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Nov. 11 is Veterans Day and residents and visitors alike will pay tribute to America’s veterans for their unselfish sacrifices in protecting America’s shores and preserving the freedoms and liberties guaranteed by our nation’s forefathers.
Hawaii’s resident ohana has a long and proud tradition of service to the nation. Today, one out every five residents is a service member, veteran or family member — and thousands more serve in civilian capacities in direct support of or in service to the military.
This is a time to remember that Hawaii’s veteran ohana served in every modern war engaged by American troops, starting with World War I in Europe from 1914 to 1918 and followed by World War II in the 1940s, when Hawaii’s sons and daughters were called to combat in both Europe and the Pacific.
The Korean War erupted during the early 1950s, followed by the bitter Vietnam War that extended from the 1960s to 1975. Hawaii’s veterans served in all of these conflicts.
Hawaii’s prominent place in U.S. military history began prior to World War II when the Hawaii National Guard was called upon to form the US Army’s 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions at Schofield Barracks. Following the fateful Pearl Harbor attack by naval air forces of Japan on Dec. 7, 1941, that started World War II, the U.S. Army removed all former Hawaii Guard soldiers of Japanese ancestry who were enlisted into the 24th and 25th divisions.
This removal action eventually led to the formation of the U.S. Army’s most highly decorated combat units in World War II: the all-Hawaii Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion, with its haunting unit slogan "Remember Pearl Harbor," followed by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, consisting of Japanese-Americans, the fighting "Go For Broke" Nisei unit.
The Army later formed other units of Japanese-Americans to serve as intelligence analysts in the Pacific theater with the Military Intelligence Service, and as construction specialists with the 1399th Engineering Battalion.
Americans of Japanese ancestry had rallied by the thousands to volunteer for combat service and prove their loyalty to the United States in much the same freedom-fighting spirit as America’s forefathers.
Our sons and daughters of today continue to follow the exemplary path set by Hawaii’s veterans. The 25th Infantry Division remains at Schofield Barracks and its soldiers have served multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
So have members of Hawaii’s active-duty and reserve components of the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps and the Hawaii Army National Guard and Hawaii Air National Guard.
Today, let us all be mindful of the proud and unselfish service of Hawaii’s veterans of yesteryear and today.
A quick pause in the day to pay your personal tribute to our veterans … a simple hand shake and thank you to a veteran … a silent prayer for those remaining in harm’s way … will warm the hearts of our veterans and their loved ones.