Vol. 153, No. 9, November 4, 2011. 16 pages. View this issue
Japanese American veterans of World War II received the Congressional Gold Medal at a Washington, D.C. ceremony on Nov. 2, and the news from that day led the issue. Nalea J. Ko reported on the veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service, including Bruce Kaji, who traveled by Honor Flight. A second story by Ko described a smaller Seattle ceremony planned for Jan. 14, 2012, for about 50 veterans who could not make the trip. Christine McFadden profiled Kari Asai, a half-Japanese Air Force weapons systems operator who flew F-15s.
Floyd Mori wrote about civil rights after 9/11 and an award from the Sikh American Legal Defense Fund. Letters from Mas Hashimoto and John Tateishi continued the debate over JACL and the Pledge of Allegiance. Gil Asakawa and Harry K. Honda added columns on the Senate’s apology for the Chinese Exclusion Act and on Pearl Harbor.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Letters to the Editor: Pledge of Allegiance, by Mas Hashimoto, page 2. A letter defends JACL’s decision regarding the Pledge of Allegiance, emphasizing that JACL is not a religious organization and citing the First Amendment’s freedom of religion protections. The writer references Francis Bellamy’s original pledge, which did not include reference to God.
- Letters to the Editor: Fred Shinoda Gets It All Wrong, by John Tateishi, page 2. Former JACL National Director John Tateishi responds to a previous letter, clarifying that he was not proud of JACL dropping ‘under God’ from the Pledge but was explaining board policy rationale. He disputes claims that this policy caused membership losses, attributing declining membership to lack of passion among Japanese Americans instead.
- Crisis and Commitment, by Floyd Mori, page 2. Floyd Mori reflects on a conference addressing discrimination against Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities post-9/11, noting persistent bigotry and youth bullying. He questions whether Japanese Americans have become complacent about civil rights, while expressing optimism that younger JA and Hapa generations remain committed to justice.
- A DVD and 2 Books About Pearl Harbor, by Harry K. Honda, page 13. Harry Honda reviews the DVD ‘Killer Subs at Pearl Harbor’ and books by Gordon Prange and Ulrich Straus about Japanese mini-submarines and POW Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, the first U.S. prisoner of war in WWII. The column traces Sakamaki’s capture, imprisonment, postwar reflections, and comparisons of Allied versus Japanese treatment of POWs.
- Anti-Chinese Sentiment Lingers, Even After U.S. Senate Apologizes, by Gil Asakawa, page 13. Gil Asakawa discusses the Senate’s October 2011 resolution apologizing for the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and notes ongoing anti-Chinese sentiment tied to China’s rising economic power. He recommends historical resources including Ronald Takaki’s and Jean Pfaelzer’s books and Arthur Dong’s documentary films to better understand Chinese American history.
- Mori: Crisis Has Harvested Stronger Community Organizations, by Floyd Mori, page 15. Continuing his column, Floyd Mori describes receiving an award from the Sikh American Legal Defense Fund for JACL’s collaborative work on hate crimes and civil rights issues. He expresses optimism about younger Japanese American and Hapa generations’ commitment to fighting injustice, contrasting it with complacency he perceives among some in the community.
Community
- Change in Health Plan for JACL Seniors, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL Insurance Services & Administrators is changing to a new medical benefit plan and prescription drug plan for Medicare-eligible members in California, effective Jan. 1, 2012. Enrollment begins Nov. 14 with staff available at various California locations to assist members before the Dec. 30 deadline.
National
- JA WWII Veterans Receive Congressional Gold Medal, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. Japanese American World War II veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service received the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 2. The National Veterans Network, a coalition of 25 JA organizations including JACL, organized the event, with veterans like Bruce Kaji traveling via Honor Flight to attend.
- Seattle Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Planned for Ailing Vets, by Nalea J. Ko, page 6. The Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee is organizing a smaller Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Jan. 14, 2012 for about 50 WWII veterans, including Toshio Taniguchi, who could not travel to the Washington, D.C. event due to health issues. The ceremony will include a video of the D.C. proceedings and honor veterans of the 442nd, 100th Battalion and MIS.
- JA WWII Veterans Receive Gold Medals, by Nalea J. Ko, page 10. Veterans including Yosh Nakamura, Bruce Kaji, Hiro Nishikubo and Don Seki traveled via Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’s highest civilian honor. Bruce Kaji, a former MIS soldier and founding president of the Japanese American National Museum, hopes the ceremony will also spur recognition from Japan’s government for MIS veterans’ role in postwar reconstruction.
In-Depth
- Asian American Air Force Pilot Is the Real ‘Top Gun’, by Christine McFadden, page 4. Kari Asai, a half-Japanese Yonsei, defied a one-inch height requirement shortfall to become a Weapons Systems Operator in the U.S. Air Force, flying F-15s and deploying to Libya. Raised in a family of pilots, she excelled through ROTC, survival training, and rigorous flight school, earning nicknames like ‘One Inch’ and ‘Flash’ along the way.
Obituaries
- Johnny Chuichi Niizawa, page 15. Johnny Chuichi Niizawa, a Military Intelligence Service linguist stationed in Tokyo during the WWII occupation, passed away on Oct. 11, 2011 at age 86. He was active in the Sanger-Fresno JACL community and remembered for his baseball talent, survived by his wife Yoshiko and son Stanley.
- Masaye Hiura, page 15. Masaye Hiura of Palo Alto passed away on Oct. 18, 2011 at age 98, surrounded by family. She worked as a lab technician alongside her husband, son and granddaughter for nearly 70 years and is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and sister.
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