Japanese American Veterans Association JAVA ADVOCATE June 2010 Volume XVIII—Issue 2 President signs Nisei Congressional Gold Medal bill Inside this issue: into law; NVN plans 2 days festivities in DC [Courtesy of National Veterans Network] minute historic event. The presentation ceremony is expected to be held in the Sum- President’s Message 2 White House, Washington, DC. On October mer or Fall of 2011 in Washington, DC. 5, 2010, President Barack Obama signed At the signing ceremony, the President into law the Congressional bill to award the greeted each veteran and other officials at Congressional Gold Medal collectively to the Oval Office door and were ushered to COL Kim takes command 3 the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regi- stand behind the President's chair. They mental Combat Team, and Nisei who Minister Shinoda luncheon were veterans Osamu “Sam” Fujikawa served in the Military Intelligence Service (100th), Jimmie Kanaya (442), Grant Ichi- during World War II. There will be one JAVA reps at US Army Ball 4 kawa (MIS), Terry Shima (442), Kelly Ku- medal for the men of all three units. Fol- wayama (442), and Senator Daniel Inouye lowing the presentation, the Medal will Highlights from DVA (442nd). They were joined by Congressman be retrieved and archived at the Smith- Adam Schiff, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, sonian Museum. Individuals may purchase Saul’s Ellis Island exhibit 5 Congressman Charles Djou, Congressman replica in bronze of the Medal from the US Michael Honda, National Director of JACL Mint at an approximate cost of $50. Six Thank you donors Floyd Mori, Chairperson of the National Nisei WWII veterans and other officials [continued on page 3] participated in the approximately 30- Meet the Generals, Admirals 6 JAVA scholarships awarded 7 Veterans Day breakfast at White House in 2009 Taps 8 From the Editor 9 Membership application JAVA Committee Information 10 Welcome new members Above: Observing the President sign the Nisei Congressional Gold Medal Bill into law, are (L-R) Osamu Fujikawa, Grant Ichikawa, Lynn Kanaya, Jimmie Kanaya, Floyd Mori, behind Mori is Chris- tine Sato Yamazaki, Terry Shima, Kelly Kuwayama, Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Daniel Inouye, Congressman Bob Filner, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, Congressman Djou, Congressman Michael Honda, and Secretary Eric Shinseki. (White House photo) PAGE 2 JAVA ADVOCATE JUNE 2010 tary of Transportation Norman Mineta, convention in Kansas City, MO for President’s Message Honorary Chair of JAVA, for the unveil- special recognition of the 442nd RCT. It should be noted ing of his portrait, a canvas oil painting that was entered into the Smithsonian that this edition of Speakers Bureau was invited to National Portrait Gallery permanent the ADVOCATE is schools, government entities and collection portraits. being published in community organizations. Superin- Iraq. It probably has I am pleased to report that the visibility tendent of Public Schools of Mont- the distinction of be- of JAVA, the 442nd RCT, and Japanese gomery County, MD sent a letter to ing the only veterans American veterans was greatly en- me expressing appreciation for newsletter published hanced during the reporting period, for JAVA’s education program. in the war zone. I wish to offer JAVA's example: thanks to editor MAJ Kay Wakatake. We were sad to lose two JAVA stal- warts, Mrs. Maude Shirey, wife of Curator Eric Saul’s exhibit, GO FOR On October 5, 2010, President Barack Major Orville Shirey, G-2 and Histo- BROKE: Japanese American Soldiers Obama signed into law the bill to rian of the 442nd, and Mr. Joe Fighting on Two Fronts, opened at Ellis award the Congressional Gold Medal Ichiuji, an active member of the Island Immigration Museum. National collectively to the 100th Battalion, Speakers Bureau and the NARA Park Service estimates some 7,000 peo- 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Digitization Project. I wish to thank ple visit the Museum daily during the Team (RCT) and Nisei who served in JAVA members and friends for warm months. the Military Intelligence Service contributing to the Ichiuji and (MIS) in WWII. Of particular signifi- The White House invited a JAVA repre- Shirey scholarship funds as well as cance is the fact that Congress ac- sentative to the Asian Pacific Islands donating to the Millie Ichikawa cepted the recommendation of the Heritage Month reception when Presi- NARA Digitization Fund. National Veterans Network (NVN) to dent Obama recognized the heroism of include an amendment to recognize —Bob Nakamoto the 442nd RCT; Vic Matsui was invited the MIS. to speak at Fort Eustis, VA about the Honorary Chairs internment, 442nd and MIS. I wish to congratulate Christine Sato Senator Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Senate Yamazaki, chairperson of NVN, for Grant Ichikawa and Terry Shima were Senator Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senate her leadership in getting the MIS in- The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta cluded and 57 senators to sign as co- invited to the US Army Birthday Ball to Barney Hajiro, Medal of Honor sponsors of the Senate Bill. This was offer the toast to the Commander in truly a team effort of 22 Japanese Chief; over 1,000 attended the Ball. Hershey H. Miyamura, Medal of Honor American veterans organizations and George Joe Sakato, Medal of Honor entities, the 36th Division veterans, JAVA participated in the annual Me- the survivors of the trapped Texas morial Day Parade down Constitution Officers Battalion and their children, and a Avenue where 300,000 connected with Robert Nakamoto, President cross-section of America. the 442nd and MIS; JAVA representa- Bruce Hollywood, Col, USAF (Ret), tive was invited to the NAACP annual Vice President Congratulations also to former Secre- Secretary -- Vacant Earl Takeguchi, LTC, USA (Ret), Treasurer Left: AUBURN, Calif. — Robert Nakamoto, JAVA Board of Directors President, was the key- Above Officers plus: note speaker at a gather- William Houston, ing of three northern Cali- Deputy Executive Director fornia JACL chapters, in- Grant Ichikawa cluding Placer County, on Bert Mizusawa, BG, USAR June 24, 2010. He dis- Mark Nakagawa, LTC, USA cussed the role of the Calvin Ninomiya 100th Battalion, 442nd Terry Shima, Executive Director Regimental Combat Team Kay Wakatake, MAJ, USA and the Military Intelli- Alan Ueoka, LTC, USA gence during WWII and Gerald Yamada, General Counsel the impact of that experi- Reuben Yoshikawa ence on future generations of Japanese Americans. JAVA ADVOCATE (Photo by Laurie Naka- Akio Konoshima, Editor Emeritus moto) Kay Wakatake, MAJ, USA, Editor Janelle Kuroda, LT, USN, Assistant Editor JUNE 2010 JAVA ADVOCATE PAGE 3 COL Kim takes command of 3rd BCT at Schofield Barracks by Gregg K. Kakasako, Honolulu Star Bulletin [Reprinted with permission from Honolulu Star Bulletin] Pacific, except for his last assignment in South Korea with U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command. Sev- HONOLULU, Hawaii—Colonel Richard C. Kim returned eral of Kim's classmates from the UH class of 1988 at- home after 22 years to assume command of the 3500- tended the Schofield Barracks ceremony and said they member 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Schofield Barracks always suspected that he would end up as an Army career as it prepares for its fourth wartime deployment, to Af- officer. Allen Yim, who left the Army after 10 years, de- ghanistan next spring. The 25th Infantry Division unit scribed Kim as "the guy who was the most determined," has been to Iraq twice - in August 2006 and October 2008 adding, "He was born to be an infantry officer." - and Afghanistan in April 2004. Kim's military service has included assignments to the 2nd Kim, 45, said his brigade has just completed being re- Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division and 75th equipped after spending a year in northern Iraq in Ranger Regiment, and staff assignments in South Korea. Kirkuk and Salah ad Din provinces last year. He told He also has completed several combat deployments to Af- reporters that his soldiers face nearly a year of “robust ghanistan and Iraq, the latest being in January 2007 when training events" culminated by a month-long evaluation he led the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 325th period at the National Training Center in Southern Cali- Airborne Infantry Regiment, during the historical surge fornia's Mojave Desert. into Baghdad. Kim, a 1983 McKinley High School graduate, left the is- [COL Kim was born in Korea and immigrated to Hawaii lands after receiving his commission as a second lieuten- when he was a child. As he got his citizenship, his thought ant through the University of Hawaii Army ROTC pro- was “if I try hard enough, if I worked hard enough then it gram in 1988. Most of his career has been away from the is attainable.”] Congressional Gold Medal (from page 1) Farewell luncheon for Veterans Network Christine civic organizations formed one year Minister Shinoda Sato Yamazaki, and Secretary of ago to assist in the passage of the Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. bill, will continue to work with Washington officials to plan a two- TYSONS CORNER, Vir. — Minister Kenji Shinoda, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of The President praised the hero- day program, according to Christine Japan at Washington, DC had a farewell lunch ism and combat performance Sato Yamazaki, Chairperson of the record of the Nisei who served with JAVA Executive Council at the Tower NVN. Christine said the Washing- Club, Tysons Corner, Virginia on July 21, their country abroad while many ton, DC, festivities will include a 2010. Prior to his Washington, DC. assign- of their family members were in congressional ceremony hosted by ment, Shinoda served as Consul General of internment camps back congressional leaders; a gala dinner Japan at Chicago. He departed for Tokyo in home. He noted that Interim to honor the WW II veterans, wid- late July for reassignment.