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World War II survivors hurt by exclusion

by Heather Hauswirth

The news of H.R. 44's failure to be included in the 2010 Defense Authorization Act came as a huge disappointment for many World War II survivors who are quickly losing hope of ever seeing the day that reparations will become a reality.

Tom Barcinas, born in 1938, says he was just a boy when the Japanese invaded and occupied Guam in 1941, but that doesn't make today any less painful for him and many of Guam's elders.

Barcinas states, "Immediately upon hearing it lose, I felt very very disappointed, hurt, and pain after all these years. I hoped the fellow would find the kindness in his heart for the people of Guam. But bang - no more."

Barcinas' first reaction to news that Washington did not provide the people of Guam with change you can believe in was a pain he and other elders like former three-term senator Antonio Palomo, born in 1931, have been dealing with for over 60 years.

He explains, "Since it's been 65 years since the war, the longer we talk about this, the least the chances of getting compensated."

Barcinas says, "It's very sad. It's like Guam is in more agony waiting all this long, but out of disappointment, I see options like calling Carl Levin and McCain and telling them to come to Guam and learn about guam. They are making decisions about somewhere they know very little about, they know very little about Guam."

With the decision not to give Guam the war reparations they've been waiting decades for, Barcinas and other survivors are even more apprehensive about the impending military buildup.
"They are doing this stuff to impact the people of Guam and for a measely slap in the face of $126 million for them to not consider it", Barcinas confessed.  "No war reparations, no buildup; this buildup situation, they made their decision outside Guam and no consultation with the people of Guam."