Japanese American soldiers once branded 'enemy aliens' to be promoted posthumously

"HONOLULU -- Seven Japanese American soldiers will be promoted to officer ranks in a solemn ceremony Monday, eight decades after they died fighting for the U.S. during World War II despite having been branded "enemy aliens." The seven were students at the University of Hawaii and cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, on track to become Army officers, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941."

"The seven cadets instead worked with a civilian labor battalion known as "Varsity Victory Volunteers," which performed tasks such as digging ditches and breaking rocks, until American leaders in early 1943 announced the formation of a segregated Japanese American regiment. The seven were among those who joined the unit, known as the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The combat team, along with the 100th battalion comprised of mostly Japanese Americans from Hawaii, went on to become one of the most decorated units in U.S. history. Some of its soldiers fought for the Allies even as their relatives were detained in Japanese American internment camps because they were considered a public danger."

Seven Japanese American soldiers will be promoted to officer ranks in a ceremony eight decades after they died fighting for the U.S. in World War II. They were University of Hawaii ROTC cadets who were on track to become Army officers when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and were later branded enemy aliens and barred from service. They served in the Hawaii Territorial Guard, then joined the civilian labor battalion known as "Varsity Victory Volunteers," performing manual tasks until early 1943 when a segregated Japanese American regiment was formed. The seven joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which with the 100th Battalion became one of the most decorated U.S. units, and some soldiers fought while relatives were detained in internment camps. 1st Sgt. Nakoa Hoe noted the once-segregated unit now includes many cultures and emphasized recognizing forefathers and veterans.

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