ASAM NEWS
The Citizens Coin Advisory Committee has recommended a design for the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American World War II veterans.
On Sept. 18, the committee reviewed over a dozen designs each for both sides of the medal before making its recommendation to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to Coin World.
The CCAC recommended an obverse side that depicts Chinese American servicemen and a nurse. The recommended reverse side sets a World War II American flag behind an Iowa class battleship, and M4 Sherman tank and a P-40 Warhawk from the Flying Tigers.
According to the Chinese-American World War II Veteran Congressional Gold Medal Act, Congress finds that “Chinese Americans served the United States in every conflict since the Civil War, and distinguished themselves in World War II, serving in every theater of war and every branch of service, earning citations for their heroism and honorable service, including the Medal of Honor.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-ILL, sponsored the bill which called Congress to award this collective honor to Chinese American WWII veterans. It was introduced in the Senate in 2017 and became Public Law 115-337 in December of 2018.
OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates president Sharon Wong said in a 2018 press release that the recognition was “very timely,” given that the law passed following the 75th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
“Over 20,000 Chinese-Americans served their nation and sacrificed their lives for the sake of our freedom. Although many of the veterans are no longer with us, it is still poignant that they have been recognized by their country for their service,” Wong added in the statement.
The law dictates that after the medal is formally awarded in honor of the veterans, it will be given to the Smithsonian Institution to be displayed and made available for research.
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