Photo By Staff Sgt. Mark Miranda | Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment sit down to lunch with Japanese...... read more read more
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SEATTLE - Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducted a social event with the Nisei Veterans Committee Sept. 20 at the Seattle NVC Foundation.
The soldiers traveled from Yakima Training Center to Seattle for the event, one of the last for Operation Rising Thunder 2014.
The NVC hosted the event and several guests, to include 7th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, and Col. Noboru Hayabuchi, deputy commander of 12th Division, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, attended.
The NVC is committed to sharing the story of the Japanese-American soldier. Their credo is “Honor the past, educate the future."
A memorial wall built outside the NVC Foundation building includes the names of Nisei veterans both living and those killed in action from past wars.
As soldiers from both Japan and the U.S. arrived at the NVC Hall, they were shown into rooms where they could meet with Nisei veterans and share stories or look at artifacts from past wars in which Japanese-Americans served.
“To the Soldiers, no matter what uniform you wear today just look around; we have the past and the present, who are setting the conditions for the future," Ferrell said in opening remarks.
“The training we have done and the strong relations with our two nations are good. The example set by the Nisei shows us that whatever we are asked to do, we can endure.”
Hayabuchi, on behalf of the JGSDF soldiers here for Rising Thunder, expressed his thanks for the invitation to the event.
“It’s an honor to be invited to this reception; I’m pleased to finish Rising Thunder knowing our troops in the (JGSDF) have achieved success beyond our expectations thanks to the hospitable support of our U.S. partners,” Hayabuchi said.
The guest speaker for the event was Sam Mitsui, a World War II veteran.
Mitsui fought in Europe as a soldier in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a unit composed of Japanese-American "Nisei" (second generation) enlisted men that became one of the most highly-decorated regiments in the history of the U.S. armed forces.
The motto of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was "Go for Broke," which was derived from a phrase used by craps shooters risking all their money in one roll of the dice.
Mitsui told stories of overcoming prejudice in the military, and of the little-known group of Nisei who served in the military intelligence service during World War II for the Pacific War.
Several of those Nisei served in SEATIC, the Southeast Asia Translation and Interrogation Center under Gen. Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, a previous commander of 7th Infantry Division.
“We are impressed to hear of the Nisei devoting themselves to the mission with the brave and graceful mindset of ‘Yamato-Damashii’ or the Japanese spirit; loyalty in defiance of your unfortunate situation,” Hayabuchi said. “The Nisei played active roles in various positions and places during wartime to become among the most respected veterans in this country.”
The afternoon closed out with Inochi Taiko, a Japanese drumming group who provided entertainment with a festival drum performance.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2014 13:07 |
| Story ID: | 143017 |
| Location: | SEATTLE, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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