Vol. 7, No. 81, January 7, 2025
In This Issue…
- President’s Message
- Remembering Gene J. Takahashi
- Japanese American Recalls Interrogating His Japanese Classmates After The Battle of Okinawa
- TopGolf Social Event Update
- Join Our Team: Volunteer Opportunities
- JAVA Q4 Donation Acknowledgement
- Upcoming JAVA Events
President’s Message
| Washington, DC. Happy New Year! Greetings to ALL! As we welcome 2025, let us embark on a year of growth, collaboration, and renewed purpose for JAVA. Our association stands at a crossroads of opportunity, driven by a mission to honor the sacrifices and valor of our WW2 Nisei Soldiers and their enduring legacy. This year, we will intensify efforts to expand our membership, engage more members in leadership roles, and bring JAVA to the forefront of the national conversation. Our strategic plan serves as a blueprint, guiding us toward these goals while remaining flexible and responsive to new opportunities. A recent legislative milestone, the passage of the VSO Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act, allows JAVA to welcome more “peacetime” veterans without compromising our tax-deductible status. This change broadens our reach and strengthens our ability to connect with veterans across generations. Together, we can build a more inclusive and vibrant association. With growth comes action. This year, we will expand collaborations with like-minded organizations, forge powerful alliances, and amplify our impact nationwide. As JAVA becomes more active, I encourage all members and friends to get involved—whether through administration, outreach, or supporting our events. Your participation is vital as we champion our shared mission. Let us carry forward the spirit of the WW2 Nisei soldiers who, through unparalleled courage and patriotism, fought battles abroad and at home against prejudice. Their legacy reminds us that every step forward strengthens the foundation of equality and justice for all. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events and working together to ensure JAVA’s continued success. Let’s make 2025 a year of impact, honor, and unity. By Howard High |
Remembering Gene J. Takahashi
| “He figured that my platoon was probably the closest to the Chinese entry into the war and was probably the first American unit hit.” (Video Interview, 50:10) Gene Takahashi’s experiences in Korea began shortly after the end of the Second World War. He had enlisted in the Army late in that war, after spending most of it with his family in an Arizona internment camp for Japanese Americans. After the Japanese surrendered, Takahashi was sent to Korea for occupation duty for 18 months. Called up from the reserves to serve in Korea, Takahashi found that his language skills with both Japanese and Korean were highly prized. He was named platoon leader of an all-black unit, and he was captured by the Chinese in November 1950 when they entered the war. He escaped, made it back to Seoul, and rejoined the fighting. Wounded by enemy machine-gun fire in March 1951, Takahashi saw his wartime service come to an end while recuperating. [Japanese-American Veterans Association, Takahashi, G. J. & Shima, T. T. (1945) Gene J. Takahashi Collection. [Personal Narrative] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.10309/] |
Westport, Conneticut.
David Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize winning author of the Best and the Brightest, wrote the Coldest Winter, a story of the Korean War. He was highly impressed by his interview of Gene Takahashi, a platoon leader in the Korean War and later in life an executive of International Business Machines (IBM). Halberstam said Takahashi “is a wonderful man who should be celebrated.” Takahashi and his family were incarcerated in an internment camp during WW II and subsequently settled in Cleveland, Ohio.
Takahashi served twice in Korea. He served in the Korean Occupation for 18 months following his enlistment at age 17 and being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. The first lesson he learned was despite President Harry Truman affirmation of Nisei loyalty, racism and prejudice continued to be prevalent after WW II. His company commander, a West Point graduate and a racist, gave Takahashi every miserable assignment the Company had. Takahashi decided there was nothing like adversity to strengthen a person’s character. He accepted all the abuse and order, carried them out, and felt he emerged as a much tougher officer. Following his discharge, he obtained a bachelor’s degree. When the Korean War broke out in 1950 he was recalled to active duty and assigned to Korea, where he was platoon leader of Love Company, a segregated African American unit. 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division.
According to the 9th Infantry Regiment journal, on November 25-26, 1950, the Regiment was at the Yalu River area and in the most forward part of the formation was Co L and at the tip was Takahashi’s 2nd platoon. At 9:30PM on November 25, 1950, marking China’s entrance into the Korean War, the 2nd Bn was attacked by a large number of Chinese soldiers and, despite the defensive fire, succeeded in over running Takahashi’s battalion command post shortly after 4: 00 AM on November 26th. During the same period the 3rd Battalion was under intense fire along with Co K and Co L were forced to withdraw with an undetermined number of casualties. By 3:00 PM, November 26th, the entire 9th Regiment had been forced to withdraw and took defensive positions across the Chongchon River.
Takahashi and his platoon fought fiercely to stave off the Chinese so his company could retreat, however, when his unit was overrun, Takahashi and his master sergeant were captured and taken as prisoners. (It crossed his mind that he had the dubious distinction of being a prisoner of war of two countries, the Poston, Arizona, concentration camp and now China.) They were led to the Chinese army headquarters for interrogation. The Commander couldn’t believe that a Japanese could be an officer in the U.S. Army and thought Japan had entered the war. Takahashi was finally able to convince them that he was an American. Following questioning, Takahashi and his master sergeant were taken by 2 guards and being marched toward China. Takahashi didn’t want to go to a Chinese prisoner of war camp and devised an escape plan. At the crest of a hill he and his sergeant jumped the guards and rolled down the hillside. There was a burst of gunfire and that was the last he saw of his sergeant who was slated to be discharged in a few months. The sergeant later died in a Chinese prison camp. After his escape, Takahashi hid by day and traveled at night. Along the wayside he found a Korean hat, cape, and sandals, wore them, and snuck into a line of refugees heading south. When he reached safe territory he peeled off and found his way to Kunuri where he found the remnants of his company and later to the 2nd Division headquarters in Seoul.
Takahashi learned that his Co L had sustained 95% casualties and he was the only surviving officer. He helped reorganize and train Co L. Four months later Co L returned to combat duty. Takahashi was hit by machine gun fire, however, medics could not come to his aid due to intense enemy fire. He saved his life by applying a tourniquet he learned as a Boy Scout. (Takahashi felt his Boy Scout training was instrumental in helping him in his escape and survival.)
Takahashi considered the Combat Infantryman’s Badge his most coveted medal. He was also awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart Medal. He might have qualified for the Silver Star or the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on November 25-26, 1950, however, that was not possible because no eye witness were left to attest to his heroism, nor the company commander to write the citation.
Following his hospitalization and discharge in 1952 Takahashi obtained a master’s degree. He joined IBM in 1955, the first Asian American to be hired by that company, as a systems engineer and retired in 1989, after serving as a director of litigation in IBM antitrust cases. Takahashi was a JAVA life member.
[Ed Note: Violette Takahashi, Gene’s widow, contributed to this article.]
Books recommended by Violette Takahashi which include Gene’s exploits in the Korean War.
Japanese American Recalls Interrogating His Japanese Classmates After The Battle of Okinawa
Washington D.C.
Takejiro Higa, a veteran of the Military Intelligence Service, remembers the difficult task of interrogating civilians after the Battle of Okinawa. As it turns out, he ended up coming face to face with his own teacher and classmates from Okinawa, ending in an emotional reunion when they realized who he was.
[Ed Note: A thank you to Rod Azama for letting us know about this video. Please do not repost or download this video without the “Go For Broke National Education Center’s permission]
TopGolf Social Event Update
National Harbor, MD.
JAVA will be hosting its first networking event! JAVA would like to take this moment to thank our veterans for everything that they do. Too many times, our veterans only gather and see one another at somber events. We would like to change that and give back to them.
On Saturday, February 15th. 2024, we will be enjoying a gathering at the hosting a Topgolf Event at the National Harbor in Maryland. It will be free for registered JAVA members and $18 for non-JAVA members. The event will include:
- 2- hours of gameplay
- Lifetime membership at Topgolf
- Free iced tea and soft drinks
We will also have an unofficial book signing with Wade Ishimoto for The Intoku Code: Delta Force’s Intelligence Officer―Doing Good in Secret. Please bring your book and meet the author. We will have copies of the book available for purchase at the event.
We encourage everyone to spread the word and encourage veterans to attend.
You can learn more about Topgolf at: https://topgolf.com/us/national-harbor/
How Can You Help Support the Event
We realize that some people may not like golf or may not be able to attend, but may still wish to support the event.
For this event, we would like to supply food for our attendees, free of cost. Below will be a link to a specific donation form for this and future social events. Our goal is $1500 by January 15th.
If you choose to donate by check, please indicate that the check is a “2025 Social Event” donation in the memo section or note.
JAVA hopes to have more social events in the future, trying different events and hosting events across the Nation. Please help us make this event a success.
Volunteer Fundraising Chair Needed!
Bethesda, MD.
Organization Overview:
The Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) is 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. JAVA provides educational programs, advocacy, and community outreach to honor the legacy of WWII Nisei Soldiers. Although most of our members are Americans of Japanese Ancestry, our members are not exclusively Japanese Americans.
Position Title: Fundraising Director (Volunteer)
Location: Remote.
Time Commitment: Flexible.
Position Summary:
JAVA seeks a dedicated, experienced volunteer to serve as our Fundraising Director. This key role will lead efforts to develop and implement fundraising strategies to support our organization’s mission and programs. The Fundraising Director will work closely with the Executive Council and staff volunteers to identify funding opportunities, cultivate donor relationships, and oversee fundraising campaigns and events.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Develop Fundraising Strategy:
- Collaborate with the Executive Council to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with JAVA’s mission and goals.
- Identify potential funding sources, including grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donors, and fundraising events.
2. Donor Cultivation and Stewardship:
- Build relationships with current and prospective donors, sponsors, and partners.
- Develop personalized cultivation strategies to engage donors and secure financial support.
- Implement stewardship activities to recognize and thank donors for their contributions.
3. Fundraising Campaigns and Events:
- Plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising campaigns and events, including online campaigns, fundraising dinners, and virtual events.
- Mobilize volunteers and coordinate logistics to ensure successful fundraising activities.
4. Grant Writing and Management:
5. Fundraising Communications:
- Research grant opportunities and prepare grant proposals and applications.
- Manage grant reporting requirements and ensure compliance with grantor guidelines.
- Collaborate with the Communications Director to develop fundraising materials, including appeal letters, newsletters, and social media campaigns.
- Ensure consistent messaging and branding in all fundraising communications.
6. Budget Oversight:
- Work with the Treasurer and Finance Committee to develop and monitor fundraising budgets.
- Track fundraising progress, analyze results, and report regularly to the Executive Council.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a track record of successful donor cultivation, grant writing, and fundraising campaign management.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and engage supporters effectively.
- Strategic thinker who can develop and implement fundraising plans that align with organizational goals.
- Detail-oriented, with strong organizational and project management skills.
- Passion for supporting veterans’ organizations and promoting Japanese American history and culture.
Benefits:
- Opportunity to significantly impact the success and sustainability of JAVA’s mission.
- Gain valuable experience in nonprofit management, fundraising strategy development, and donor relations.
- Develop leadership skills and expand professional networks within the nonprofit sector.
Application Process:
If you have any questions or desire to apply for this exciting opportunity, feel free to contact [email protected]. For applications, please submit your resume, and cover letter outlining relevant experience and interest. Thank you.
2024 Q4 Donation Appreciation
We would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has donated during our Annual Fundraising Season. Every dollar goes to support JAVA’s mission and we are grateful for all the support we receive this year. Thank you for your support.
Upcoming JAVA Events
Saturday, February 8th, 2 PM ET. General Membership Virtual Meeting. Google Meet.
Saturday, February 15, 10 AM ET. JAVA Topgolf Event. Topgolf National Harbor, 6400 Clipper Way Oxon Hill, MD 20745.
Saturday, March 29th, 9 AM ET. 27th Annual Freedom Walk. National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II. Washington, D.C.
Sunday, May 25th. 77th Annual Memorial Day Event. Arlington National Cemetery.
Saturday, June 28th. 17th Annual JAVA Memorial Scholarship Awards Ceremony. Facebook.