JAVA is profiling the sacrifices and contributions made by the men and women that our JAVA Memorial Scholarship program honors. Today’s issue highlights the Colonel Jimmie Kanaya Scholarship in honor of JAVA member, COL Jimmie Kanaya, a three war veteran. The Kanaya scholarship is sponsored by his wife, Lynn. It is one of the $2,000 JAVA Memorial Scholarships that will be awarded to a high school senior who will be entering a two or four-year college or university in the fall. Application information can be found at the end of the article as well as on the JAVA website.
This scholarship honors Colonel Jimmie Kanaya, U.S. Army (Ret), a three-war, highly decorated veteran who served over 34 years in the military. While assigned to the 100th Battalion /442nd Regimental Combat Team, Kanaya became part of a cadre to create combat medical services. Later while serving in France with the 100th Bn /442nd RCT, he was captured while evacuating the wounded during the Rescue of the Lost Battalion and remained a POW until the end of World War II. Kanaya continued his Army service after WWII. He was part of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) during the Allied Occupation of Japan serving as a translator/interrogator at the Far East Command. During the Korean War, he continued in the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section. In Vietnam, Kanaya was attached to the Medical Assistance Advisory Group working with the South Vietnamese to upgrade combat medical services.
Throughout all his years of service, Kanaya was committed to the need for continuing education. For 22 years Kanaya took courses near his Army postings and in time earned enough credits to graduate from college and also received a master’s degree a few years later. He never gave up. Colonel Kanaya retired in 1974 from his last position as Deputy Commandant, Medical Education and Training Campus / Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His service, as with many other 442 veterans, would pave the way for future generations of Japanese Americans serving in the military. Colonel Kanaya passed away at the age of 99 and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
JAVA Scholarship Eligibility and Applications
Eligibility:
- Descendants of those who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Military Intelligence Service, the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion, and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion; and descendants of Japanese American soldiers who served during World War II in other United States military units to include the Women’s Army Corps or Army Nurses Corps are eligible to apply for a JAVA Scholarship.
- Current members of JAVA whose membership began prior to April 1, 2023 are eligible to apply. Children of current JAVA members are also eligible to apply if the applicant’s parent or guardian was a member of JAVA prior to April 1, 2023.
- In addition, past or present Soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment are eligible and encouraged to apply for the U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship. Also eligible are individuals enrolled in a college or university Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) or U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course. Applicants should demonstrate their lifelong commitment to public and uniformed service leadership for the nation.
Applications:
- Requirements: The policies, procedures and rules governing the JAVA Memorial Scholarship Program are available on the JAVA website at https://java-us.org. All applicants should read this overview before completing the application.
- Applications and supporting documents must be electronically submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2026.
- Official transcripts and other documents may be sent to [email protected] and must be received no later than April 30, 2026.
- The subject line of the email should be “2026 Inouye Memorial Scholarship”, “2026 Ishio Founder’s Scholarship”, “2026 JAVA Legacy Scholarship”, or “2026 JAVA Memorial Scholarship” and the applicant’s name.
- Any application that is not received by the deadline or that fails to meet the submission requirements will NOT be considered. Applicants will be notified of the Scholarship Committee’s decision in early June 2026.
- Questions may be sent to [email protected].
Please review: 2026 JAVA Memorial Scholarship Program Overview
2026 U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship.
2026 JAVA Ishio Founder’s Scholarship.