'Scouts' formed in 1901, were involved in Bataan Death March in WWII

A new exhibit at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Huntsville honors the U.S. Army's "Philippine Scouts."

Congress authorized the establishment of the group in 1901 during the insurrection of the Philippine Islands and a shortage of manpower. Filipinos were enlisted in this group to maintain peace and tranquility but later became known for their valor and professionalism.

The Scouts were also among the many thousands of troops involved in one of the darkest chapters of World War II history, the Bataan Death March.

Forced 65-mile march

Japanese forces forced the troops, including Philippine Scouts, to march 65 miles to prisoner-of-war camps. Some 10,000 men are estimated to have died during the journey, while thousands more suffered from famine and illness before their eventual rescue.

Aniceto I. Bagley of Huntsville, a retired Army warrant officer and former contract administrator for McDonnell Douglas and a member of the Philippine Scout Heritage Society, hopes the new exhibit at the Huntsville museum will help shed light on the contributions made by his fellow countrymen to the American cause.

"They helped establish tranquility throughout the islands," Bagley said, noting that the Filipinos in the U.S. Army were at first segregated and paid less than their counterparts on the mainland. "The only difference between them and the U.S. Army troops is they were getting paid in pesos, 50 cents to the dollar."

Bagley, who joined the Philippine Scouts in March 1945, arranged for the new exhibit to be dedicated to the late Maj. Eriberto Caranto, who served 29 years in the Army, beginning with his original service to the Philippine Scouts.

His widow, Socorro Caranto of Huntsville, said Bagley invited her family to be present at the Dec. 10 museum dedication, which was attended by about 50 people.

Bagley said representatives of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Philippine American Association of Alabama and Military Officers Association of America were among those in attendance at the ceremony.

"I felt proud," Caranto said. "I really did not know much about the activities of the Philippine Scouts. All I knew was that they were trained by the U.S. Army. When the war broke out, the Philippine Scouts were incorporated into the U.S. Army, and they fought side by side."

Her late husband didn't speak much of his activities as a Philippine Scout.

Didn't like limelight

"He was a quiet person," she said. "He liked to be remembered as a simple person - not in the limelight, I should say."

The Veterans Memorial Museum was established in 1992 and now features about 40 exhibits of U.S. military history, said Eli Geher, a museum volunteer.

The museum is located in John Hunt Park off Airport Road. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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