A World War II veteran who died 60 years ago finally got his due recognition this week, including a slew of medals and ribbons never awarded to him.
At a ceremony Monday, August 15, U.S. Rep. Norma Torres presented the Pomona family of Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena was presented with eight medals and ribbons, including the Bronze Star and Prisoner of War Medal.
About 20 family members gathered for the posthumous awards ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne.
Claro Cartagena looks at the folded American flag given to him and his family by Congresswoman Norma Torres during a posthumous medal ceremony for his late father, Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena’s sons, Manuel Cartagena, left, 77, and Antonio, right, 75, sit with their respective wives, Lutching and Nora, after the family received eight medals, including the Bronze Star, for their late father during a posthumous medal ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Claro Cartagena, left, holds a folded American flag given to him and his family by Congresswoman Norma Torres during a posthumous medal ceremony for his late father, Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Claro Cartagena, left, receives a folded American flag given to him and his family by Congresswoman Norma Torres during a posthumous medal ceremony for his late father, Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Claro Cartagena, right, receives his father’s eight medals and ribbons, including the Bronze Star, from Congresswoman Norma Torres during a posthumous medal ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Claro Cartagena, right, receives his father’s eight medals and ribbons, including the Bronze Star, from Congresswoman Norma Torres during a posthumous medal ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Congresswoman Norma Torres presents a binder containing the service records of the late Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena to his family after she gave the family eight medals and ribbons, including the Bronze Star, during a posthumous medal ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A folded American flag sits as it waits to be given to the family of the late Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena during a posthumous medal ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A family member of the late Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena holds a binder containing his service records during a posthumous medal ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A family member holds an American flag and a program during a posthumous medal ceremony for the late Lt. Adriano Barcelona Cartagena at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12 in La Verne on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. Cartagena, who died in 1962, served with the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cartagena, who died in 1962, served in the Philippine Army under the direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II in the South Pacific.
Despite early defeats by the Japanese Imperial Army in WWII, Cartagena continued to fight with the Philippine Army. He was eventually captured and spent time as a prisoner of war. He later escaped and continued to fight as a guerrilla, according to a news release.
Only recently was Torres’s office able to obtain Cartagena’s service records and the medals and ribbons owed to him. When the late veteran’s son, Claro, contacted the Veterans Affairs Office to find out the middle names of his paternal grandparents, he learned about the missing honors.
“Lieutenant Cartagena served our nation proudly and with honor,” Torres said in the news release. “Unfortunately, he was not able to receive all that he was owed during his life.
“This case serves as a reminder of the debt that we owe to all our veterans.” she continued.
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