Japanese American Veterans Association JAVA ADVOCATE April/May 2010 Volume XVIII—Issue 1 Inside this issue: Shinseki receives JAVA Courage, Honor, Patriotism Award; pays tribute to Japanese American Veterans President’s Message 2 Ellis Island Exhibit 3 FALLS CHURCH, Vir. — Gen- JAVA Board changes eral Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary Shinseki recognized 4 of the Department of Veterans Affairs, received the COUR- Wounded warrior takes 5 AGE, HONOR, PATRIOTISM Command Award from the Japanese 100th Bn mail reviewed American Veterans Association Japan Lieutenants visit USA 6 (JAVA) in recognition of his 44 G Company, 442nd reunion years of distinguished leader- ship in the United States Army MOH/DSC recipients 7 and in the Department of Veter- recognized ans Affairs. The Award was House of Reps roundtable presented on January 16, 2010 at JAVA’s annual meeting in Highlights from DVA 8 White House seeks $ for vets Falls Church, Virginia. The award is bestowed on persons Secretary Shinseki (left) holding COURAGE, HONOR, PA- Pirates! 9 who exemplify the spirit of cour- TRIOTISM Award with JAVA President Robert Nakamoto Students visit Japan Embassy age, honor and patriotism dem- (right). onstrated by the Nisei soldiers Meet the Generals, Admirals 10 during World War II. and health care they have earned.” Bostick promoted 11 President Nakamoto said Asian Ameri- Heart Mt Leadership Summit Over 150 JAVA members, families and friends, including veterans of the 442nd cans, including Japanese Americans, MIS Vets meet CG Kamo 12 Regimental Combat Team and the are proud of Secretary Shinseki’s accom- Frankeberger retires plishments: the first Asian American to Military Intelligence Service, about a dozen flag ranked officers, and veter- be appointed as Chief of Staff of the US Other Veterans organizations 13 Army and the third Asian American to DVD on Japanese American ans who served in the Korean, Vietnam experience and Gulf Wars expressed their enthusi- be appointed to a cabinet rank position. astic approbation. The Citation, read Nakamoto said Shinseki is “our ulti- Honor Flights 14 by Lieutenant Colonel Martin Herbert, mate role model.” Farewell Kato, Welcome USA (Ret.) a veteran of Desert Storm, Suzuki In his remarks, Secretary Shinseki stated, “General Shinseki’s vision in thanked JAVA President Bob Nakamoto Book reviews 15 Army Transformation launched an ag- for the luncheon arrangement and ile, combat ready force that could de- praised former Secretary of Transporta- JAVA Speaker’s Bureau 16- ploy, fight, and win anywhere in the 17 tion Norman Mineta, who was unable to world, as confirmed in Iraq and Af- attend due to his late return from over- Taps 18 ghanistan.” As the Secretary of Veter- seas travel, for his “legendary service to ans Affairs, he is “transforming the VA his country and inspiration to us.” He From the Editor 19 into a more people-centric, result- Membership application thanked Ms. Connie Ishio, wife of the oriented, forward looking organization late JAVA Founder-President Colonel JAVA Committee Information 20 ready to respond to the needs of veter- Phil Ishio, USA (Ret.), for the yellow Upcoming Events ans by providing veterans with benefits [continued on page 4 at Shinseki] PAGE 2 JAVA ADVOCATE APRIL/MAY 2010 American flag, and (2) General Fred responsibility to run the nation, President’s Message Weyand, former Chief of Staff of the armed forces, business and acade- In my last message I US Army. As an intelligence officer mia. There is also an article on said that we were in the China-Burma-India theater Montgomery County Public School working on two ma- during WW II he was a strong sup- system’s production of a 24 min- jor events. I wish to porter of the Nisei in the Merrill’s ute DVD, largely based on inter- report that both Marauders and the OSS. views of veterans and internee. were concluded suc- This DVD, which has been distrib- I wish to convey JAVA’s warm thanks cessfully. Secretary uted to schools, will be used by and congratulations to (1) MG Tom of Veterans Affairs teachers in their lesson plan. Bostic for his promotion to Lieuten- Eric Shinseki attended JAVA’s ant General and appointment to the You know that we are an all vol- lunch on January 23, 2010, when position of J-1; (2) Brig Gen Susan unteer organization. If you can he was awarded JAVA’s COUR- Mashiko for her promotion to Major dedicate a little of your time for AGE, HONOR, PATRIOTISM General and appointment to the posi- JAVA please contact anyone listed award. Over 200 members and tion of Deputy Chief, National Recon- on the back page of this newslet- friends greeted the Secretary en- naissance Office (NRO); (3) Deputy ter. Regardless of your qualifica- thusiastically and he remained Assistant Secretary Dr. Lynn Heira- tion and interests, I am sure we near the door to speak unhurriedly kuji for the completion of her assign- can find an appropriate task for to each person. When he said he ment at the Pentagon; (4) Lona Ichi- you. Thank you for your support. would join JAVA as a paid member kawa for her unstinting support of we viewed that as a huge vote of —Bob Nakamoto various vital endeavors, including the confidence for JAVA. The other Honors flights, which bring WW II event went equally well. On Janu- veterans to the National WW II Me- ary 20, 2010, I had the honor of pro- morial in Washington, DC, and viding JAVA’s testimony on veter- JAVA’s Sakura Matsuri booth at the Honorary Chairs ans issues, for the first time, to the National Cherry Blossom Parade; and Senator Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Senate roundtable organized by Congress- (5) Eliot Frankeberger, recently re- man Bob Filner, Chairman of the Senator Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senate tired history teacher in Maryland for House Committee on Veterans Af- The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta his support of our Speakers Bureau. fairs, in the Committee’s hearing Barney Hajiro, Medal of Honor room. Hershey H. Miyamura, Medal of Honor I wish to invite you to read an article George Joe Sakato, Medal of Honor on Eric Saul’s exhibit at Ellis Island/ We grieve at the passing of (1) Mil- Statue of Liberty Museum. It will lie Ichikawa, a patriot who volun- Officers trace the emigration of Japanese from teered for the WAC Corps to serve Robert Nakamoto, President Japan, their struggle to raise their in the MIS and who talked Indone- Bruce Hollywood, Col, USAF (Ret), families, the World War II years, post sian rioters out of desecrating the Vice President WW II years when they are sharing Secretary -- Vacant Earl Takeguchi, LTC, USA (Ret), Treasurer Board of Directors Above Officers plus: William Houston, Deputy Executive Director Grant Ichikawa Bert Mizusawa, BG, USAR Mark Nakagawa, LTC, USA Calvin Ninomiya Terry Shima, Executive Director Kay Wakatake, MAJ, USA Above: Upon the completion of her assignment at the Department of the Army as Alan Ueoka, LTC, USA Deputy Assistant Secretary, Dr. Lynn Heirakuji enjoys lunch with some JAVA Gerald Yamada, General Counsel members on February 17, 2010 at the China Garden Restaurant at Rosslyn. Seen Reuben Yoshikawa here with left to right: John Tagami, President Robert Nakamoto and MG Antonio Taguba, USA (Ret). DAS Heirakuji represented the Secretary of the Army at sev- JAVA ADVOCATE eral JAVA luncheons, including the award ceremony of Bronze Star Medal and Akio Konoshima, Editor Emeritus Legion of Merit to JAVA's 442nd RCT veterans. (Ranger Grant Hirabayashi) Kay Wakatake, MAJ, USA, Editor APRIL/MAY 2010 JAVA ADVOCATE PAGE 3 Eric Saul’s Ellis Island Exhibit scheduled to open [Full press release at www.javadc.org] the 180,000 to mainland America. Their struggle to raise their families to become good citizens and the in- New York City. Eric Saul, historian, working with ternment of 120,000 of which over 50% were US citi- Japanese American veterans and historical institu- zens will be featured. The closing section of the exhibit tions, is completing the construction of the “Go For will feature the success of Japanese Americans in Broke: Japanese American Soldiers Fighting on Two achieving key positions in the Armed Forces, politics, Fronts” exhibit, which will open at the Statue of Lib- space, business and the academia. The exhibit will erty Museum, Ellis Island, New York at the end of show how Nisei service in World War II led to the elimi- May 2010, the culmination of two years of preparation. nation of Asian Exclusion Laws and brought about vot- A grand opening ceremony is projected for June at- ing rights, land ownership and ultimately, citizenship tended by civilian and military dignitaries, officials of for Issei; Hawaii statehood; the passage of the Civil Lib- veterans-related organizations and Nisei veterans. It erties Act of 1988; and the construction of the National will run for four months and close in September. The Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism. This ex- National Park Service estimates that some 7,000 visi- hibit will itself speak of the Greatness of America. tors per day will see the exhibit. Organizations supporting the Go For Broke exhibit in- The focal point of the exhibit is the Japanese American clude the National Japanese American Historical Soci- men and women who served in World War II, includ- ety, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese th nd ing the 100 Infantry Battalion, 442 Regimental American Veterans Association, Go For Broke National Combat Team, Nisei in the Military Intelligence Ser- Education Center, 442nd Veterans Hawaii, Survivors of vice (MIS), the 300 Nisei women who served in the the Outer Camps of Dachau Concentration Camp, and Women’s Army Corps (WAC), the five Nisei who the Simon Wiesenthal Center-Museum of Tolerance.