Sergeant First Class Alberto Quinones Verano

Early Life

During the early twentieth century, thousands of Filipino laborers, known as “Sakadas,” were recruited to work on Hawaiʻi’s sugar plantations. Between 1906 and 1946, over 100,000 Filipino men arrived through the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, seeking better opportunities despite harsh working conditions. Among them were Ignacio Cabaniog Verano and Dominga Ledot Quinones from Cebu, Philippines. Born in 1890 and 1897, respectively, they married in 1919 before immigrating to Hawaiʻi, where they built a new life.

Their son, Alberto Quinones Verano—known as Albert—was born on November 21, 1926, in Camp #8, Makaweli, Kauai. He grew up with six siblings: brothers Nasario, Selvino, Aurelio, and Faustino, and sisters Raufina and Adeline. Albert completed his high school education by completing a General Educational Development (GED) test. Shaped by his parents’ sacrifices and the challenges of plantation life, he was a product of the resilience and determination of Hawaiʻi’s Filipino immigrant community.

Life on the Kekaha and Ewa Sugar Plantations

The Verano family spent their early years in Hawaiʻi living at the Kekaha Sugar Plantation on Kauai, which employed around 1,000 workers and housed approximately 300 families in plantation homes. Like many Sakadas, Verano’s father would have endured grueling labor while also finding ways to provide for his family, such as fishing, planting crops, and taking on additional jobs. Despite their struggles, they sent money back to the Philippines, contributing to the $276,000 Filipino workers collectively remitted each month during the onset of the Great Depression in 1929.

After 1930, the Verano family relocated to Ewa Plantation on Oahu, one of Hawaiʻi’s most prosperous plantations. They lived in house #3 within the Ewa Plantation Filipino Village, a tight-knit community of Filipino laborers employed by the Ewa Sugar Company. Today known as Ewa Villages, this area played a vital role in preserving Filipino cultural traditions, social gatherings, and community support systems during the plantation era. In 1935, a new hospital was built, strengthening the plantation’s progressive health care system, which also provided kindergartens, child health clinics, and nutrition programs.

Albert Verano attended Ewa Elementary School, one of the oldest schools in the Leeward District. Its values reflect the plantation community’s spirit of resilience, unity, and mutual support.

Life Under Martial Law During World War II

During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Ewa Plantation Company suffered damage from machine gun fire and anti-aircraft shelling, resulting in nine casualties. Verano was 16 years old and living on the Ewa Plantation at the time of the bombing. He would have experienced the turmoil of the attack and the aftereffects that followed, including the military’s takeover of plantation land and the widespread disruptions to daily life. Due to its proximity to Pearl Harbor, the plantation was heavily impacted by the war, and with the entry of the United States into World War II, the U.S. Army took possession of over 500,000 acres of Ewa Plantation land for military use. Like all sugar companies in Hawaiʻi, Ewa Plantation faced significant challenges during the war, with its most serious problem being a shortage of laborers. During this period he worked as a hatchery man before enlisting.

Homefront

During the Korean War, Hawaiʻi’s sugar plantations faced both opportunities and challenges. The war increased demand for sugar, as it was needed for food production and industrial purposes. However, labor shortages became a major issue, as many workers left for military service or higher-paying defense jobs. To compensate, plantations relied more on immigrant labor, particularly from the Philippines.

Unionization of Labor

Despite the economic benefits of high sugar demand, Hawaiʻi’s plantations struggled with labor disputes. Unions like the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) fought for better wages and working conditions, leading to strikes that sometimes disrupted production. These labor movements eventually improved pay and benefits for workers, but they also signaled the decline of the plantation system. As mechanization increased and workers sought better opportunities outside agriculture, the traditional plantation model began to erode.

Economic Shift

The Korean War also accelerated Hawaiʻi’s shift away from an agriculture-based economy. With the military buildup in the Pacific, defense-related industries and tourism grew, reducing the islands’ reliance on sugar. While sugar production remained important, the war highlighted the need for economic diversification. By the 1950s, Hawaiʻi’s economy was changing, and the once-dominant sugar industry was beginning to decline in influence.

Military Experience

Towards the end of World War II, Verano enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves on January 22, 1945, and worked at the Naval Yard Armed Forces Reserve. After the war ended, he re-enlisted on December 15, 1945, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, completing training in 1946 as a diesel repairman.

In November 1949, Verano volunteered for a short tour of active-duty training with regular Army units. He was originally attached to the Hawaiian Reserve Corps and assigned to the Engineering Depot at Schofield Barracks. The Engineering and Construction Division provided expert engineering, construction, and technical services throughout the Pacific region to enhance national security. Additionally, they were responsible for planning, designing, and executing military construction and civil and public works projects.

Korean War, Battle of the Pusan Perimeter

On June 25, 1950, the North Korean army invaded South Korea, marking the beginning of the Korean War. Sergeant Verano, serving with Company I of the 23^rd Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Infantry Division, arrived in Korea via Pusan on July 23, 1950, becoming part of the first American unit to reach Korea directly from the United States.

By August 1950, the 23^rd Infantry Regiment was deployed in a narrow valley known as “Bowling Alley,” near the city of Taegu, where they defended the Pusan Perimeter and supported South Korean forces in battle. The 2^nd Infantry Division, known as the Warrior Division, became the first unit to break out of the Pusan Perimeter and lead the Eighth Army’s advance toward the Manchurian border. For its role in defending the Naktong River line against enemy attacks, the 2^nd Infantry Division was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation on September 29, 1950.

Battle of Chipyong-ni (February 13–15, 1951)

On February 5, 1951, the 23^rd Infantry Regiment moved into the narrow valley of Chipyong-ni. On February 13, 1951, they, along with the attached French Battalion, were cut off and surrounded by four Chinese divisions. Over the next three days, the 23^rd Regimental Combat Team and the 1^st Republic of Korea Division fought relentlessly in freezing temperatures, killing over 5,000 Chinese soldiers and forcing the Communist Chinese Forces (CCF) to withdraw.

The 23^rd Infantry Regiment played a pivotal role in the Korean War, particularly in the Battle of Chipyong-ni, which was regarded as a turning point in the conflict. Despite being outnumbered, the regiment held its ground, inflicting heavy casualties on Chinese forces and securing a significant strategic victory. The Battle of Chipyong-ni marked the first major defeat the Chinese forces and shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the United Nations forces.

Wounded and Captured 

In March 1951, reports confirmed that Sergeant Verano was wounded in action by an enemy missile  but returned to duty on March 28, 1951. In April and May 1951, the 2^nd Infantry Division played a critical role in countering the CCF Spring Offensive, a massive military operation by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) that lasted from April 22 to July 8, 1951. It was the largest Chinese military campaign since 1950. On May 18, 1951, Sergeant Verano was captured by North Korean forces, becoming a Prisoner of War.

POW Camp 1

During the CCF Spring Offensive, Prisoners of War (POWs) were marched to large holding camps near Suan, North Korea, known as the “Bean Camp” and the “Mining Camp.” Some prisoners were later transferred to specialized interrogation camps, including “Pak’s Palace” and “Pike’s Peak.” Those deemed fit enough to continue traveling were forced to march north to Camp 1 and Camp 5.

Sergeant Verano spent the remainder of the war at Camp 1 in Changsong, located along the Yalu River. Prisoners were subjected to grueling labor and assigned physically demanding tasks. For instance, they carried massive, freshly cut logs from the Yalu River to a lumber mill, often requiring four men to transport a single log. Others were sent on wood-gathering details into the forest, where they used hatchets to cut and collect firewood for the harsh winter months. This relentless labor not only kept prisoners physically exhausted but also forced them to consume every bit of their meager and often inedible rations to survive.

Operation Big Switch

In September 1953, Sergeant Alberto Q. Verano was released as part of Operation Big Switch, the final prisoner exchange of the Korean War. The exchange, which took place at Freedom Village in Munsan, Korea, followed the July 1953 armistice and saw 75,823 POWs returned to the Communists, while 12,773 prisoners, including 3,598 Americans, were repatriated to the United Nations forces.

Back home, the Verano family had shielded his mother from the truth about his capture due to her fragile health. She had been in Leahi Hospital for five years, and the family told her he was working in Japan rather than being held as a Prisoner of War. However, Sergeant Verano later revealed, “I knew about it. My sister wrote to me about it.” Upon his return, he was warmly welcomed home by his father, four brothers—Nash, Sam, Alan, and Frank—and his two sisters, including Adeline.

Ongoing Service During the Vietnam War

After returning home from captivity, Sergeant Verano chose to continue his military career. He re-enlisted in 1954 and again in January 1963 while stationed in Texas. His final assignment was with the 79^th Engineer Battalion as a Construction Machine Supervisor at D’Isly Kaserne in Pirmasens, Germany. In total, he served 15 years in the U.S. Army.

For his dedication and service, Verano received numerous honors, including the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Veteran Experience

On May 8, 1954, Verano married Isabella Bargamento, a Waipahu High School graduate and employee of Ewa Store. Their first home together was in Red Hill Veteran Housing, but as his military assignments changed, the family relocated accordingly. Over the years, they welcomed four children—Bert, Jesse, Doric, and Lorie. After returning to Hawaiʻi, they settled in Ewa Beach, where they built their family life.

Commemoration

On October 12, 1976, at the age of 49, Alberto Q. Verano passed away at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. A dedicated soldier, devoted husband, and loving father, he served his country with honor and resilience, enduring captivity as a Prisoner of War and continuing his service through multiple conflicts. His sacrifice and unwavering commitment to his nation will always be remembered. His legacy lives on through his family, his service, and the enduring impact of his bravery.

Bibliography

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This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.