Military
When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor about 5,000 Japanese Americans were serving in the U.S. Army. 5,000 volunteers from the mainland and Hawaii were called for soon after by the U.S. military. In January of 1942 the Selective Service stopped drafting Japanese Americans, because they were reclassified as "enemy aliens".
In 1944 Japanese Americans were subject to draft again and many men jumped at the opportunity to leave camp. 2,300 men enlisted straight out of the relocation camps into U.S. military. My brother Joshua also enlisted in hopes of proving to the nation that we are loyal and that we should be freed. Most Japanese Americans that served during WWII were part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Together with the the 100th infantry Battalion of the Hawaiian Territorial Guard, the 442nd fought with distinction in North America, France, and Italy. After 223 days of fighting, men in the 100th infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat team became two of the most highly decorated units. Nearly 26,000 Japanese Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II. |
Japanese American troops received:
- 52 Distinguished Service crosses
- 560 Silver Star Medals
- More than 4,000 Bronze stars
- Almost 10,000 Purple Heart Medals
- 7 Presidential Unit Citations