Speech #900118824

Pearson didis an affront to this group who gave not only their sons to this countrys defense but also gave the best years of their lives to help build the prosperous Hawaii of today. They cast their lot with America a long time before social security. In World War II. after Pearl Harbor. the Japanese immigrant parents In Hawaii encouraged their Americanborn sons to volunteer for military service. It was with great pride and a deep sense of gratitude to their adopted country that the older Japanese urged their sons to take up arms for the United States. Their loyalty and patriotism come not from social security checks but from the fact that the immigrant peoples adopted the United States as their country when their children were born as American citizens. were educated in American schools. grew up as Americans and. when put to a test. willingly served in American uniform as a demonstration of their devotion to the country which offered them opportunity and advancement. In 1943. when the War Department authorized the formation of the 442d Regimental Combat Team. to be composed of all AmericanJapanese. the call went out for 2.500 volunteers in Hawaii. Five times that number of AmericanJapanese from the islands responded.