JAPANESE AMERICAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION
The Japanese American Veterans' Association, Inc. (JAVA), is a fraternal and educational organization with many purposes: Preserving and strengthening comradeship among its members; Perpetuating the memory and history of our departed comrades; Educating the American public on the Japanese American experience during WWII; and Striving to obtain for veterans the full benefit of their entitlements as veterans.
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President’s Message
Gerald Yamada, JAVA President In celebration of National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I want to share with you the lessons that all Americans can learn from the legacy forged by Japanese American soldiers who served during World War II. These lessons were the subject of my presentation last month to the Coalition of Veterans Organizations in the Chicago area. I started with the prewar prejudice and resentment in America against persons of Japanese ancestry. Built on prewar overt discrimination, government officials used war hysteria to further their prejudice and political ambitions to disrupt the lives of 120,000 innocent persons of Japanese ancestry. I credited how Japanese Americans who served in World War II proved their loyalty and restored the freedoms and dignity of the Japanese American community. I summarized the reasons why the governmental actions to forcibly remove 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast to military-styled prison camps were illegal and unjust. I explained how Japanese Americans reacted when they were asked to serve in the military as the way to show their loyalty to America. Thirty-three thousand (33,000) Japanese American men and women decided to serve. They kept their faith in America and its opportunities. Japanese American soldiers served beyond expectations, defeating America’s enemies and against prejudice at home. Their valor and sacrifices made them America’s heroes, and a grateful Nation has bestowed many tributes in their honor. Their service created a legacy for future generations. In concluding my presentation, I pointed out that there are four lessons that all Americans can embrace from the legacy that was forged by the World War II Japanese American soldiers. It is not just a Japanese American story. It is an American story. First, the Japanese American soldiers’ willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to show their loyalty promotes patriotism, freedom, and equality as American values. Second, their legacy urges all Americans to keep faith in America and its values, as did the Japanese American soldiers during World War II, to overcome the hate and prejudice that divided Americans. Third, the Japanese American soldiers’ willingness to serve to overcome the public distrust of their ethnicity condemns racial profiling. Actions by governmental officials to promote fear, hatred, and prejudice based solely on ethnicity are not acceptable. Fourth, their legacy symbolizes the best of American democracy – America committed a wrong, admitted its mistakes, took responsibility, made amends, and affirmed its commitment to equal justice for all. As we begin May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, let us renew our commitment to JAVA’s mission to embrace the Japanese American soldiers’ legacy from World War II by promoting these lessons that are important for all Americans to follow._____________________________________________________  JAVA Member and 442nd Veteran, Terry Shima Speaks about the Japanese American Experience During World War II Recently the Keese School Lecture Series featured former JAVA Executive Director and JAVA Terry Shima as a speaker at their continuing education series. By way of introduction it was noted that Terry was born and raised in Hawaii. He was drafted in to Army in 1944 and served in the 442nd RCT. After the war, Terry attended and graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and enjoyed a 30-year career in the Foreign Service with postings in the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. In 2012, President Obama awarded Terry the Presidential Citizens Medal. After leaving his official post as Executive Director of JAVA, he has continued to support the research and publication of the Advocate and e-Advocate. In the video Terry explains the origins of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and MIS and highlights examples of Japanese American soldiers bravery and valor in an effort to prove their loyalty to the U.S. Click here to watch or watch below.
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| NOT A MEMBER YET?_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Nisei Role as America’s “Eyes and Ears” Against Japan During War II and as a “Bridge” Between the Two Nations During the Occupation Visit JAVA Research Archive to read New Article on Role of MIS in WWII by Clicking Here.
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JAVA News
| Comprehensive Survey of JAVA's 25-Year History ReleasedOur research archive (see tab at top of page) now houses an extensive history of the first 25 years of the organization. Please click here.
1946 Speech byCaptain Thomas E. CrowleyPatrick Crowley, the son of Captain Thomas E. Crowley of E Company, 442, recently shared with JAVA a copy of a speech his father gave to different West Coast communities to ease the way for resettlement as interned Japanese Americans returned to their hometowns. In his remarks, Captain Crowley, in an effort to combat anti-Japanese American sentiments, eloquently describes the heroism of Nisei soldiers, and reminds his audience of the ideals of American democracy. Please read his speech here. |
