The House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare has endorsed for plenary adoption a resolution seeking to commend the heroic acts and gallantry of American war veteran Quartermaster 2nd Class (QM2) Raymond Joseph Olley, and his valuable service to the Philippines in the Second World War.
During a virtual meeting, the panel chaired by Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, approved the committee report on House Resolution No. 1157, principally authored by San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes.
It was APEC partylist Rep. Sergio Dagooc who moved for the approval of the committee report.
In September, the Roman panel adopted Robes’ HR No. 1157, which seeks to “honor" Olley, who died on July 4, 2020 at the age of 97.
“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.
Under HR No. 1157, Robes noted that during World War II, Olley together with other American soldiers, was on board the Landing Ship Medium 311 that traveled across Leyte, Mindoro, Bataan, 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,” the House leader said in her two-page resolution.
Robes, a member of the House Committee on Inter-parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, cited that Olley was a recipient of numerous awards including 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.
She said that, after the war and having established himself in Illinois, Olley continued his “humanitarian efforts” and raised funds for a Catholic Church in San Ramon, in Leyte. He was a Marian devotee.
“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.
Olley was born on April 2, 1923 at Hillsdale, New Jersey. He joined the US Navy in 1942 and served in the Pacific Theater in the course of World War II.