JAVA Advocate--January 2009
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Japanese American Veterans Association JAVA ADVOCATE January 2009 Volume XVI—Issue 4 Inside this issue: Obama nominates Shinseki to head VA President’s Message 2 JAVA to attend confirmation hearing JAVA members on CNN WASHINGTON— chairman of the Joint President-elect Barack Chiefs of Staff and Nisei Vets Org network 3 Obama has nominated former Secretary of JAVA October Luncheon 4 General Eric Shinseki, US State, said “Shinseki JAVA Veterans Day Program Army (Ret), as Secretary- is a superb choice… Designate of Veterans Af- He is a wounded hero Merrill’s Marauder Reunion 5 fairs, a position that has who survived and MG Johnson promotion taken a new level of ur- worked his way to the Dr Robinson luncheon 6 gency because of the war top. He knows sol- Ship named for Nisei vet in Iraq and Afghani- diers and knows what stan. Obama told NBC it takes to keep faith Special Ops Assn Reunion 7 News “Meet the Press”, with the men and GFBNEC receives money “When I reflect on the sac- women who went News from Other Vet Orgs 8 rifices that have been forth to serve the na- Matsunaga School Veterans made by our veterans and tion. He also knows Day program I think about how many how to run large and veterans around the coun- complex bureaucratic Above: President-elect Barack Obama lis- New Labor Dept program 9 try are struggling even institutions. His is Taubkin donation to JAVA tens after introducing Gen. Eric K. Shinseki more than those who have as his Veterans Affairs Secretary-designate an inspired selec- Meet the Generals and 10 not served – higher unem- during a news conference Dec. 7, 2008 in tion.” Admirals ployment rates, higher Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) homeless rates, higher Senator Daniel K. Dept of VA News 11 substance-abuse rates, medical care that is Akaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, said “General Shinseki ROTC Wall of Heroes 12 inadequate – it breaks my heart, and I Superintendent Inafuku think that General Shinseki is exactly the is a great choice. He is well aware of the right person who is going to be able to make needs of our veterans and will make an PPALM Anniversary 13 sure that we honor our troops when they excellent secretary…He is a man of great Judge Kerry Hada come home.” ability and integrity.” Essay by Lt Kuroda 14 In endorsing Obama’s nomination, General [see Shinseki on page 3] Colin L. Powell, US Army (Ret), former Congress award to NJAHS 15 JAVA Scholarship program 16 Holiday support for troops Inouye selected to chair Appropriations Committee Book Review 17 Southern Cal Community WASHINGTON—US are in firm control of both chambers. Advisory Committee Senator Daniel K. Welcome new members Inouye, Honorary Chair Inouye is the third most senior member of of JAVA, is the new the US Senate. He has a distinguished re- Taps 18 Chairman of the power- cord as a legislative leader and as a World From the Editor 19 ful Senate Committee War II combat veteran, earning the Medal Thank You Donors on Appropriations. The of Honor, the nation’s highest award for Membership Application Committee on Appro- valor. priations is crucial in JAVA Contact Information 20 Inouye said “I am most honored by the con- moving the Democrats’ Upcoming Events fidence Majority Leader Harry Reid has legislative agenda in Billy Tucci and SGT Rock placed in me as the next Chairman of the the 111th Congress, in which the Democrats Senate Appropriations Committee. PAGE 2 JAVA ADVOCATE JANUARY 2009 Historical Society (NJAHS) for obtain- ship Committee, for completing the President’s Message ing $1 million from the US Congress arrangements for the 2009 scholar- for the rebuilding of Building 640 into ship awards; Grant Ichikawa, editor/ There were many the Military Intelligence Service educa- publisher of the “round robin,” our developments during tion center. Building 640, on the Presi- twice-weekly electronic bulletin, for the past quarter for dio of San Francisco, is where the MIS his diligence in never missing a which congratula- Language School began in November deadline or a great story (I have tions are in or- 1941, before WW II. received many complimentary re- der. We wish to offer marks about the value of the RR); congratulations to: • Billy Tucci, illustrator, writer and Marty Herbert for volunteering to artist, for featuring the 442nd RCT in • Senator Daniel Inouye, Honorary handle—and handle very well—any his six-series comic book entitled Sgt Chair of JAVA, for his appointment opportunity that comes our way; Rock: The Lost Battalion, which fea- as Chairman of the Appropriations Lona Ichikawa for her steadfast ef- tures the rescue of the trapped Texas forts to support the veterans and the Committee. a powerful committee. battalion by the Nisei in the Vosges troops on the front lines; and • GEN Eric Shinseki, USA (Ret), for mountains of France. Its first feature Kay Wakatake, our JAVA Advocate nd his appointment as Secretary- in a comic book, the 442 story will be editor. Designate of the US Department of exposed to over 20,000 readers who As 2009 comes to a close, I see JAVA Veterans Affairs. JAVA will submit know very little or nothing about the as a vibrant organization, our mem- to the US Senate Veterans Affairs Nisei WW II experience. bership is up, our finances are solid, Committee a written testimony of • Ranger Vince Okamoto, JAVA life and we have participated in many endorsement. member and probably the most highly- meaningful activities this year. I • Christine Sato-Yamazaki, JAVA decorated Japanese American in the want to personally thank all who member and President and CEO of Vietnam War, for publishing Wolf- have volunteered and participated, Go For Broke National Education hound Samurai, a Novel of the Vietnam and also thank all members for your Center, for convoking the National War. Okamoto is a superior court judge continuing support. Happy New WW II Nisei Veterans Organizations in southern California. Year. meeting in Los Angeles to form a We are grateful to Mrs. Kiyoko Tsuboi –Bob network “to preserve and advance Taubkin for making a large donation to the legacy of Nisei soldiers.” Also, we JAVA. In keeping with Mrs. Taubkin’s Honorary Chairs congratulate Christine for obtaining wishes, the Executive Council will use the US Army award of $450,000 to Senator Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Senate the funds to promote the Japanese Senator Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senate support the writing of the book on American legacy. I will be paying a cour- COL Sunao Phil Ishio, USA (Ret) the Occupation of Japan. tesy call soon on Mrs. Tsuboi. I wish also to commend five JAVA volunteers: The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta • Rosalyn Tonai, Executive Director of Calvin Ninomiya, chair of the Scholar- the National Japanese American Officers Robert Nakamoto, President JAVA MEMBERS’ INTERVIEWS AIRED ON CNN LTC Martin Herbert, USA (Ret), Vice President Comcast’s Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, a nationally-televised daily and MAJ Kim Luoma, USAFR, Secretary weekly information / entertainment show hosted by Suzanne Roberts, aired the LTC Earl Takeguchi, USA (Ret), Grant Ichikawa and Terry Shima interview on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, Treasurer 2008. The broadcast was on CNN Headline News nationally on Comcast cable sys- tems in 3 five-minute segments at 11:55am, 1:55pm and 3:55pm (EST). A weekly, Executive Council half-hour expanded version of the Ichikawa/Shima interview was aired at selected Above Officers plus: locations on Sunday, December 7, at 6pm (EST) on CN8 TV. Grant Ichikawa Ichikawa and Shima were interviewed earlier this year at the Seeking Solutions COL Sunao Phil Ishio, USAR (Ret) with Suzanne studio in Philadelphia by Suzanne Roberts on such points as the BG Bert Mizusawa, USAR President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Calvin Ninomiya Executive Order 9066, life in in- Terry Shima, Executive Director ternment camps, Japanese Ameri- MAJ Kay Wakatake, USA cans combat duty in Europe and Lt Col Michael Yaguchi, USAF (Ret), the Pacific war zones to prove Deputy Executive Director their loyalty, America’s national Gerald Yamada, General Counsel apology and correction of its viola- tion of the constitution. [Full JAVA ADVOCATE press release at www.javadc.org] Akio Konoshima, Editor Emeritus MAJ Kay Wakatake, USA, Editor JANUARY 2009 JAVA ADVOCATE PAGE 3 Nat’l WWII Nisei Veterans Organizations form network TORRANCE, Calif.—At a meeting of World War II Nisei GFBNEC (www.goforbroke.org) was selected to lead the Veterans Organizations hosted by the Go For Broke Na- effort and by the end of Jan. 2009, to draft an organiza- tional Education Center (GFBNEC), groups from cities tional charter to define purpose, membership, goals and and communities nationwide agreed to design a network functional details of a developing network. The document for working together to preserve and advance the legacy will then be presented to a preliminary leadership council of the Nisei soldiers. The inaugural meeting served as a that the veterans’ organizations appointed. forum for sharing ideas and practices to further the groups’ common goal, and was held at the National Cen- A second meeting of the WW II Nisei Veterans Organiza- ter for Preservation of Democracy in Los Angeles on tions is scheduled for Friday, June 5 in Los Angeles. In Nov. 14, 2008. addition to GFBNEC, participants include JAVA, National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, National Japa- After representatives of 18 individual veterans’ organi- nese American Veterans Council, Chicago Japanese zations presented snapshots of the work they are doing American Council, Oregon Nikkei Endowment and the in their own communities on behalf of the Nisei legacy, National Japanese American Historical Society/MIS of General Eric Shinseki, who was the National Spokesper- Northern CA.