April 3, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 58 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
PROUD TO RETURN THE BALANGIGA BELLS TO PHILIPPINES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 58
(Extensions of Remarks - April 03, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E394-E395] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] PROUD TO RETURN THE BALANGIGA BELLS TO PHILIPPINES ______ HON. DON BACON of nebraska in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, late last year, an historic event took place in the relations between our country and the Republic of the Philippines. In December of 2018, the United States returned the historic ``Bells of Balangiga'' to the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir on the Island of Samar. The three Bells had been brought to the U.S. following the Philippine-American War over a century ago. The return of the Bells by the Department of Defense became a moment of national jubilation for the Philippines. The history of the Bells began on a Saturday morning in September 1901 when a company of American soldiers were caught in a surprise attack by Philippine revolutionaries and the U.S. Army unit was nearly decimated. Some reports indicate that one of the bells was thought to be used as a signal in the attack. U.S. forces launched a counter- attack in response, killed many of the people of the town, destroyed the church with the bells and took all three as war trophies. The three bells were then shipped to America by the U.S. Army, despite orders that Church property was not subject to retention after the end of hostilities. For over a century they remained unlocated until twenty years ago when Philippine President Fidel Ramos, a West Point graduate and American compatriot in the Korean and Vietnam wars, asked for the return of two bells from a U.S. Air Force base in Wyoming, a base that a century ago was an Army cavalry post. Since then, every Philippine president has asked for repatriation and over the years, the ``Bells of Balangiga'' have become national historic icons; sacred artifacts of a nation whose historical patrimony was largely destroyed in World War II. Despite disagreement in the U.S. about the return of the Bells, three retired U.S. Navy officers, later referred to as the ``three sailors'' believed that it was the right thing to do and set out to advocate for their return. They knew well the bond of friendship forged between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines in World War II and strengthened ever since. Thus, the three Naval officers began a journey of discovery and learning spanning Wyoming, Army and Air Force record centers, a private library in Arizona, and the battle site in Balangiga to fully realize the story of the historic bells. The ``three sailors'' discovered that the two bells in Wyoming were not used as signals for the attack and were the property of the Catholic Church and sacred icons of the Philippines. They also discovered that our possession of them stood in stark contrast to other church bells previously returned by the U.S. to Russia, Japan, and Germany. Most importantly, they concluded that returning captured bells to their rightful nations and church parishioners have only strengthened the bonds between those nations and reflect the highest standards of military honor. For twenty years legislation existed that prevented removal of the Balangiga Bells from the United States. Last year I was honored to advance and advocate legislation that amended the law to permit the Secretary of Defense to approve return of the Bells and on the 14th of November in 2018, former Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced that the Bells were going home. On the 15th of December, the President of the Philippines, with leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States in attendance, expressed gratitude to the American people as the Bells rang once again in the coastal town of Balangiga. As we commit to the work of this new Pacific Century, let us reaffirm our long partnership with the Republic of the Philippines, now made stronger by the return of the Bells of Balangiga, a noble act that will ensure that a century long Philippine-American friendship will endure and echo in eternity. I am also pleased to share another story of the Bells less known, that includes a heroic young man from Nebraska, Private Adolph [[Page E395]] Gamlin. Adolph was the principal sentry on duty the tragic morning of battle that became known as the ``Massacre of Balangiga''. The record reflects that Gamlin fought bravely that day and acquitted himself with honor. His courage and skill in battle helped survivors to escape the onslaught and prevented the complete decimation of his unit. Adolph Gamlin was a 20-year-old farm boy when he enlisted in 1898 with the 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was sent off to the Philippines. He later joined other Spanish American War volunteers by re-enlisting in the Regular Army's 9th Infantry in 1900. Back to the Philippines in November, he caught up with Company C in January of 1901 when they were still in China and returned to Manila with his unit in June. He mustered out of the Army in 1903 at Fort Niagara in New York as Sergeant Gamlin and returned to Nebraska, married, had three children before his wife's untimely death. Adolph remarried and today his daughter, E. Jean Wall from that marriage, carries on his memory. Over the years she has accumulated the single most complete library on Balangiga and its military history. Included are many letters left to her by her father. He was her hero, and now he is mine too. Adolph Gamlin died in 1969 at age 92. Today he is at rest at the historic Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City. The diligent research of the ``three sailors'' found there were many heroes of the battle, valiant men never fully recognized. Gamlin was one of them. Today I am honored to capture this story to ensure it is never forgotten and available in our nation's archives so others may know their story for generations to come. ____________________