Translate
County Council recognizes local Nisei Veterans awarded Congressional Gold Medal in celebration of Veteran's Day
Summary
Honoring those who served while relatives were in internment camps
Story
In recognition of Veteran's Day, the Metropolitan King County Council honored the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC), particularly its members who served during World War II. The recognition was presented at the Council’s November 8 meeting by Council Chair Bob Ferguson, who sponsored the 2005 King County Veterans and Human Services Levy, and Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, the only veteran on the Council.
“Veterans Day is an important reminder of the deep appreciation and support we owe to all of our service men and women,” said Councilmember Ferguson. “It was an honor to welcome the Nisei veterans from our region, and to recognize their service to our country and their achievement of being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.”
“This is a time to honor all veterans who have served and particularly those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our Country,” said Councilmember von Reichbauer, who is the only councilmember who has served in the armed services. “Out of deep appreciation for their invaluable service to our country, I found it a privilege to recognize the Nisei veterans from World War II.”
On October 5, the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, was awarded collectively to the U.S. Army's 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service in recognition for their dedicated service during WWII. These units were comprised almost exclusively of soldiers of Japanese ancestry who, even while many of their families were held in internment camps, served their country with exceptional courage and valor.
For its accomplishments on the battlefield, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, including the 100th Battalion, earned distinction as the most highly decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service. It received 7 Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 22 Legion of Merit Medals, 15 Soldier’s Medals, and over 4,000 Purple Hearts. Military Intelligence Service members conducted highly classified intelligence operations that proved to be critical to U.S. military successes.
“The standing goal of the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee and the NVC Foundation is to ‘honor the past while educating the future,’ and we sincerely appreciate the Council taking the time to recognize the recent award of the Congressional Gold Medal to our Japanese American WWII veterans,” said Tosh Okamoto, a WWII 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran. “We are currently coordinating our efforts towards getting as many WWII Nisei veterans that can make it to the official ceremony in Washington DC next year.”
The Congressional Gold Medal was created in 1781 and is awarded for outstanding deeds or acts of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of national appreciation and past recipients include George Washington, the Wright Brothers, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for the U.S. Army's 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service will take place in September 2011.
In addition, the Council recognized the Seattle NVC for its recent September dedication of the Japanese American Memorial Wall in Seattle’s International District. The wall memorializes local Japanese Americans, both those who served in the U.S. armed forces during WWII and those placed in internment camps following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, in 1954 Congress declared November 11 as Veterans Day, a national holiday to celebrate and honor America's veterans for their patriotism and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good; and
WHEREAS, there are over 23 million veterans in the United States, of which more than 140,000 live in King County; and
WHEREAS, King County has a strong community of Nisei veterans, who recently celebrated the dedication of a Memorial Wall in Seattle, which is unique in that it honors both those of Japanese ancestry who were placed in internment camps and those who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II; and
WHEREAS, during World War II, Nisei veterans epitomized the courage and sacrifice of our service men and women, even while facing prejudice and internment at home; and
WHEREAS, many World War II Nisei veterans served in the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which has earned distinction as the most highly decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service; and
WHEREAS, on October 5, 2010, the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service, collectively received the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II; and
WHEREAS, the United States remains forever indebted to the bravery, valor, and dedication to country these men exemplified while fighting a 2-fronted battle of discrimination at home and fascism abroad;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, in commemoration of Veterans Day on November 11, 2010, honor all veterans across King County, and recognize the
SEATTLE NISEI VETERANS COMMITTEE
and especially the members who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service.
Councilmembers are joined by members of the Seattle Nisei Veterans Committee.
Committee members who served in the U.S. Army's 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service , were recognized for their service during WWII with the the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor.