Fall 2013 JAVA ADVOCATE Japanese American Veterans Association Volume XX—Issue 3 Admiral Harris Assumes Pacific Fleet Command President’s Message 2 CGM in Portland 3 JAVA Commemorates VJ Day 3 JSDF and 7th Div visit NVC 4 VA Transforming to Digital 4 Only Two Nisei Surrendered to the Japanese Army, Be- 4 1945 Editorial on the 442nd Won Pulitzer 5 Letter “From Somewhere in Burma” Confirmed Nisei 5 Japanese American History in 7 Saul Conveys Keen Insights in Honolulu Speech 7 A Profile: Admiral Harris. 8 Meet the Generals&Admirals 9 Cho Promoted June 21 10 President Obama Names New VA Deputy Secretary 10 WW II Veterans Honored with Legion of Honor 11 President of New Komeito Party Visit 11 General Choi Visits Charlotte Hall Veterans Home 11 Koshio Keynotes Lakewood Heritage Luncheon 12 Son of JAVA at Waseda Uni- versity 12 Citizens Patriot Award Pre- sented to 442nd Infantry 13 Seattle NVC Honors Senator Inouye 13 Inside this issue: Pacific Fleet to Continue Rebalance Focus From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs PEARL HARBOR, Hawaiʻi - With the USS Arizona and Battleship Missouri Memorials as a backdrop, Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. relieved Adm. Cecil D. Haney as commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command cere- mony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, on October 16, 2013. "The only thing that makes my depar- ture a little easier is knowing that my good friend and Naval Academy class- mate Adm. Harry Harris is my replace- ment," said Haney. "He has had an ex- ceptional career filled with challenging assignments that have more than pre- pared him to command the Pacific Fleet. He knows the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and fully understands its complexities." Haney spoke of those complexities, and how the Navy's historic role in the region will continue to promote security, stability, pros- perity and peace. "Our nation today looks to the future as we rebalance to the Indo-Asia- (Continued on page 8) With Adm. Samuel Locklear III, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, right, looking on, Adm. Cecil D. Haney passes through the side boys after being re- lieved by Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, right center, during a change of com- mand ceremony on the Pearl Harbor waterfront. (photo from U.S. Navy by Mass Communication Spe- cialist Seaman Johans Chavarro) The Spirit of 45 Day kicked off this year at the National WW II Memorial in the Nation’s Capital and ended at Punchbowl, Hawaiʻi, on August 11, 2013. This year’s program honored the late Sena- tors Daniel K. Inouye and Frank Lautenberg, the last WW II veterans to serve in the U.S. Con- gress and cosponsors of the Spirit of ’45 Day Bill, which passed unanimously in 2010. With the Lin- coln Memorial in the background, Ken Inouye, son of the late Senator, is pictured addressing the large audience. On his left are his wife Jessica and daughter Maggie. On his right are Terry Shima, JAVA representative and 442 nd veteran; Avery Penn, holding a wartime photo of Senator Inouye; and Lauren Penn, who spoke on what the Spirit of ‘45 Day means to her. Mrs. Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of the late Senator, attended the Punchbowl ceremony. (Photo by Noriko Sanefuji) Spirit of ‘45 Day Honors WW II Service Senators
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Fall 2013
JAVA ADVOCATE
Japanese American Veterans Association
Volume XX—Issue 3
Admiral Harris Assumes Pacific Fleet Command
President’s Message 2
CGM in Portland 3
JAVA Commemorates VJ Day 3
JSDF and 7th Div visit NVC 4
VA Transforming to Digital 4
Only Two Nisei Surrendered
to the Japanese Army, Be-
4
1945 Editorial on the 442nd
Won Pulitzer
5
Letter “From Somewhere in
Burma” Confirmed Nisei
5
Japanese American History in 7
Saul Conveys Keen Insights in
Honolulu Speech
7
A Profile: Admiral Harris. 8
Meet the Generals&Admirals 9
Cho Promoted June 21 10
President Obama Names
New VA Deputy Secretary
10
WW II Veterans Honored
with Legion of Honor
11
President of New Komeito
Party Visit
11
General Choi Visits Charlotte
Hall Veterans Home
11
Koshio Keynotes Lakewood
Heritage Luncheon
12
Son of JAVA at Waseda Uni-
versity
12
Citizens Patriot Award Pre-
sented to 442nd Infantry
13
Seattle NVC Honors Senator
Inouye
13
Inside this issue:
Pacific Fleet to Continue Rebalance Focus
From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaiʻi - With the
USS Arizona and Battleship Missouri
Memorials as a backdrop, Adm. Harry
B. Harris Jr. relieved Adm. Cecil D.
Haney as commander of U.S. Pacific
Fleet during a change of command cere-
mony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-
Hickam, on October 16, 2013.
"The only thing that makes my depar-
ture a little easier is knowing that my
good friend and Naval Academy class-
mate Adm. Harry Harris is my replace-
ment," said Haney. "He has had an ex-
ceptional career filled with challenging
assignments that have more than pre-
pared him to command the Pacific Fleet.
He knows the Indo-Asia-Pacific region
and fully understands its complexities."
Haney spoke of those complexities, and
how the Navy's historic role in the region will continue to promote security, stability, pros-
perity and peace. "Our nation today looks to the future as we rebalance to the Indo-Asia-
(Continued on page 8)
With Adm. Samuel Locklear III, commander of the U.S.
Pacific Command, right, looking on, Adm. Cecil D.
Haney passes through the side boys after being re-
lieved by Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of U.S.
Pacific Fleet, right center, during a change of com-
mand ceremony on the Pearl Harbor waterfront.
(photo from U.S. Navy by Mass Communication Spe-
cialist Seaman Johans Chavarro)
The Spirit of 45 Day kicked off this year at the
National WW II Memorial in the Nation’s Capital
and ended at Punchbowl, Hawaiʻi, on August 11,
2013. This year’s program honored the late Sena-
tors Daniel K. Inouye and Frank Lautenberg, the
last WW II veterans to serve in the U.S. Con-
gress and cosponsors of the Spirit of ’45 Day Bill,
which passed unanimously in 2010. With the Lin-
coln Memorial in the background, Ken Inouye,
son of the late Senator, is pictured addressing the large audience. On his left are his wife
Jessica and daughter Maggie. On his right are Terry Shima, JAVA representative and 442nd
veteran; Avery Penn, holding a wartime photo of Senator Inouye; and Lauren Penn, who
spoke on what the Spirit of ‘45 Day means to her. Mrs. Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of the
late Senator, attended the Punchbowl ceremony. (Photo by Noriko Sanefuji)
Spirit of ‘45 Day Honors WW II Service Senators
On September 16, 2013, we witnessed
the senseless attack on Navy Yard em-
ployees resulting in 12 innocent persons
being killed in Washington, DC. This at-
tack on a US military installation on
American soil caused an unimaginable loss
of life. They died working to protect
America. They are patriots.
On September 11th, we commemorated
the 12th anniversary of the passing of the
innocent victims of the terrorist attacks
at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and
Shanksville, PA. Again, we experienced
the senseless loss of innocent persons.
I ask that you observe a moment of si-
lence to honor these brave Americans
and to console their grieving families and
friends.
The American people’s reaction to both
horrific events demonstrates that Ameri-
cans can come together to be strong
and to strengthen our resolve that such
tragic events will never happen again.
JAVA’s mission as a veteran service
organization is to help ensure that
those who have died in war and those
who have perished on American soil
are honored and their sacrifices are not
forgotten.
I invite you to JAVA’s annual Veterans
Day Program at the National Japanese
American Memorial to Patriotism on
November 11th in Washington, DC and
to join us in remembering and honoring
all who are serving and have served.
With your support, we will keep Amer-
ica strong and protected.
- Gerald Yamada, Esq.
JAVA President
President’s Message
PAGE 2 JAVA ADVOCATE FALL 2013
Honorary Chairs
Senator Daniel Akaka (Ret.)
The Honorable Norman Mineta
Hershey H. Miyamura, Medal of Honor
George Joe Sakato, Medal of Honor
Officers
Gerald Yamada, Esq., President
Wade Ishimoto, Vice President
Allen Goshi, Lt. Col., U.S. Army (Ret.), Secretary
Mark Nakagawa, Lt. Col., U.S. Army (Ret.), Treasurer
Robert Nakamoto, Immediate Past President & Chairperson of
the Finance Committee
Executive Council
Above Officers plus:
Bruce Hollywood, Col., U.S. Air Force (Ret), Executive
Director
William Houston, Esq., Deputy Executive Director
Grant Ichikawa
Janelle Kuroda, Lt., U.S. Navy Reserve
Calvin Ninomiya, Esq., General Counsel
Terry Shima
Kay Wakatake, Lt. Col., U.S. Army
Reuben Yoshikawa
JAVA Advocate
Akio Konoshima, Editor Emeritus
LTC Kay Wakatake, USA, Editor Emeritus
Erika L. Moritsugu, Esq., Editor
Round Robin (Weekly Electronic Bulletin)
Brett Egusa, Lt. Col., U.S. Army Reserve
Welcome New Members!
CDR Eric (Rick) Campbell, USN (Ret.)
COL Stacey K. Hirata, USA (Ret.)
Maj Wayne Kodama, USAFR
LTC Claude E. Larouche, USA (Ret.)
MAJ Setsy Sadamoto Larouche, USA (Ret.)
Lt Col Michael P. Nishimuta, USAF (Ret.)
COL Mark Nozaki, USA
LCDR Jorge M. Shimabukuro, USN
CW4 Gary T. Shimizu, USA (Ret.)
CAPT Marcus Baron Yonehiro, USN (Ret.)
Free Lifetime
Memberships to Veterans
JAVA is now offering FREE Lifetime Memberships for Veter-
ans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, current
military personnel of 100th Battalion-442nd Infantry Regi-
Congressional Gold Medal Displayed in Portland By MAJ Setsy Sadamoto Larouche, USA (Ret)
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Opening Ceremony for the Congres-
sional Gold Medal (CGM) exhibit was held at the Oregon His-
tory Museum on August 24, 2013. Portland was selected as
one of the seven cities to host the traveling Smithsonian Exhibit
for the CGM. 17 WWII veterans from the states of Oregon and
Washington were in attendance. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)
delivered brief remarks thanking everyone -- especially veterans
from the 100th Bn, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the
Military Intelligence Service -- for their service to America while
their families were being incarcerated in ten camps around the
United States.
Following the opening ceremony, the veterans were shuttled to
the Hilton Hotel for a luncheon held to honor them for their
sacrifice and service to our nation. Over 300 people attended
the luncheon and heard from The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki,
Secretary of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who spoke
about the courage and inspiration of the honored veterans with
touching comments on how they were his
inspiration to do his best with every aspect
of his military service. Secretary Shinseki also
met with each veteran privately to thank
them for their heroic role in American histo-
ry and he presented each of them with his
coin. Senator Wyden also spoke, stressing
the importance of the CGM award to these
units, and how their contribution to the vic-
tory of World War II was such a great
American story. Lynn Longfellow introduced
each of the veterans, followed by brief re-
marks from Christine Sato-Yamazaki, Chair-
person, National Veterans Network.
The program day wrapped up at the Hilton
Hotel that evening with the showing of the
documentary Searchlight Serenade introduced
by artist Amy Uyeki. Portland’s own
Minidoka Swing Band played after the
screening and everyone had a wonderful time dancing to the
music of the forties.
The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center features “Our Humble He-
roes” until Jan 5, 2014, which features stories from Pearl Har-
bor, the European and Pacific Campaigns, and the training
camps here on the home front.
We are grateful for the sponsors for our events: The Oregon
Nikkei Endowment; The Oregon History Museum; The Smith-
sonian; the National Veterans Network; Cole Chemical; AARP;
Comcast/NBC Universal; JAVA; The Pritzker Military Library;
Southwest Air Lines; and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund.
Local support was provided by: The Freeman Foundation; The
Confederate Tribe of Grand Ronde; the Japanese Ancestral
Society of Portland; KGW News Channel 8; KINK FM; The Bill
Naito Family; Samuel T. and Mary K. Naito Foundation; the
Oregonian; Oregon Nisei Veterans; Portland Business Alliance;
Portland JACL; Pat & Trudy Ritz; and the Seattle Nisei Veterans
Committee.
General Eric
Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, speaking
in Portland, Oregon, to honor Nisei veterans.
(Photo from Curtis Suyematsu, Reflections
Photography)
L-R: Tex Irinaga, 442nd Veteran; Lynn Longfellow, Executive Director of
O.N.E. ; Kaz Oda (seated), 442nd Veteran; Richard Iwata, MIS Veteran; Christine Sato-Yamazaki, Chairperson, NVN; Setsy Larouche, Past Com-
mander, Oregon Nisei Veterans; Japan Consul General Furusawa; Kerry
Tymchuk, Executive Director, Oregon Historical Society; Mrs. Antoi-nette Hatfield, Widow of Senator Mark Hatfield; and Sho Dozono, Honorary Chair of the American Heroes Luncheon. (Photo by Curtis
Suyematsu, Reflections Photography)
JAVA Members Participate in VJ Day Program
WASHINGTON D.C. - JAVA members, including LTC Mark Nakagawa, USA (Ret.), were invited
to participate in the presentation of wreaths at the VJ Day program at the National WW II Me-
morial on September 2, 2013. The WW II Memorial is located on the Mall, between the Abra-
ham Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The program included of speeches by
U.S. military and National Park Service officials, singing by renowned Irish tenor Anthony
Kearnes, and music by the US. Army Brass Quintet. Wreaths of the military branches were pre-
sented at the Heroes Wall, marked by stars representing over 400,000 American soldiers who
were killed in combat. The audience consisted of men and women in military uniforms, veterans
of all the wars, families of veterans, and students. Pictured (right) is one of the wreaths presentation
teams. From L-R: LTC Nakagawa; COL Dennis Duggan, USA (Ret.); and WWII veteran LTG Julius W. Becton,
USA (Ret.). (Photo by Holly Rotondi)
PAGE 4 JAVA ADVOCATE FALL 2013
Only Two Nisei Surrendered to the Japanese Army, Became POWs
During WW II some 4, 200 Nisei served in the Military Intelli-
gence Service (MIS) in the Asia Pacific Theater and following the
war another 3,000 trained linguists joined them to serve in the
demobilization and subsequently in the occupation of Japan.
Another 1,800 served elsewhere, in the U.S. at the Pentagon,
the Manhattan Project in New York City, and at SHAEF head-
quarters in Europe. Many of them were attached to the U.S.
Marines and infantry and served on front line duty with them.
Fourteen Nisei volunteered for the Merrill’s Marauders despite
the Army’s warning that “85% of you will not return” and an-
other 14 volunteered for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS),
to go behind the enemy lines to sabotage their operations.
The large number of combat-related awards reflects their front
line duty. MG Charles A. Willoughby, Chief of Intelligence for
General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of Allied
Forces in the Pacific summed up the value of Nisei this way:
“The information received through their skills proved invaluable
to our battle forces.” Thousands of American lives were pre-
served and millions of dollars in material were saved as a result
of the Nisei contribution to the war effort.
U.S. Army documents at the National Archives and Records
Administration show repeatedly high level concern of the cap-
ture of Nisei linguists by Japanese forces and attempted to limit
their duties to safe echelons. Operational urgency for the lin-
guists to serve with the invading forces to interrogate Japanese
POWs and translate documents to obtain tactical intelligence
dictated their deployment to the front lines. As Willoughby said
“spot interrogations of POWs taken in battle were at times of
such importance that they caused a shift in Allied plans of at-
tack”.
Despite the risks taken by Nisei linguists, it is remarkable that
only one MIS soldier, Richard Sakakida, became a POW of Ja-
(Continued on page 10)
JSDF and 7th Division visit NVC
SEATTLE, Wash. - On September 22, 2013 the Nisei Veterans
Committee (NVC) of Seattle, Washington, invited about 70
representatives from the 7th Infantry Division of Joint Base
Lewis McChord and the Japan Self-Defense Force 4th Division
for a goodwill visit to the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC)
Hall. Major General Stephen Lanza, Commanding General of
the 7th Division, and Major General Takeyoshi Omori, Com-
manding General of the JSDF 4th Division, made remarks de-
signed to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.
The luncheon served by the NVC Foundation included Japanese
dishes, which were a hit especially with the Japanese visitors,
and the Seattle Kokon Taiko group provided the entertainment.
Seattle’s Japanese-American leaders added dignity to the event
and Seattle’s Japanese Scholarship Princesses provided hospitali-
ty. The visitors were given a tour of the NVC facility, which
includes priceless wartime memorabilia. Sam Mitsui, docent of
Seattle Japanese American veterans, discussed the Japanese-
American experience during WW II, labeling his remarks
“Good things grow from horse manure.” Soldiers received
three DVDs -- Senator Inouye’s Journey to Washington; 442nd: Live
with Honor, Die with Dignity; and MIS: Human Secret Weapon, re-
cently received from Nitto Tires, USA, Inc. as a public service.
Japanese soldiers appreciated the Japanese subtitles on the
DVDs and appeared surprised to learn that all three DVDs
were produced by Japanese firms. The Journey was produced by
Fuji Sankei Communications International; the other two were
directed by Junichiro Suzuki. The 442nd film was shown in Japa-
nese cinemas in 2011-2012 and the MIS film is presently being
shown in Japanese cinemas nationwide.
JDSF and 7th Division representatives. NVC Commander Nakamoto is
standing on the front row (white shirt). On his right is MG Omori. On Nakamoto’s left are former NVC commanders Tosh Okamoto and
Tom Kometani. Behind Kometani is MG Lanza. (Photo from NVC)
VA Transforming Paper Claims Process to Digital Environment
WASHINGTON - On September 10, 2013, the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) reached another milestone in its disability
claims transformation process: over 30 percent of the current
disability claims inventory is now digital and accessible to claim
raters in VA’s electronic claims processing system, which has
now been fielded ahead of schedule at all 56 Regional Offices
across the country. This effort is a key part of transforming
outdated paper processing into an electronic system that is de-
livering disability claims decisions for veterans more quickly. In
addition, all incoming paper claims are transformed into digital
records for electronic processing using VA’s new claims pro-
cessing software and electronic repository.
(Continued on page 14)
PAGE 5 JAVA ADVOCATE FALL 2013
1945 Editorial on the 442nd Won Pulitzer Editor’s Note: The editorial, printed in
full below, was written by William
Hodding Carter II and published in
the Delta Democrat-Times of Green-
ville, MS on August 27, 1945. Accord-
ing to a blog on the internet, “The
title of the editorial comes from the
motto of this regiment”, seen in the
photo [right]. “The editorial presents
an outward challenge to white Ameri-
cans to treat these Japanese-American soldiers with the same respect
and equality as the white soldiers. Carter was a proponent of racial
tolerance for African Americans as well.” "Go For Broke" won the
1946 Pulitzer Prize and is one of the most frequently-quoted Pulitzer
Prize editorials in the award's history. It is one among a series that
Carter wrote for the Delta Democrat-Times that focused on building
respect between races.
Company D of the 168th Regiment which is stationed in Leg-
horn, Italy, is composed altogether of white troops, some from
the East, some from the South, some from the Midwest and
West Coast. Company D made an unusual promise earlier this
month. The promise was in the form of a communication to
their fellow Americans of the 442d Infantry Regiment and the
100th Infantry, whose motto is "Go For Broke," and it was sub-
scribed to unanimously by the officers and men of Company D.
In brief, the communication pledged the help of Company D in
convincing "the folks back home that you are fully deserving of
all the privileges with which we ourselves are bestowed."
The soldiers to whom that promise was made are Japanese-
Americans. In all of the United States Army, no troops have
chalked up a better combat record. Their record is so good
that these Nisei were selected by General Francis H. Oxx,
commander of the military area in which they are stationed, to
lead the final victory parade. So they marched, 3,000 strong, at
the head of thousands of other Americans, their battle flag with
three Presidential unit citationed streamers floating above them,
their commander, a Wisconsin white colonel, leading them.
Some of those Nisei must have been thinking of the soul-
shaking days of last October, when they spearheaded the at-
tacks that opened the Vosges Mountain doorway to Strasbourg.
Some of them were probably remembering how they, on anoth-
er bloody day, had snatched the Thirty-Six Division's lost battal-
ion of Texans from the encircling Germans. And many of them
were bearing scars from those two engagements which alone
had cost the Nisei boys from Hawaii and the West Coast 2,300
causalities.
Perhaps these yellow-skinned Americans, to whose Japanese
kinsmen we have administered a terrific and long overdue de-
feat, were holding their heads a little higher because of the
pledge of their white fellow-soldiers and fellow-Americans of
Company D. Perhaps, when they gazed at their combat flag, the
(Continued on page 6)
Letter “From Somewhere in Burma” Confirmed Nisei Contribution
Editor’s Note: This is a story of a Nisei linguist, Edward Mitsukado,
who served with the Merrill’s Marauders in Burma during WW II.
His letter to the Commander of MIS Language School was circulated
to the high levels of the War Department. Mitsukado’s remarks at-
test to Nisei dedication and loyalty to their nation and confirm the
valuable intelligence contributions made by Nisei linguists to the war
effort. The following are excerpts of an article written by Dr. Greg
Bradsher, Senior Archivist, National Archives and Records Administra-
officers (Italian National Military Police) in formal uniform to participate in the ceremony at the American cemetery , Iin Florencetaly.
Following the climb to the top of Mt. Folgorito (background). From L-
R: Dale Ikeda, Shari Tamashiro, Stacey Hayashi (red jacket), Isami Yoshihara, Matthew Dickerson (Italian Guide in Cal cap), Dennis Uyeda, Davide del Giudice, Tod Fujiwara, Maureen Sakaguchi, (Italian