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2015 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 517
Commending Japanese American veterans of World War II.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 23, 2015
Agreed to by the Senate, January 29, 2015

 

WHEREAS, in response to the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941, all people of Japanese ancestry were initially viewed as disloyal to the United States; their draft classification was changed to 4-C (alien, unfit for military duty) and 118,000 ethnic Japanese—two-thirds of them United States citizens—were forcibly placed in internment camps under military guard; and

WHEREAS, Americans of Japanese ancestry from the Hawaii Provisional Infantry Battalion (the 100th Infantry Battalion) were shipped from the Hawaiian Islands to California, and through their demonstrated performance, helped convince the President and the War Department to reopen military service to 14,000 Nisei, many of whom were drafted into military service from internment camps where they and their families were incarcerated; and

WHEREAS, the 100th Infantry Battalion was eventually made an integral part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT), collectively became known as the Go For Broke Regiment, and fought with distinction in Italy and France despite suffering extremely heavy combat and non-combat casualties; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Go For Broke Regiment earned 21 Congressional Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, over 550 Silver Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 15 Soldier Medals, more than 5,300 Bronze Stars, and over 4,000 Purple Hearts; and

WHEREAS, the Nisei Military Intelligence Service (MIS) consisted of 4,200 linguists who served in the Pacific Theater, performing such duties as document translation and prisoner interrogation, and an additional 4,000 linguists who served during the Occupation of Japan; and

WHEREAS, the MIS was awarded numerous combat awards, such as one Presidential Unit Citation, one Distinguished Service Cross, five Silver Stars, over 50 Bronze Stars, 20 Combat Infantryman’s Badges, 25 Purple Hearts, and such non-combat awards as two Legion of Merit Medals and one Soldier’s Medal; and

WHEREAS, President Truman, following his review of the 442nd RCT in 1946, affirmed Japanese American loyalty by declaring “You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice—and you have won”; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, the United States Senate and House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd RCT, and the MIS, which was ultimately signed by President Obama on October 5, 2010; and

WHEREAS, the combat performance of these soldiers contributed to the climate for post-World War II reforms, beginning with the desegregation of the armed forces, and helped level the playing field for minorities to compete for any job and rank; and

WHEREAS, competing with the best of the best, Nisei have reached the highest ranks in the military, government, academia, and business, thereby confirming that the Japanese American story speaks of the greatness of America; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the service and sacrifices of Japanese American veterans of World War II; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Japanese American Veterans Association on behalf of these patriotic soldiers as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for their service to the citizens of the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.