Bataan Celebrates Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

05.26.2017

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Strong 

USS Bataan (LHD 5)

5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS –The crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan will commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) heritage month during a ceremony May 27.

During the ceremony, Bataan’s crew will hear cultural stories, watch a documentary, and enjoy cake and ice cream on the mess decks.
This year’s theme is “Unite Our Voices by Speaking Together,” encouraging Asian Pacific communities to join together to overcome misconceptions and stereotypes about the vibrant and diverse AAPI community and improve representation in the workplace by communicating the benefits of a diverse workforce.

“I think it’s a great theme,” added Philippine native, Fireman Lean Tality, “The Philippines has a lot of different dialects, but we can still come together as one and be united on important matters.”

The U.S. military embodies this theme as the armed forces are made up of many different cultures and religious backgrounds. Understanding where our fellow service members come from and how their cultural backgrounds come together help create an elite fighting force.

Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage month highlights their contributions and sacrifices made throughout U.S. history.

Directed by congress in 1977 and established by presidential proclamation in 1978, Asian and Pacific American Heritage Week was first observed the week of May 4, 1979. President George H.W. Bush expanded the observance to include the whole month of May. May commemorates the arrival date of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S., on May 7, 1843, as well as the significant contributions from Chinese pioneers completing the first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.

This month honors what AAPIs have done for our country, and allows them to impart others about their history, culture and the sacrifices that have been made.

“I want people to understand my culture,” stated Ship’s Serviceman 1st Class Ieong Chan. “It’s important because I’m American now, and because of that I think that makes our country and military stronger than other countries.”

Similarly, Tality wishes others to be more informed about his culture.
“I want people to learn that even though the Philippines consist of 7,107 islands, it has very a wide variety of cultures,” added Tality. “We still have respect and understanding of each other's cultures and ways of life and that makes our country united.”

For the ship, AAPI month has special meaning as the ship’s namesake comes from the Battle of Bataan, where 120,000 Americans and Filipinos took up arms together to fight in the battle during World War II.

We celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage month because of what we contribute to this country,” said Chan. “We’ve done so much for the U.S. and maybe people don’t know, but we’re here as a backbone.”

As this month draws to a close, Bataan remembers the heritage, contributions and sacrifices of Asian-American and Pacific Islanders and celebrates the diversity and strengths they bring to our military and our country as a whole.

Bataan and its ready group are deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners, and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.

• Date Taken: 05.26.2017
• Date Posted: 05.26.2017 08:46
• Story ID: 235424
• Location: U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY