HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 503 Draft 01 2006-2008 „tv or
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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
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RESOLUTION NO. 503 0~
RESOLUTION URGING THE CREATION OF A JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD
WAR II VETERANS COMMEMORATIVE STAMP.
WHEREAS, over 20,000 Americans of Japanese Ancestry (AJA) enlisted in the United
States Army during World War II, many from "internment camps", despite the prejudice
generated after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; and
WHEREAS, AJA soldiers served in a number of capacities in the United States Army
during the World Waz II era, both at home and abroad, many of whom were born and raised here
in Hawaii County; and
WHEREAS, AJA solders freed and aided victims from the Nazi German concentration
camp at Dachau, even while many of these soldiers themselves had family members being
detained within the United States; and
WHEREAS, the 100a' Infantry and 442na Regimental Combat Team, comprised of AJA
soldiers, rescued over 200 fellow American soldiers in the battle known as the "Lost Battalion",
which was acknowledged to be one of the most prominent battles in United States Army history;
and
WHEREAS, this Regimental Combat Team of AJA soldiers, also known as the "Go for
Broke" regiment, was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in United States
military history; and
WHEREAS, the Military Intelligence Service, comprised of AJA interpreters, linguists,
and combat soldiers, and their knowledge of Japanese language and culture, was estimated by
General Douglas McArthur's intelligence chief, Major General Charles A. Willoughby, to have
shortened the war by at least two years and saved countless lives; and
WHEREAS, AJA soldiers earned 21 Medals of Honor, an unprecedented nine
Presidential Unit Citations, 9,486 Purple Hearts, and 5,200 Bronze Stazs for their sacrifices
during World War II; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress would later apologize for the en masse World
War II incazceration of American citizens and permanent residents of Japanese ancestry as "a
grave injustice" that grew mainly from "racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and failure of
political leadership" as stated in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, signed into law by President
Ronald Reagan; and
WHEREAS, this resolution is in keeping with the United States Postal Service's
tradition of honoring war veterans with commemorative stamps; now, therefore, ,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, that it
hereby supports the national campaign for a United States commemorative stamp honoring the
significant contributions of the soldiers of American-born children of Japanese immigrants in the
United States Army during World War II; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the council hereby recognizes that the AJA
soldiers are a shining example of patriotic sacrifice in our Nation's history, who served with
outstanding valor despite war hysteria and overt racism; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to
Barbara Watanabe, Executive Director, Nisei Veterans Memorial Center; the Honorable George
W. Bush, President of the United States; the Hawaii delegation to the United States Congress;
John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service Citizens' Stamp Advisory
Committee; Office of Veterans' Services, State Department of Defense; the Regional Office of
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; the Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor of the
State of Hawaii; Bazbaza Marshall, Council Chair, City and County of Honolulu; Bill Asing,
Council Chair, County of Kauai; G. Riki Hokama, Council Chair, County of Maui; and the
Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor of the County of Hawaii.
Dated at Kona Hawaii, this 21st day of Fehr„arlr , 2008.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL M E ,COUNT HAW I`
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii Aves Noes Ass ex
Hilo, Hawaii FORD X
RIGA X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOFFMANN g
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the IKEDA g
County ofHawai`ion February 21, 2008
JACOBSON X
NAEOLE X
ATTEST: PILAGO
YAGONG g
- ~ YOSHIMOTO g
8 0 1 0
Reference: C-949/PWIRC -52
~O TY CLERK CHAIRMA CER RESOLUTION NO.
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