Photo By Lance Cpl. Stefanie Pupkiewicz | Cpl. Phillip Anacta, a personnel clerk with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine...... read more read more
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OKINAWA, Japan - The oath of allegiance that was uttered by one corporal at the Camp Foster theater April 17 fulfilled a dream that dated back to World War II when his grandfather fought in the stifling heat in the jungles of the Philippines while evading occupying Japanese forces.
Luis Anacta was fighting for his country and his future when he enlisted in the Philippine army during World War II. There was a promise of U.S. citizenship for all members of the Philippine armed forces if they enlisted during the war.
Luis, the grandfather of U.S. Marine Cpl. Phillip Anacta, suffered through the Bataan Death March and fought a guerilla war against the invaders to get his citizenship. With that, he opened the door to the United States for his entire family.
Luis never really spoke of the war. He seemed to only remember the brutality of the battles, Anacta said.
After the war, Luis moved to Guam with his wife and youngest son. The rest of his family, including Anacta's parents, remained in the Philippines where he was born.
Luis began the process of sponsoring his family members to come to the United States. As each of his children married and had their own children, the process got longer to come to the United States. Anacta was 17 years old before his family finally arrived in California.
"He never rested until we got out of the Philippines and into the States," said Anacta, a personnel clerk with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.
Luis wanted to lift his family out of the poverty of the Philippines and bring them to the United States where they would have more opportunities, Anacta said, regarding his grandfather's vision.
Luis, as the patriarch of the family, served as a model for military service to his family, said Petty Officer 1st Class Bouffard Anacta, Anacta's uncle, currently stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
All but one of Luis' six children served in the military. His youngest son, Bouffard received U.S. citizenship while serving in the U.S. Navy.
He was also motivated and encouraged to join by his maternal great uncle, Therio Alpas, who served in the Philippine Marines during World War II, Anacta said.
When Anacta visits his great uncle, the conversation always starts the same way.
"Hello Lolo."
"Where have you been lately?" Alpas will say.
The pair would then trade war stories. Alpas tells of jungle warfare and Anacta of the desert and urban warfare he experienced in Iraq. In the end, Alpas always insists that the Marines have it much easier now then they did in his day, Anacta said.
The other members of the Anacta family who are still in the Philippines, are very proud their legacy of military service has continued since the family has come to the United States, said Bouffard Anacta.
The Anacta family does not just have this tradition of military service, but also of helping others to pursue the American dream through citizenship.
"I usually ask around the office, and see which Marines are not citizens yet," Anacta said.
For Lance Cpl. Miguel Martinezambriz, a personnel clerk with H&S Bn., MCB, Anacta was the first person to approach him about citizenship.
Anacta shared his experiences from his previous four years in the Marine Corps, and how, in Okinawa, it is a lot easier to become naturalized citizen, Martinezambriz said.
Anacta took Pfc. Tuong Quy Lau, a personnel clerk with H&S Bn., MCB, to get all of his paper work from the Installation Personnel Administration Center, Lau said.
"He will talk to his Marines about all of the benefits of being a citizen as compared to a legal alien," Anacta's uncle said.
While Anacta was preparing for his own naturalization test, he was helping Lance Cpl. Hung Chac, also an administrative clerk with H&S Bn., MCB, to study as well.
"I felt confident that I would be able to answer all of the questions at my interview because of our practice," Chac said.
Chac and Anacta both took their oath of allegiance, April 17, at the largest naturalization ceremony hosted by MCB Butler. One hundred twenty Marines from 45 countries became U.S. citizens during the ceremony.
"I'm going to be called a Filipino-American now," Anacta said. "Even though I'm half-Chinese, so I don't know how that is going to work," he added with a laugh.
It is with the same enthusiasm and motivation as his grandfather that Anacta has helped steer fellow Marines into the path of U.S. citizenship. Fully appreciating the sacrifice and efforts of his grandfather, Anacta continues to exemplify the vision of his forefathers.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2009 00:57 |
| Story ID: | 33142 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 91 |
This work, Family Commitment to country leads to Okinawa Marine's citizenship, by LCpl Stefanie Pupkiewicz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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