A Day in Honor of Benjamin Broadwell Hagans

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to honor individuals whose extraordinary bravery, dedication and sacrifice have made lasting contributions to the defense of freedom and the enduring spirit of our nation and its allies; and;

WHEREAS, Benjamin Broadwell Hagans, at the remarkable age of 13, answered the call of duty and joined the Philippine Scouts on Wednesday, December 10, 1941, at Camp Keithley; and;

WHEREAS, Benjamin was assigned as a courier and, after only three days of training, began a perilous and critical mission, delivery urgent messages and supply requisitions between key military positions including Camp Keithley, Camp Kolombugan, Camp Overton, Outpost Illigan, Camp Cagayan, and Outpost Bugo; and;

WHEREAS, during his service, Benjamin was gravely wounded by Japanese shrapnel near Kolombugan while under mortar attack, and by gunfire in the jungle near Dansalan, yet he continued to serve with unyielding courage; and;

WHEREAS, in the spring of 1942, Benjamin was captured alongside Filipino and American soldiers at Dimayon, and endured imprisonment at military camp Dansalan within Camp Keithley; and;

WHEREAS, Benjamin endured the harrowing Mindanao Death March from Dansalan to Illigan and imprisonment in successive prison camps, including Cagayan, Bugo, and Malaybalay, passing the civilian camp at Impalutao where his mother was also held captive, and was later transferred by truck and prison ship to additional camps including Dapeco, and finally to Cabanatuan #2 on Luzon Island, with multiple detainments at Military Prison Camp Bilibid; and;

WHEREAS, in February 1945, Benjamin was moved to Santo Tomas Civilian Internment Camp, where in a remarkable and emotional reunion, he was liberated and reunited with his father, mother, and brother, each previously unaware of the other’s survival; and;

WHEREAS, Benjamin’s commitment to service did not end with World War II, as he went on to re-enlist and serve honorably in the Korean War as a paratrooper; and;

WHEREAS, we honor the exceptional bravery, sacrifice, and unbreakable spirit of Benjamin Broadwell Hagans, a true American hero. His life of service stands as a testament to the highest ideals of patriotism, resilience, and unwavering devotion to duty;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim May 25, 2025, as a day in honor of

BENJAMIN BROADWELL HAGANS