Biographies
Larry Itliong - Andre Tabas
Larry Dulay Itliong was born on October 25th, 1913 in San Nicolas , Pangasinan, Philippines and died on February 8th, 1977 in Delano, California. He had five other siblings and only managed to reach the 6th grade of his education. Itliong migrated to the United States when he was only 14 years old and educated himself about law. Itliong knew many different languages that included different forms of Filipino languages, Cantonese, Japanese, and Spanish. He raised his seven children in Delano and Stockton, California even though he married six times.
Itliong started working in farms in Seattle and salmon canneries in Alaska before actually moving to California and working in the farms there. Life in the California farms was not worth the pay with very little benefits. Itliong and other workers worked in the burning sun picking vegetables and fruit for only a dollar an hour. In the early 1930s, he was a part of the Filipino Labor Union and built on his experience when he started the Filipino Farm Labor Union in 1956. He also was a part of various other activist groups.
In 1965, Itliong led farm workers into demanding a pay increase that the growers didn't agree with. In response, Itliong led a sit-down strike and Cesar Chavez later joined with the National Farm Workers Association. Within years, the two organization became one called the United Farm Workers Union. They're needs were eventually met and by 1971, Itliong left the UFW.
Itliong continued to live his life in Delano, California, but his contributions did not stop there. He was very active in different projects like constructing a retirement building for UFW workers and volunteered his services in other strikes. Larry Dulay Itliong, also known as seven fingers because he was said to have lost three fingers, was a labor organizer, farm worker, and loving father.
Citation: Hamilton, Neil A. "Itliong, Larry." American Social Leaders and Activists, American Biographies. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2002. American History Online. Facts On File
Itliong started working in farms in Seattle and salmon canneries in Alaska before actually moving to California and working in the farms there. Life in the California farms was not worth the pay with very little benefits. Itliong and other workers worked in the burning sun picking vegetables and fruit for only a dollar an hour. In the early 1930s, he was a part of the Filipino Labor Union and built on his experience when he started the Filipino Farm Labor Union in 1956. He also was a part of various other activist groups.
In 1965, Itliong led farm workers into demanding a pay increase that the growers didn't agree with. In response, Itliong led a sit-down strike and Cesar Chavez later joined with the National Farm Workers Association. Within years, the two organization became one called the United Farm Workers Union. They're needs were eventually met and by 1971, Itliong left the UFW.
Itliong continued to live his life in Delano, California, but his contributions did not stop there. He was very active in different projects like constructing a retirement building for UFW workers and volunteered his services in other strikes. Larry Dulay Itliong, also known as seven fingers because he was said to have lost three fingers, was a labor organizer, farm worker, and loving father.
Citation: Hamilton, Neil A. "Itliong, Larry." American Social Leaders and Activists, American Biographies. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2002. American History Online. Facts On File
Daniel Inouye - Annalee Hartung
Daniel Inouye was born on September 7, 1924 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He served as a Lieutenant in the 442nd (Nisei) Regimental Combat Team in Italy. In April 1945, Lt. Inouye was hit in his abdomen by a bullet, barely missing his spine. despite the pain he continued to engage in battle and exposed himself to dangerous close range until an exploding German rifle grenade ripped off his right arm. With the intense chaos surrounding the soldiers he refused to evacuate and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again moved into a defensive positions.
In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. With his intense acts of courageous and his stubborn and unbeatable leadership values, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through fierce resistance, and was active in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 442nd Infantry. Place and date: San Terenzo, Italy, 21 April 1945. Birth: 7 September 1924, Honolulu, Hawaii. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii.
Daniel Inouye was born on September 7, 1924 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He served as a Lieutenant in the 442nd (Nisei) Regimental Combat Team in Italy. In April 1945, Lt. Inouye was hit in his abdomen by a bullet, barely missing his spine. despite the pain he continued to engage in battle and exposed himself to dangerous close range until an exploding German rifle grenade ripped off his right arm. With the intense chaos surrounding the soldiers he refused to evacuate and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again moved into a defensive positions.
In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. With his intense acts of courageous and his stubborn and unbeatable leadership values, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through fierce resistance, and was active in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 442nd Infantry. Place and date: San Terenzo, Italy, 21 April 1945. Birth: 7 September 1924, Honolulu, Hawaii. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii.
Philip Vela Cruz - Justin Gallagher
Philip Vera Cruz was born on December 25, 1904 in Saoag, Ilocos, the Philippines. He died at the age of 89 in 1994, in Bakersfield, California. Growing up he did some work on farms, which he states was easier than the farm work in California. He moved to the United States in 1926 where he worked in several different settings such as restaurants, factories, and a cannery in Alaska. In 1931, he studied at Gonzaga University for a year and in 1942 he was drafted into the United States Army but discharged later on due to age. Vera Cruz eventually settled in California where he took on farm working jobs. He joined the National Farm Labor Union in the 1950's and his union local, which was based in Delano, California, had an Agriculture Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC). AWOC's main focus was to add members to the National Farm Labor Union. Philip Vera Cruz described the start of the Great Delano Grape Strike. "On September 8, 1965, at the Filipino Hall at 1457 Glenwood St. in Delano, the Filipino members of AWOC held a mass meeting to discuss and decide whether to strike or to accept the reduced wages proposed by the growers. The decision was 'to strike" and it became one of the most significant and famous decisions ever made in the entire history of the farmworkers struggles in California. It was like an incendiary bomb, exploding out the strike message to the workers in the vineyards, telling them to have sit-ins in the labor camps, and set up picket lines at every grower's ranch… It was this strike that eventually made the UFW, the farmworkers movement, and Cesar Chavez famous worldwide." On September 8, 1965, the Delano local decided to strike against the grape growers. During the strike growers tried to recruit Mexican-American Workers who were affiliated with the National Farm Workers of America. Vera Cruz met with other leaders of the National Farm Workers of American such as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. They decided that both of their unions would strike against the grape growers. This action led to the two unions to become the United Farm Workers. In the new union Vera Cruz served as the second vice president and worked on the managers board. Vera Cruz left the UFW (United Farm Workers) in 1977 and remained in California where he was still active in fighting for equality and social justice. He received the Nimoy M. Aquino Award in 1987. He was given this award for the lifelong service to the Filipino Community in America.
Citation: "Philip Vera Cruz, 89; Helped to Found Farm Worker Union." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 June 1994. Web. 29 May 2015.
18, June. "Philip Vera Cruz; Helped Chavez Found the UFW." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 18 June 1994. Web. 29 May 2015.
Citation: "Philip Vera Cruz, 89; Helped to Found Farm Worker Union." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 June 1994. Web. 29 May 2015.
18, June. "Philip Vera Cruz; Helped Chavez Found the UFW." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 18 June 1994. Web. 29 May 2015.