Josefina Guerrero
Josefina Guerrero | |
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World War II |
Josefina Guerrero (August 5, 1917 – June 18, 1996) was a Filipina spy during
Early and personal life
Josefina Guerrero was born on August 5, 1917, in
On April 21, 1934, she married an affluent medical student, Renato Maria Guerrero, the son of a renowned doctor,
In 1941, Guerrero was diagnosed with
War
As the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1942, there was a shortage of medical supplies.[6] Guerrero lost access to medication; she felt hopeless and depressed until she decided that if she was going to die, she would die with honor.[6] She reached out to a friend, expressing her desire to become a soldier, and tracked down a man who was a member of the resistance. Guerrero was twenty-four. The man responded that they did not accept children. Guerrero retorted that he would be surprised what children can do, reminding him that Joan of Arc was a young girl. She joined as a spy,[8] working as a courier to deliver important news about the war to Filipinos.[4] She memorized the appearances of the Imperial Japanese army men and reported their troop movements.[8]
As Guerrero's disease worsened, the Japanese soldiers who were aggressive towards her avoided her as soon as they saw the telltale lesions on her skin. The Japanese frequently conducted full body searches of Filipinos, but they left Guerrero alone when she told them of her disease.[6] Guerrero successfully transmitted secret messages, information, weapons, and vital supplies to the resistance and soldiers.[2] Her tasks later escalated to mapping out Japanese gun emplacements and fortifications.[4]
On September 21, 1944, the Americans successfully used her map to crush the Japanese defenses in Manila Harbour.[6] Months later, Guerrero was sent on her most dangerous mission—to bring a map of minefields to American headquarters, 35 miles (56 km) away. The map would help ensure the safety of the Americans as they proceeded to Manila to end the Japanese occupation. Guerrero accepted the task. She walked and reached the town of Hagonoy 25 miles (40 km) into her journey. The area was an active combat zone; she rode a boat which had to outrun river pirates. After landing on the coast, she walked 8 miles (13 km) to her final destination, Calumpit, and realized that the Americans had already progressed to Malolos. She walked further to Malolos and gave the map to Captain Blair of the 37th Infantry Division. She suffered paralyzing fatigue and headaches throughout her journey.[4][6]
At the Battle of Manila, Guerrero tended wounded soldiers and civilians and carried children to safety, all while avoiding flying bullets.[6]
Post-war
Because of Guerrero's disease, she was sent to Tala
Guerrero devoted her time cleaning around the facility. She also helped build coffins for those who died. She decided to write a letter to a friend's connection in the US about conditions at the leprosarium. Her letter was forwarded to
After hearing from chaplains at the Carville National Leprosarium and learning about the medical breakthroughs concerning leprosy treatment in the US, Guererro felt hopeful again. She persisted and became the first foreign national with leprosy to obtain an American visa. In 1948 she became the first foreigner admitted to the Carville National Leprosarium. Within the same year, Guerrero's wartime feats and struggles with leprosy were featured in Time magazine, and she was awarded with the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm. Guerrero was diagnosed with an advanced case of leprosy, which required nine years of treatment at Carville National Leprosarium. She was discharged in 1957.[4]
Guerrero became an activist for destigmatizing leprosy. Upon her recovery, Guerrero sought employment, but potential employers would shun her once they discovered her history with the disease. Guerrero was also subjected to deportation back to the Philippines. Her supporters—who consisted of members of the military, the press and lawyers—campaigned for her permanent residency in the US. She was granted citizenship in 1967.[4]
Guerrero eventually left the public eye and lived a life of obscurity, maintaining privacy about her former life. She met her adult daughter only once when she visited her in the US. She remarried and never returned to the Philippines.[4]
Death
Guerrero died at
References
- ^ Lazatin, Hannah (January 8, 2018). "5 Famous Spies Who Made Philippine History". Esquire Philippines.
- ^ a b "Seven lesser known Filipino heroines". Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. August 27, 2016. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ "Josefina Guerrero: Leper Spy of the Philippines". Rejected Princesses. December 11, 2016. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-61373-433-9. Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ a b "Heroes: Joey". Time. July 19, 1948. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wiesmann, U. N.; DiDonato, S.; Herschkowitz, N. N. (October 27, 1975). "From Outcast to Spy to Outcast: The War Hero with Hansen's Disease". The National WWII Museum New Orleans. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ a b Bancroft, Colette. "Ben Montgomery's 'Leper Spy' an extraordinary true story of WWII". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ^ a b Goulden, Joseph C. (January 11, 2017). "Book Review: 'The Leper Spy: The Story of an Unlikely Hero of World War II'". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-61373-433-9. Retrieved September 30, 2020 – via Google Books.