US Army Honors Eight Decades-Old Sacrifices of Japanese American Soldiers Branded as "Enemy Aliens"
Seven US soldiers of Japanese descent, deemed 'enemy aliens' after the attack on Pearl Harbor, will be posthumously promoted to officer ranks in a ceremony marking eight decades since their deaths during World War II. The men were initially barred from joining the military due to their ethnicity, but instead worked for a civilian labor battalion before being recruited into a segregated regiment that became one of the most decorated units in US history.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was formed in 1943 and saw its members fight alongside Allied forces in Italy. Several soldiers were killed during operations in France, while others died from artillery shell fire or combat injuries. Despite facing prejudice at home, these men went on to prove their loyalty by fighting for the country abroad.
Their actions are an important reminder that even those targeted by injustice can make significant contributions to their nation's security and ideals of freedom. In a time where efforts to erase America's past are becoming more prevalent, this ceremony serves as a necessary acknowledgment of their sacrifices and service.
The seven soldiers - Daniel Betsui, Jenhatsu Chinen, Robert Murata, Grover Nagaji, Akio Nishikawa, Hiroichi Tomita, and Howard Urabe - had been part of the University of Hawaii's ROTC program before being barred from joining due to their ethnicity. Their story serves as a poignant reminder that everyone deserves recognition for their efforts towards freedom and security.
The promotion ceremony takes place amid growing concerns about erasing America's history. Last year, an exhibit on slavery was removed from Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park under the Trump administration's DEI initiative, sparking widespread criticism. In contrast, honoring these Japanese American soldiers is not about promoting diversity but rather recognizing their bravery and sacrifice for country.
The university first recognized their contributions by awarding them posthumous degrees in 2012. The promotions mark a long-overdue acknowledgment of their service to the US.
Seven US soldiers of Japanese descent, deemed 'enemy aliens' after the attack on Pearl Harbor, will be posthumously promoted to officer ranks in a ceremony marking eight decades since their deaths during World War II. The men were initially barred from joining the military due to their ethnicity, but instead worked for a civilian labor battalion before being recruited into a segregated regiment that became one of the most decorated units in US history.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was formed in 1943 and saw its members fight alongside Allied forces in Italy. Several soldiers were killed during operations in France, while others died from artillery shell fire or combat injuries. Despite facing prejudice at home, these men went on to prove their loyalty by fighting for the country abroad.
Their actions are an important reminder that even those targeted by injustice can make significant contributions to their nation's security and ideals of freedom. In a time where efforts to erase America's past are becoming more prevalent, this ceremony serves as a necessary acknowledgment of their sacrifices and service.
The seven soldiers - Daniel Betsui, Jenhatsu Chinen, Robert Murata, Grover Nagaji, Akio Nishikawa, Hiroichi Tomita, and Howard Urabe - had been part of the University of Hawaii's ROTC program before being barred from joining due to their ethnicity. Their story serves as a poignant reminder that everyone deserves recognition for their efforts towards freedom and security.
The promotion ceremony takes place amid growing concerns about erasing America's history. Last year, an exhibit on slavery was removed from Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park under the Trump administration's DEI initiative, sparking widespread criticism. In contrast, honoring these Japanese American soldiers is not about promoting diversity but rather recognizing their bravery and sacrifice for country.
The university first recognized their contributions by awarding them posthumous degrees in 2012. The promotions mark a long-overdue acknowledgment of their service to the US.
they were forced to work in labor battalions instead of joining the army and then became part of this super decorated unit that fought alongside allie powers... meanwhile, back home they faced prejudice and racism. its wild to think about how their families had to deal with the emotional trauma and stress while they were fighting for their country abroad 
i mean, it's not about promoting diversity but more about recognizing their service to the country. and can we talk about how the us government was able to erase japan americans from history for so long? 
I just think its amazing how some people can make you feel so unwelcome at home, but then they prove themselves to be heroes abroad 
. I think its awesome that we're finally giving them the recognition they deserve 8 decades late 
. We should be celebrating diversity, not trying to erase our history 
. These soldiers are an inspiration to us all, proving that everyone has a role to play in making our nation strong 
It's a huge deal that they're finally getting posthumous promotions - it's not like we're erasing history or anything (although, let's be real, some of the stuff being removed from museums is pretty sketchy too 
).
And let's not forget they were part of the University of Hawaii's ROTC program before being barred from joining... what a messed up system we've got sometimes 
.
I think this is a big deal, you know? Like, we're talking about people who were basically told they didn't belong because of where they came from, and yet they still found ways to serve their country and make a difference. It's wild to think that these soldiers had to go through all that just to prove themselves, but in the end, it was worth it.
Just saw that the US Army is finally giving some well-deserved recognition to the 7 Japanese American soldiers who were unfairly branded as 'enemy aliens' after Pearl Harbor 
Their story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of prejudice and injustice, individuals can still make significant contributions to their country's security and values 
It's amazing how these soldiers went on to prove their loyalty and bravery while fighting for the US abroad 
Despite being barred from joining the military due to their ethnicity, they formed one of the most decorated units in US history 
Their story serves as a poignant reminder that everyone deserves recognition for their efforts towards freedom and security 
I mean, they ended up serving their country and fighting for what's right - that's some serious bravery right there 
. I'm all for acknowledging the past and learning from our mistakes, but sometimes it feels like we're more focused on erasing history than actually understanding it 
I mean, can you believe it? Eight decades old, but still getting recognition for being amazing soldiers 
). Anyway, it's a great reminder that even when people are treated unfairly, they can still do amazing things for their country 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good underdog story (or in this case, an under-japanese-american 
.
like, shouldn't we just acknowledge their sacrifices and move on? 
and i guess it's good that we're recognizing their contributions to our country's history. but shouldn't we also be learning from the past and making sure this doesn't happen again? 
. It's crazy to think about how one day they could've been serving alongside regular American soldiers, but were held back by prejudice 
.
, and I hope this ceremony inspires others to share their stories & fight for what's right