A Veteran’s Day Tribute

The Man

Our grandfather Santiago Garcia Guevara (1899-1996) grew up in poverty in the Philippines, an American Territory through the early 20th century. He excelled in school and In 1919 was honored with an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served as a peacetime army officer in his native land for most of 18 years, during which he married and had three children. War arrived in the Philippines only 10 hours after Pearl Harbor, and the family underwent separate and shared hardships for the next three and a half years. Santiago served as a brevet Colonel in the newly formed Philippine Commonwealth Army on Bataan under the ultimate command of his friend Gen. Douglas MacArthur, while Carmen and the children lived under Japanese occupation in Manila. Following the war, Santiago served in the United States and Europe, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army in 1953. We knew only the barest details of his service as we grew up, learning the specifics of their ordeals only after Santiago and our grandmother Carmen died.

The Funeral

It was a memorable experience. On a crisp, mostly cloudy day in January 1996, a U.S. Army honor band blew “Ode to Joy” as Santiago’s casket arrived and then “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!” as it was carried reverently into the small post chapel at Fort Myer, Virginia. Inside, where his family and friends gathered for Santiago’s funeral Mass, the organist took up and carried on the latter tune as the doors closed.

The Caisson

Following the Mass, the 18-piece band somberly played “Soul of My Saviour” as the casket was slowly re-loaded onto the shiny black WWI-era artillery caisson harnessed to six white horses, a matching seventh horseman charged with leading the caisson platoon. The three horses on the left were mounted, those on right saddled but riderless. Caissons, historically used to bring ammunition and supplies to the battlefield, were often then pressed into service to carry any wounded or dead back to the rear; Thus the tradition began of utilizing caissons for the solemn duty of carrying a soldier to his final resting place.*

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” played to the slow tempo of a bass drum, guided a color guard, the band, a large escort squad, and the horse-drawn caisson flanked by the ceremonial pallbearers through an adjacent gate and down the hillside into Arlington National Cemetery.

The Flag

We followed in our cars, and all assembled near the grave. The band resumed “Soul of My Saviour” as the casket was borne to the interment site for the burial rite, following which the pallbearers lifted the flag and held it reverently above the casket. “Taps” was played, three rifle volleys fired, and “Aura Lee” accompanied the folding of the flag and its solemn presentation to Carmen, who later had it mounted in a wooden display case. Carmen died in 2009, and the flag was passed down to me in 2015. I added two photos and a short written appreciation, then hung the flag case in my living room.

The Belt Buckle

Last month my friend Ed McKee presented me with a surprise gift – an authentic World War II Philippine Commonwealth Army belt buckle. Ed found the relic among his late father’s effects without explanation. We surmise that his dad, a Korean War-era Marine, bought or bartered for the buckle somewhere in his travels. The buckle includes the Commonwealth coat of arms: a shield studded with three gold stars above a Spanish castle and a sea lion with a sword in its right paw, topped by an American eagle. The relic shows hints of the gold, red, and blue paint that once accented the shield.

Awards and Decorations

After shining and mounting the belt buckle, I researched Santiago’s military decorations and ordered a ribbon bar to further adorn the flag case. All defenders of Bataan were awarded the Bronze Star, though nowhere in Santiago’s papers did I find that citation. It was certainly earned, and is thus at the top left of his rack.

The Tribute

Here, then, is my tribute to our grandfather. It is my hope that it will be treasured long after I’m gone.

Santiago Garcia Guevara
West Point Class of 1923
(10th Filipino Graduate)
United States Army (Philippine Scouts)
Commandant of Cadets, Philippine Military Academy, 1941
Colonel, Philippine Commonwealth Army, 1941-42
Bataan Death March, Prisoner of War
War Crimes Tribunal, Pacific and European Theaters

“For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” -2 Corinthians 1:8

Awards and Decorations: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, 
American Defense (with foreign service star), American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (service star),
Philippine Liberation (service star), U.S. Presidential Unit Citation (oak leaf), Philippine President Unit Citation
Not displayed: Philippine Defense Medal

* 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), Caisson Platoon https://oldguard.mdw.army.mil/specialty-platoons/caisson