States recruits foreign nationals for its armed forces,” Quinsaat said.

Did they enlist filipinos in the us navy during the vietnam war