JA Soldiers Making a Difference in Iraq and Abroad
As the nation thanks its veterans this Memorial Day, these soldiers are proud to be serving their country.
Lt. Col. George Ishikata has 23 years of U.S. Army experience under his belt. For the past few years he's been training and preparing his battalion soldiers to fight in various parts of the world including Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans. But lately he felt like something was missing: he wanted to experience first-hand what his soldiers were going through.
So he asked to be deployed to Iraq. For the past four months Ishikata has been stationed in Baghdad overseeing the translation of captured documents and media to assist the commanders in locating insurgents.
"As a leader, I felt it was important for me to have this experience so that I could understand my soldiers better, and so they could feel comfortable that I had gone through the same hardships as them," said Ishikata, a 44-year-old Sansei from San Francisco.
"I'd liken it to any sport participant ... you prepare to play in the big game. If you have a successful career and never get to the big game, part of you always wishes you had."
Ishikata's life now consists of seven-day workweeks that often last 16 hours a day. Some days there are briefings with his higher-ups, on other days there's the occasional visit with a team in a remote area.
"But the day is basically work and eat, not much else," he said.
The Ongoing Debate
With the Iraq War now in its fourth year, the issue is an ongoing debate amongst Americans. Congress is even trying to set a troop withdrawal timetable but President George W. Bush has already balked at this idea.
Although much has been made about the animosity amongst Iraqis towards the American soldiers, Ishikata believes their presence is making a difference.
"The people all want what we want ... a better life for their kids, a little more money in the bank, creature comforts to make life better. And in general, life goes on as though things are normal," he said.
"But no one I know of questions us being here. If we weren't, things would be very bad. Regardless of whether we should have invaded or not, if there was justification or not, those are issues for a Monday morning quarterback. We're here, we have this situation, and leaving arbitrarily is not the answer."
Alex, a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, is getting ready for his third deployment to Iraq. Due to his intelligence work, the 20-year-old Sansei asked that only his first name be used.
Like Ishikata, Alex believes he and his fellow marines are making a difference in Iraq. With a small four-man fire team, Alex and his squad's duties include patrolling the cities to reveal the location of violent insurgents.
"Our main goal in Iraq is not to pillage and plunder, it is to win over the hearts and minds of the Iraqi population." But he admitted, "It is becoming harder and harder day by day because as the firefights continue, more Iraqi insurgents are dying. It is our mission to only use deadly force when necessary."
The Watada Question
When it comes to discussions of the Iraqi War in the JA community, one name is likely to come up more than others: Ehren Watada. The first lieutenant's second court martial for refusing to deploy to Iraq last June is scheduled for July.
Although most of the soldiers did not wish to add to the debate, Ishikata gave his thoughts as a private citizen.
"I don't think Watada was right in what he did," he said. "I understand he believes that the Iraqi War is an illegal action. But when he accepted a commission in the military, he swore an oath to protect and defend our Constitution.
"That's a pretty sacred oath, and for him, as an officer, he had an equal responsibility to the soldiers who serve under him ... In my opinion, he abandoned his responsibility to his soldiers by refusing to deploy with them. That's just not acceptable."
The same sentiments have been expressed by many of the veterans organizations representing the World War II JA soldiers.
Why We Serve
Growing up as a teen in Long Island, New York, U.S. Marine Cpl. Mitsuo Satoh, 23, was like any other average American teen. But at home with his Shin Issei parents, he spoke Japanese and was immersed in the Japanese culture.
For the past four years, Cpl. Satoh has been stationed at Camp Courtney in Okinawa, Japan. His bilingual skills as an intelligence analyst have not only allowed him to serve his country, it's allowed him to experience first-hand his ancestral roots.
"I've had a great opportunity in the last four years as a U.S. Marine serving in Okinawa. I have the ability to protect the freedoms and security of both Japanese and American people," he said.
"For me, serving in the military is the best way I can show my appreciation for both countries. Although I'm an American, I will never forget where my roots come from."
As America prepares to honor its veterans this Memorial Day, these soldiers continue to serve honorably, much like their predecessors.
"For me, I serve to give back and help the country that has given my family so much," said Alex. "I feel a great honor in serving my country, especially in the Marine Corps. We all have great honor, being in the Corps, not many people can earn that title."
"I enjoy all of [America's] privileges, so it's only right I should do my share of service to it ... I vote, because I feel I have a responsibility to let my voice be heard, and my military service is much the same," said Ishikata. "In appreciation to a nation that has done so much for so many - not without error, but generally with good intentions."
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