The House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare has adopted a resolution seeking to “honor” the heroic acts and gallantry of American war veteran Quartermaster 2nd Class (QM2) Raymond Joseph Olley, and for serving the Philippines against the Japanese during World War II.
The House panel, chaired by Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman gave in to the call of San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes, the chairperson of People Participation, to approve House Resolution No. 1157.
“We intend to honor the gallantry of Quartermaster 2nd Class Raymond Joseph Olley. This brave soldier who fought for freedom alongside General McArthur in the battle of Leyte not only exemplifies bravery but kindness to Filipinos he fought for,” Robes said during the panel's virtual deliberation on Tuesday afternoon.
She cited that after the war and having established himself in Illinois, United States, Olley, a Marian devotee, continued his “humanitarian efforts” and raised funds for a Catholic Church in San Ramon, in Leyte.
"This resolution is our country’s work of reminding the Filipinos about the strong ties and significant history Filipinos and Americans shared during the era of world wars,” Robes said.
During the virtual deliberations, Olley’s daughter, Cathy Stevens recalled how her father loved the Philippines and the Filipinos.
“Anytime, he would meet people in the hospital, Philippine nurses, he's just always overcome with emotion, he loves the Philippine people and I am proud of my father and what he did during the World War II. He’s a hero,” she relayed to the panel.
She said at the age of 97, her father passed away on July 4, 2020, which coincides with the Philippine-American Friendship Day.
"I am hoping this resolution will be passed to honor him,” Stevens, one of Olley’s seven children, said.
Olley’s Filipino “bestfriend”, Dr. Jojo Sayson described Olley as "a very devout Catholic” and “has devotion to the Blessed Mother."
"Somehow we were brought together in partnership by the daughter, Cathy. From then on , we have become best friends, like you’re the same sage. We talked about his exploits, his devotion to the Lord,” he said.
"The most striking part of our friendship is that Raymond Olley loved the Philippines so much, it is somehow the Lord has given him the Philippines in the form of a best friend, a Filipino,” Sayson said.
According to Sayson, his great uncle, General Antonio Sayson, was a confidante of late President Manuel L. Quezon, and his maternal grandfather was a guerilla.
"On his deathbed, i was there by side, the Philippines was holding his hand and singing for him in my presence so I told him, "Ray I am here, because God sent me because you loved the Philippines, I represent the Filipino people" so I implore we give Mr. Ray Olley the honor,” he said.
"Our relationship will be a living monument that we can teach the children that somehow our present baby boomers have reached out to these veterans and we have wonderful stories to tell. So hopefully, this will serve as an impetus for relationships for the United States and Philippines that we have forgotten so long because of unsteady politics we’ve had so far, we need to revive that friendship and that building of relationship once again,” Sayson said.
During the panel deliberations, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Ernesto Carolina relayed to Stevens that Olley is entitled to Philippine Liberation Medal and Philippine World War II Victory Medal.
Olley was born on April 2, 1923 at Hillsdale, New Jersey, United States. He joined the United States Navy in 1942 and served in the Pacific Theater in the course of World War 2.
Under HR No. 1157, Robes noted that during World War II, Olley, together with other American veterans, was on board the Landing Ship Medium 311 that traveled across Leyte, Mindoro, Bataasn, Corregidor, Pangasinan, and Mindanao, which was also one of the famous landings that came alongside the ship that landed Gen. McArthur’s Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel at the White Beach in Leyte.
“During the Battle of Leyte, he bravely fought for the liberation of Filipinos from the Japanese. When he was stationed in the Philippines, he often spoke about how he loved Filipinos so dearly,” Robes, a member of the House Committee on Inter-parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, said in her two-page resolution.
She cited that Olley was a recipient of numerous awards, which include the Combat Action Ribbon, American Campaign Media, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal W/4 Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon W/2 Stars, and World War II Victory Medal.
"His heroic acts were praiseworthy evident in these awards,” Robes said.