Appearing at the July 18 Day of Affirmation ceremony at the National World War II Memorial are, from left, 1st Lt. Justin Ninomiya (USAR), JAVA President Howard High, Brig. Gen. Tomika M. Seaberry (USAR), Lt. Col. Joseph Ensminger (USA), CSM John Keawe (USA), Clifton Truman Daniel and Lt. j.g. Daniel Wong (USNR). (Photo: Bruce Hollywood)
JAVA’s Seventh Annual Day of Affirmation ceremony honors
the former president’s historic review of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
By Robert H. Vokac
Eighty years after President Harry S. Truman declared, “You fought the enemy abroad and prejudice at home, and you won,” the Japanese American Veterans Assn. gathered at the National World War II Memorial on July 18 to commemorate one of the defining moments in American military history.
(See related story here.)
JAVA’s Seventh Annual Day of Affirmation honored the 80th anniversary of President Truman’s historic review of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team following its parade down Constitution Avenue to the White House Ellipse. The ceremony celebrated the extraordinary service and sacrifice of the soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd RCT while reaffirming the enduring values of loyalty, courage and citizenship that continue to inspire Americans today.
On July 15, 1946, President Truman awarded the 442nd RCT its seventh Presidential Unit Citation and delivered words that have echoed through generations: “You fought the enemy abroad and prejudice at home, and you won.” In doing so, he recognized not only the battlefield heroism of the Nisei soldiers but also the injustice and sacrifices endured by Japanese Americans during WWII.
Mark H. Rooney Taiko Ensemble performs at the Day of Affirmation ceremony.
The ceremony opened with a stirring performance by the Mark H. Rooney Taiko Ensemble. Their powerful rhythms drew visitors from throughout the memorial and set a fitting tone for the day’s remembrance.
Howard High, a U.S. Army veteran and president of JAVA, served as master of ceremonies. He welcomed the audience and presented a moving historical reflection based upon the recollections of Terry Shima, one of the last surviving veterans who stood in formation for President Truman’s 1946 review. Although Shima was unable to attend, his eyewitness memories connected those gathered with the events that unfolded on the White House Ellipse 80 years ago.
President Harry S. Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, delivers the keynote address at the JAVA Seventh Annual Day of Affirmation.
Photo: Courtesy of Bruce Hollywood
President Truman’s eldest grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, delivered the keynote address. Blending warmth, humor and historical insight, he reflected on the values that guided his grandfather throughout his life — humility, fairness, kindness and the recognition of courage wherever it is found. Through personal stories, he illustrated President Truman’s unwavering commitment to justice before re-enacting the closing portion of the historic July 15, 1946, address. His words resonated deeply with the audience:
“You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice, and you have won. Keep up that fight, and we will continue to win.”
Brig. Gen. Tomika M. Seaberry, military deputy in the Office of the Chief of Army Reserve, G-3/5/7, delivered the distinguished military address. She praised the soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd RCT for answering the nation’s call despite facing discrimination at home.
Highlighting their extraordinary battlefield accomplishments, including the rescue of the “Lost Battalion,” Seaberry described their courage, sacrifice and patriotism as enduring examples for today’s Army. She also reminded the audience that today’s soldiers continue to build upon the legacy established by these remarkable men and challenged future generations to “keep carrying that torch,” ensuring that their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to America are never forgotten.
Lt. Col. Joseph Ensminger, commander of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, delivered the Legacy Address. Emphasizing the responsibility entrusted to each new generation, he observed that the Day of Affirmation “was not just a ceremony. It was a turning point for American civil rights, military history and the national conscience.” His remarks underscored that the legacy of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd RCT is not simply remembered — it continues to be lived every day by the soldiers of the battalion.
Distinguished guests included Minister Kyoichiro Kawakami, chief of chancellery, Embassy of Japan; Eric Saul, renowned historian and museum director; Anna Fierst, great-granddaughter of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; Col. Noe Noel Uchida, Army attaché, Embassy of France; Gerald Yamada, founder of JAVA’s Day of Affirmation and former president of JAVA; and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Al Goshi, former president of JAVA.
The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” provided patriotic music throughout the ceremony, including stirring renditions of the 442nd RCT song, “Go For Broke,” and “The Army Song.” A Color Guard from the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, presented and retired the colors.
Following the ceremony, attendees gathered at the National Museum of the United States Navy for a luncheon, during which Yamada reflected on the 2020 origins of the Day of Affirmation and the vision that inspired its creation. Kawakami also reaffirmed the enduring friendship between Japan and the U.S. and praised the continuing efforts to preserve the legacy of the Nisei soldiers for future generations.
JAVA’s Day of Affirmation demonstrated that their legacy remains vibrant. Through remembrance, education and service, JAVA continues to ensure that the courage of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team will never be forgotten. Their story reminds every generation that patriotism is measured not by ancestry, but by character, sacrifice and an unwavering devotion to the ideals of the U.S.
Robert H. Vokac is a retired U.S. Army officer, executive council member of the Japanese American Veterans Assn. and a grandson of Col. Virgil R. Miller, the second commander of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.