HANAPEPE — Major Victor Aguilar, head of the Waimea High School Junior ROTC program, said they wanted to do a salute, but had nothing to offer, Sunday. Instead, four members of his drill team worked in a constricted space doing
HANAPEPE — Major Victor Aguilar, head of the Waimea High School Junior ROTC program, said they wanted to do a salute, but had nothing to offer, Sunday.
Instead, four members of his drill team worked in a constricted space doing a short routine of tribute while guests, family members and other dignitaries watched the students offer their tribute.
“They had more people show up so had to add more chairs,” Aguilar said. “That meant less space for the team to perform, and they didn’t want to hit anyone.”
But the drill team was not alone as the high school Junior ROTC program fielded its saber unit, color guard and buglers in addition to the drill team to support the families of the U.S. Army’s 100th Infantry Battalion.
“We’re here to remember the men of the 100th who passed on,” said Jan Ishibashi, who conducted the invocation at the 65th memorial service for the battalion at the Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe.
“It is a privilege and honor to stand in the company of the 100th veterans.”
Masao Yotsuda, Jack Hada, Fusetsu Miyazaki, Thomas Arakaki, Bunkichi Matsuyoshi and Monte Nishie represented the surviving members of the 100th Battalion on Kaua‘i.
In silence, the veterans crisply returned salutes of Waimea High School Junior ROTC cadets who presented each of them a lei,
military salute and hug of appreciation as Ken Morikawa, son of veteran Muggsy Morikawa, announced each name.
There was no need for words, but the sense of appreciation and honor filled the auditorium of the cemetery as Capt. Nicholas Mongillo, commanding officer of the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands near Kekaha and Mana, talked about the sacrifices of families for every person who falls in defense of this country.
In 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, these men were cast not only into the war, but with prejudice from their own country, Mongillo said.
The men were there on that day of infamy, states the Go for Broke website, when Japan bombed their city, harbor, country, and home.
At the time, the men were serving in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, guarding the shores, clearing rubble, donating their blood and aiding the wounded.
Three days following the attack, their rifles were taken away and they were guarded at gunpoint, even when going to the latrine. Why?
They were Nisei — American-born sons of Japanese immigrants.
In 1940, the Japanese were the largest ethnic group, representing more than 37 percent of Hawai‘i’s population, and almost half of Hawai‘i’s vital workforce.
History speaks for itself in documenting that none have shared their blood more valiantly for America than the Japanese Americans who served in the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Infantry while fighting enemy forces in Europe during World War II, states the Global Security website.
“At a time when many of their fellow Americans questioned their loyalty to the United States, these Japanese-American soldiers enlisted and put their lives on the line to defend our freedom overseas while fighting against fear and discrimination at home,” said U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Neighbor Islands-rural O‘ahu, in soliciting support for legislation that would honor “Go for Broke” Japanese-American WWII veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal.
In spite of the acts of loyalty and courage following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army discharged all Nisei in the ROTC unit, changed their draft status from ‘ineligible,’ and segregated all Japanese-Americans in the military on the Mainland out of their units, Hirono said. During this time, more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes to internment camps.
“This recognition of bravery, patriotism and unquestioned loyalty is long overdue,” Hirono said after the House passed legislation Thursday that collectively awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. Army “Go for Broke” 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service for their acts of valor during World War II.
The measure, passed by voice vote in the House, is on its way to President Barrack Obama for his signature.
Once the legislation is signed and implemented, the group’s Congressional Gold Medal will be on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution.
The “Go for Broke” regiments are the most-decorated in U.S. military history for their size and length of service, earning 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 15 Soldier’s Medals, 4,000 Bronze Stars and more than 4,000 Purple Hearts among numerous other distinctions.
The records of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry are without equal, the Global Security website states.
The 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, is the only remaining Infantry unit in the Army Reserve force structure, its headquarters located at Fort Shafter on O‘ahu and units located in Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Guam and Saipan.
The annual 100th Battalion memorial service is held each year on the Sunday closest to Sept. 26 — the date the battalion suffered its first killed-in-action casualty after being deployed to Europe.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
