Honoring Forgotten Heroes: US Army Promotes Japanese American Soldiers Posthumously Eight Decades After WWII
Seven Japanese American soldiers who were branded "enemy aliens" during World War II are set to be promoted posthumously in a solemn ceremony on Monday, eight decades after their deaths. The promotion is a long-overdue recognition of the bravery and sacrifice these men made fighting for the US despite facing intense prejudice and suspicion from their own countrymen.
Born and raised in Hawaii, which was then a US territory, these seven soldiers were students at the University of Hawaii and cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Initially serving in the Hawaii Territorial Guard, they soon found themselves barred from joining the regular military due to their Japanese heritage.
Instead, they joined a civilian labor battalion known as "Varsity Victory Volunteers," where they performed tasks such as digging ditches and breaking rocks. Later, when the US Army formed a segregated Japanese American regiment, these seven men joined it, becoming part of one of the most decorated units in US history - the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Some of these soldiers fought for the Allies while their relatives were detained in Japanese American internment camps due to suspicion that they might be a threat. The unit's bravery and sacrifice earned numerous awards and accolades, but it was largely forgotten after the war.
On Monday, their legacy will be honored as they are promoted to 2nd lieutenant, the rank they would have achieved if they completed their ROTC program. Relatives of some of these men are expected to attend the ceremony in a Honolulu park, which is being held amid growing concerns about the Trump administration's efforts to whitewash American history.
As one US Army official noted, "Fighting an injustice at home, these seven men later gave their lives fighting on the battlefields of Europe." The promotion is not just a recognition of their bravery but also a reminder that every contribution and sacrifice matters, regardless of who one's ancestors are.
Seven Japanese American soldiers who were branded "enemy aliens" during World War II are set to be promoted posthumously in a solemn ceremony on Monday, eight decades after their deaths. The promotion is a long-overdue recognition of the bravery and sacrifice these men made fighting for the US despite facing intense prejudice and suspicion from their own countrymen.
Born and raised in Hawaii, which was then a US territory, these seven soldiers were students at the University of Hawaii and cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Initially serving in the Hawaii Territorial Guard, they soon found themselves barred from joining the regular military due to their Japanese heritage.
Instead, they joined a civilian labor battalion known as "Varsity Victory Volunteers," where they performed tasks such as digging ditches and breaking rocks. Later, when the US Army formed a segregated Japanese American regiment, these seven men joined it, becoming part of one of the most decorated units in US history - the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Some of these soldiers fought for the Allies while their relatives were detained in Japanese American internment camps due to suspicion that they might be a threat. The unit's bravery and sacrifice earned numerous awards and accolades, but it was largely forgotten after the war.
On Monday, their legacy will be honored as they are promoted to 2nd lieutenant, the rank they would have achieved if they completed their ROTC program. Relatives of some of these men are expected to attend the ceremony in a Honolulu park, which is being held amid growing concerns about the Trump administration's efforts to whitewash American history.
As one US Army official noted, "Fighting an injustice at home, these seven men later gave their lives fighting on the battlefields of Europe." The promotion is not just a recognition of their bravery but also a reminder that every contribution and sacrifice matters, regardless of who one's ancestors are.
... it's crazy to think they were treated like enemy aliens in their own country, yet still chose to fight for the US 
. Eight decades is a long time to wait for recognition, but I guess that's what happens when we forget our history 
. It's not just about them, though - it's about all those who came after them and are fighting the same battles today 
. And you know what really gets me? Those soldiers weren't even able to finish their ROTC program because of where they were from 
. So, when do we stop whitewashing history? 
Can we at least remember who these brave men were and what they did for our country? 
. If anyone's to blame here, it's the fact that we've been pretending like this didn't happen for so long. I'm good, thanks, I don't need a ceremony to tell me about some guys who did what they had to do. And let's not forget, if you're gonna give 'em a promotion now, why not just give 'em the Medal of Honor while we're at it? 
They were literally forced to fight for the US because they weren't allowed to join the regular military due to their heritage 
And then they went on to become part of one of the most decorated units in US history - the 442nd Regimental Combat Team 
I mean, can you imagine having your family detained just because of who your ancestors are? 
It's a really sad and frustrating history, but it's also an important reminder that we need to keep fighting for equality and justice 
And I'm glad the US Army is finally giving these men the recognition they deserve 
. It's all about honoring their bravery and sacrifice, but also acknowledging the systemic racism they faced. Should've happened years ago 
. I mean can you imagine having to prove yourself multiple times because of your heritage? Its heartbreaking. The fact that they were able to serve their country and make such a huge contribution despite all that is just amazing 
.
. We need to learn from our history so we can do better in the future. It's a shame that it took eight decades for us to recognize the sacrifices of people like these soldiers.
. It's like, totally messed up and it's only now that we're recognizing their bravery and sacrifice 8 decades later 
they're finally giving these soldiers the respect they deserve after everything they went through during WWII 
like, these guys were fighting for their country while their own country was treating them like dirt, it's crazy to think about how much they sacrificed and how much more we can learn from their story 
