Military career of Ferdinand Marcos

The military career of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos during World War II has been the subject of debate and controversy, both in the Philippines and in international military circles.^[1]^[2] Marcos, who had received ROTC training in the University of the Philippines, was activated for service in the US Armed Forces in the Philippines after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a 3rd lieutenant during the mobilization in the summer and fall of 1941, continuing until April 1942, after which he was taken prisoner.^[3] According to Marcos' account, he was released from prison by the Japanese on August 4, 1942,^[4] and US military records show that he rejoined USAFIP forces in December 1944.^[4] Marcos' military service then formally ended with his discharge as a major in the 14th Infantry, US Armed Forces in the Philippines Northern Luzon, in May 1945.^[5]

Controversies regarding Marcos' military service revolve around: the reason for his release from the Japanese POW camp;^[4] his actions between release from prison in August 1942 and return to the USAFIP in December 1944;^[4] his supposed rank upon discharge from USAFIP;^[5] and his claims to being the recipient of numerous military decorations, most of which were proven to be fraudulent.^[1]^[2]

Documents uncovered by the Washington Post in 1986 suggested that Marcos' release in August 1942 happened because his father, former congressman and provincial governor Mariano Marcos, "cooperated with the Japanese military authorities" as publicist.^[4]

After his release, Marcos claims that he spent much of the period between his August 1942 release and his December 1944 return to USAFIP^[4] as the leader of a guerilla organization called Ang Manga Mahárlika (Tagalog, "The Freeman") in Northern Luzon.^[6] According to Marcos' claim, this force had a strength of 9,000 men.^[6] His account of events was later cast into doubt after a United States military investigation exposed many of his claims as either false or inaccurate.^[7]

Another controversy arose in 1947, when Marcos began signing communications with the rank of lieutenant colonel, instead of major.^[5] This prompted US officials to note that Marcos was only "recognized as a major in the roster of the 14th Infantry USAFIP, NL as of 12 December 1944 to his date of discharge."^[5]

The biggest controversy arising from Marcos' service during World War II, however, would concern his claims during the 1962 Senatorial Campaign of being "most decorated war hero of the Philippines"^[1] He claimed to have been the recipient of 33 war medals and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor, but researchers later found that stories about the wartime exploits of Marcos were mostly propaganda, being inaccurate or untrue.^[8] Only two of the supposed 33 awards - the Gold Cross and the Distinguished Service Star - were given during the war, and both had been contested by Marcos' superiors.^[8]

^ ^a ^b ^c Gerth, Jeff; Brinkley, Joel (January 23, 1986). "Marcos's wartime role discredited in U.S. files". The New York Times.
^ ^a ^b Gerth, Jeff; Brinkley, Joel (January 23, 1986). "Marcos's Wartime Role Discredited in U.S. Files". The New York Times.
^ Cite error: The named reference TheWashPost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Cite error: The named reference JohnSharkey19860124 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Capt. E.R. Curtis, “Check Sheet, Subject:Ferdinand E. Marcos” sent to Lt. Col. W.M. Hanes, 24 March 1948, in AMM-GURF. As cited inWhy Ferdinand E. Marcos Should Not Be Buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines. July 12, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference whScottPrehispanic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference McCoy1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Matsuzawa, Mikas (2003). "31 years of amnesia: Imagined heroism". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

[marcoswartime-1] Gerth, Jeff; Brinkley, Joel (January 23, 1986). "Marcos's wartime role discredited in U.S. files". The New York Times.

[nyTimesMarcosWartime-2] Gerth, Jeff; Brinkley, Joel (January 23, 1986). "Marcos's Wartime Role Discredited in U.S. Files". The New York Times.

[TheWashPost-3] Cite error: The named reference TheWashPost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[JohnSharkey19860124-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Cite error: The named reference JohnSharkey19860124 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Curtis1948-5] Capt. E.R. Curtis, “Check Sheet, Subject:Ferdinand E. Marcos” sent to Lt. Col. W.M. Hanes, 24 March 1948, in AMM-GURF. As cited inWhy Ferdinand E. Marcos Should Not Be Buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Manila: National Historical Commission of the Philippines. July 12, 2016.

[whScottPrehispanic-6] Cite error: The named reference whScottPrehispanic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[McCoy1999-7] Cite error: The named reference McCoy1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[MikasMatsuzawa2003-8] Matsuzawa, Mikas (2003). "31 years of amnesia: Imagined heroism". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

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