In honor of his bravery on the battlefield, 2nd Lt. Alejandro Cochingco Sancianco was awarded the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal during the 55th Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in Waipahu, Hawaii, Jan. 26.

Sancianco’s daughter, Josefina Sancianco Ragan, received the medal on his behalf from Lt. Gen. Bryan Fenton, deputy commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. She was accompanied by her daughter, Regina Ragan Arnett, and granddaughter, Allison Rutter, the regional energy program manager of Guam’s Joint Region Marianas.  

Arnett said all their family knew was that Sancianco was a doctor, hard-working and in a war, but not that he particularly served in the U.S. military.

Sancianco answered the call to defend America as a Soldier in the U.S. Army on Aug. 1, 1942, and served as a guerrilla soldier in the 1st Infantry, Manila Military District, East Central Luzon Guerrilla Area during the war. He was later killed in action at Fort Santiago, Nov. 4, 1944.

One of Arnett’s hopes was that her mother would gain deeper knowledge of her father’s story and experience some sort of closure, especially at the age of 97. Now that her mother was able to receive the medal on his behalf, that goal has come closer to fulfillment.

“It was really a surprise," Arnett said. "It made me so proud. I wanted her to be proud of something she’s part of.”

If he were here to witness the event, Arnett is sure her grandfather would have been just as proud. She immediately grew eager to learn more about him and has been doing extensive research into his history.

Rutter is happy that her great-grandfather was honored and that Congress passed the resolution that paved the way for the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal.

“I’m not very connected to my Filipino side, so watching it all happen was really special," Rutter said, in tears. "I’m really proud, and I’m actually really excited that my mom was so excited. I really appreciate the non-profit [organization], Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, that’s trying to get recognition for so many people.”

Through academic research and public outreach, FilVetRep’s mission is to raise awareness and obtain national recognition for Filipino, Filipino-American and American World War II Soldiers across the United States and the Philippines for their wartime service to the U.S. and the Philippines from July 1941 to December 1946. It was on Dec. 14, 2016, that President Barack Obama signed the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 into law.

Nearly 50 other Filipino veterans also received the medal during the ceremony.

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