Japanese American Veterans Association
We are an educational, patriotic, fraternal organization dedicated to maintaining and extending the institutions of American freedom. Our members include veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf Wars. Although the majority of our members are Americans of Japanese Ancestry, our members are not exclusively Japanese Americans.
Dear Members and Friends of JAVA,
As we welcome the dawn of 2026, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the remarkable journey we have shared over the past two years. This month marks the final chapter of the current term for our elected officers and Executive Council. It has been a period defined by tireless dedication, steady leadership, and a spirit of service that reflects the very values JAVA exists to honor.
I want to begin by recognizing the officers and Executive Council members who have given their time, talent, and heart to this organization. Leadership in a volunteer-driven association is rarely visible in the moment. It is found in late-night planning calls, in careful stewardship of resources, in the discipline of follow-through, and in the quiet determination to keep our mission advancing even when life is demanding. To each of you who served in an elected or appointed capacity during this term, thank you. You have strengthened JAVA in ways that will endure.
Because of the hard work of our officers, the guidance of our Executive Council, and the passion of our members, JAVA is stronger than ever. Our membership has grown, participation has increased, and awareness of our mission has expanded far beyond our traditional borders. We are now reaching across the United States and deep into Europe, building relationships and presence in places that remind us that the legacy we protect is not confined by geography. It is a living story of courage, sacrifice, and identity, and it resonates wherever people care about service and freedom.
To celebrate the milestones of this past term, I will soon share a video collage capturing our activities over the last two years. I hope it gives every member a moment of pride, not only in what we have done, but in what we represent. When you see our presence felt in communities across the globe, you will be reminded that our collective effort. Your effort. Is making JAVA visible, credible, and impactful.
The Momentum of Impact
The momentum is real, and it is building. JAVA will always be the guardian of the legacy of the WWII Nisei soldiers and veterans. That responsibility is sacred, and it remains at the center of who we are. At the same time, our mission has evolved in the way it must if we intend to remain relevant and consequential. We are no longer just looking back. We are looking outward.
JAVA exists to serve as a bridge between the extraordinary courage of the WWII Nisei Soldiers and the challenges of the future. By honoring those who serve in uniform today and by reinforcing the values of duty, integrity, courage, and sacrifice, we ensure that the legacy we protect does what it has always done. It teaches. It strengthens. It inspires. It helps society remember what responsible citizenship looks like, and what it costs.
We are on track to realize our strategic vision in the years ahead, but our ultimate metric of success will never be a document or a plan. It will be impact. It will be the partnerships we build, the next generation we engage, the stories we preserve with accuracy and dignity, and the way we show up for our communities with purpose.
Looking Ahead
As we begin 2026, we do so with a solid foundation and a clear path forward. Whether some of our current leaders return for another term or pass the torch to new hands, the truth remains the same. JAVA’s strength is not in any one person. It is in a shared commitment to something bigger than ourselves.
To every member, supporter, volunteer, officer, and Executive Council member. Thank you for your unwavering support during this term. Thank you for believing in our mission, advancing it with your actions, and representing it with honor.
The foundation is solid, the path is clear, and the best is yet to come.
In service and with gratitude,
Howard High
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, mass hysteria erupted in America against all persons of Japanese ancestry. Nisei (American-born children of Japanese immigrants) were viewed as innately disloyal and were barred from enlisting in the armed forces. The 1,432 Nisei who were already in the U.S. Army in Hawaiʻi were placed in the 100th Infantry Battalion and shipped to Wisconsin for training and subsequently deployed to Italy for combat. Mike Masaoka, Executive Secretary of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), encouraged the Nisei to petition the government to allow them to serve in combat to prove their loyalty.
Masaoka believed a strong performance by the Nisei in combat was the best weapon to defeat racism and prejudice. In response to these petitions and the exemplary training record of the 100th Infantry Battalion, in early 1943 the U.S. Army formed the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, consisting of 4,000 volunteers from Hawaiʻi and the mainland, many from internment camps.