November 9, 2011
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Japanese-American
Military Honored
UP Campus
Celebrates
Veterans
Served in World War II as
families endured hardships
(AP) — Thousands of Japanese-
Americans who fought in the fierc­
est battles of World War II and
became some of the most decorated
soldiers in the nation’s history were
given an overdue thank-you from
their country last Wednesday when
Congress awarded them its highest
civilian honor.
Nearly seven decades after the
war, Congress awarded three Army
units the C o n g ressio n al G old
Medal, In all, about 19,000 Japa­
nese-Americans served in the units
that were honored at a ceremony
W ednesday: the 100th Infantry
Battalion, the 442nd Regimental
Combat Team and theMilitary Intel­ Veteran and Medal of Honor
ligence Service.
recipient George Joe Sakato of
"This has been a long journey, Denver.
but a glorious one," said Sen. Daniel leaders in Los Angeles. When the
Inouye, D-Hawaii., who lost his right federal government authorized the
arm fighting with the 442nd and was relocation of people with Japanese
one of the honorees.
ancestry, a sister and some of his
About 1,250 people attended the friends were sent to internment
award ceremony at the Capitol. camps.
About a quarter of those present
"We were blackballed," Sakai
were former soldiers, now in their said. "Basically, they took away our
80s and 90s.
citizenship."
"We wanted to show American
Sakai’s story is similar to thou­
citizens that we loved our country," sands of other "Nisei," or second-
Hiroshi Kaku said. "We were bom generation Japanese-Am ericans.
and raised here."
Even as they fought in Europe, many
After Japan's attack on Pearl Japanese-American troops had fam­
Harbor, Japanese-Americans were ily members who would spend much
view ed with suspicion. Nearly of the war in U.S. internment camps.
110,000 were sent to internment American officials, citing concerns
camps. Lawson Sakai learned how that those of Japanese ancestry
much the world had changed for could be security risks during war
Japanese-Americans when he drove with Japan, sent men, women and
with some of his buddies to the local children to camps around the coun­
Navy recruiting station and tried to try.
enlist. While his white friends were
President Harry Truman wel­
quickly accepted, Sakai was con­ comed home many of the Japanese-
sidered an "enemy alien" and could American soldiers in 1946: "You
not join.
fought not only the enemy, but you
Sakai then watched as the FBI fought prejudice, and you have
rounded up Japanese-A m erican won."
Brigadier General David
Enyeart will be the featured
speaker at the University of
Portland’s annual Veterans Day
ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday,
Nov. 11. The event will follow
a 24-hour candlelight vigil, 21-
gun salute and an Air Force je t
flyover at the Praying Hands
Memorial located in the quad
between Kenna Hall and
Christie Hall on campus.
Sponsored by the University's
Air Force and Army ROTC
programs, the celebration will
recognize campus members
who have served during times
of war, including WW// and
Vietnam veterans. Gen.
Enyeart enlisted in the U.S.
Army in October 1978. He has
served in multiple command
positions during his military
career and is currently the
Chief of Police in Toledo, Ore.
F YOUR HOGGIN
DOWNRIGHT,
YOUR HOGGIN'
.
DOWNHERE
Oregon Excels with Veterans
The University of Oregon has
been identified as a top military
friendly school by G.I. Jobs maga­
zine. The honor puts the UO in the
top 20 percent of col leges, universi­
ties and trade schools nationwide,
according to the magazine.
The UO provides support ser­
vices to military veterans and family
members and is one of 12 universi­
ties serving as a Tillman Military
Scholar University Partner for the
2011-2012 academic year.
Five University of Oregon stu­
dents were awarded a total of $29,000
in scholarships from the Tillman
Military Scholars for the 2011 -2012
academic year. The organization was
established in honor of the NFL
player who left his athletic career to
serve in the U.S. Army and was
killed in Afghanistan.
“The UO provides many services
to military veterans and families,
which in part is what led to the
recognition on the top military
friendly school list and our associa­
tion with the Tillman Foundation,’’
said Gretchen Jewett, director of
nontraditional and veterans educa­
tion support. “We are part of a sup­
portive community and aim to help
all students achieve success on
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