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Legislative resolution would recognize Oregon civilians who served, died on Wake Island in World War II
Summary
House Concurrent Resolution 23, presented March 6, 2025, would recognize 134 Oregonians who served as civilian contractors on Wake Island during World War II and the 31 civilians who died as a result of capture, execution or in POW camps. Supporters urged the Legislature to honor the civilians and to work with the Oregon State Capitol Foundation
Representative Rick Lewis introduced House Concurrent Resolution 23 on March 6, 2025, asking the Legislative Assembly to recognize and honor Oregon civilians who served on Wake Island during World War II and to thank researchers who documented their service.
Lewis read elements of the resolution describing the December 7, 1941, attack on Wake Island, the 16-day siege, and the capture of American civilians and military personnel. The resolution cites that 134 Oregonians served among the civilian contractors on Wake Island and that 31 Oregon civilians died as a result of combat, execution, or deaths in POW camps.
Bonnie Gilbert, author of Building for War and daughter of a Wake Island survivor, testified in person about her research and her 2011 visit to Wake Island. "I was able to visit lots of places, explore the island, and it was a unique privilege and honor to do so," Gilbert said, and she described work with Department of Defense accounting efforts to identify remains connected to the island.
Retired Lt. Colonel **** Tobiasen, chairman of the Bend Heroes Foundation, said the foundation and veterans groups support recognizing the civilians and are working with the Oregon State Capitol Foundation to identify a permanent place of remembrance on the Capitol grounds. Genoa Ingram, executive director of the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, described the foundation’s plan to add a marble pillar with the names and a short explanatory paragraph near the World War II Memorial, similar to an earlier Claire Maybelle Phillips recognition.
Witnesses noted the World War II memorial on the Capitol grounds currently honors service members but not civilians; they urged adding a separate recognition for the Wake Island civilians or amending proposed veteran-memorial legislation (House Bill 2,344) to allow civilian names in the Department of Veterans’ educational tool. Tim Cowan of the Oregon Department of the American Legion pledged to help build support for the recognition.
The committee did not vote on HCR 23 during the hearing; the Oregon State Capitol Foundation said it was prepared to move forward on a physical memorial if the resolution proceeds. Lawmakers said they expected a work session and floor action in the following week.
Ending: The committee closed the HCR 23 hearing and scheduled future work sessions on related veteran bills.
