Hawaii gets to say thanks 1 more time

The Japanese-American veterans — now in their 90s — wore their never-ending allegiance Sunday in the red, white and blue star lei around their necks and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team caps on their heads.

Then as now, that loyalty is to America.

Some 61 of the World War II veterans were in attendance at the Pacific Beach Hotel for the 73rd-anniversary banquet Sunday commemorating the establishment of the unit, said event co-chairman Irvin Yoshino.

Yoshino noted the theme was “The Legacy Begins,” and with the aging veterans dying off, the responsibility to perpetuate their history is falling to succeeding generations.

“Go for Broke” was the motto of the 442nd, an Army unit composed of second-generation Japanese-American nisei from Hawaii and the mainland. Their accomplishments in Italy and France — while often facing discrimination at home — were the stuff of legend.

The 442nd is the most decorated unit of its size in U.S. military history, with 18,000 men earning 9,486 Purple Hearts, 21 Medals of Honor and seven Presidential Unit Citations.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, one of the speakers, called the gathered veterans “an incredible celebration of our living treasures.”

“And every day that we get the chance to say ‘thank you’ for your incredible bravery, for the example that you’ve set and the service and sacrifice that you and your family members have given to all of us — every day we get the chance to do that is a very special day,” Gabbard said.

The commemoration, including an Okinawan instrumental group performing traditional music, reflected the blend of Japanese and American cultures that evolved in Hawaii, while the veterans themselves were, as always, modest about their contributions to the war effort.

Harold Nakasone, 95, a member of Cannon Company, said one notable accomplishment was the 442nd’s rescue of the Texas “Lost Battalion,” which was surrounded by Germans in the Vosges Mountains in France in late 1944. After five days of battle, the 442nd broke through, rescuing 211 men while suffering over 800 casualties.

“They were very, very grateful,” Nakasone recalled. “In fact, some of them commented that they were so happy to see a Japanese guy!” he added with a laugh.

“It was a duty that we had to do, so we did it,” he said. “It wasn’t something special, I don’t think. It just happened that we were in a position to help.”

It took others to highlight the nisei soldier’s accomplishments — both on the battlefield and off. The equally well-known 100th Infantry Battalion was attached to the 442nd in 1944.

“Those in the 442nd and 100th came back, and they changed Hawaii forever in many, many good ways,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

The war years were “an incredible challenge to Japanese-Americans, particularly in Hawaii and on the West Coast,” Caldwell said, adding, “The story of the 442nd is how you respond to that challenge.”

Among those fighting for America was 2nd Lt. Daniel Inouye, who lost an arm charging German machine-gun nests and went on to become a powerful U.S. senator. Inouye died in late 2012. His son, Ken, was the emcee for Sunday’s commemoration.

Kazuo Tomasa, 92, a medic with the 442nd, said he was born in Kahuku, graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute, went to the University of Hawaii — and was an American through and through.

“We were at that time Americans, you know?” Tomasa said of the war years. “We fought for America.”