Remembering and honoring AANHPI veterans on this day

Chinese American oseph Pierce served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Asian Americans have served in the US military since the Civil War, according to the Library of Congress. 

Immigrants from Asian have a long history of service in the United States military. One of the first  soldiers was Joseph Pierce (E). He signed up for Company F of the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry (E) on July 26, 1862, 9 days after the Militia Act took effect. He reached the rank of corporal before retiring.

Some scholars say the history of Asians coming to the defense of their adopted country goes back to the War of 1812, when Filipinos residing in Louisiana, referred to as "Manilamen" residing near the city of New Orleans, including the Manila Village, were among the "Baratarians", a group of men who fought with Jean Lafitte and Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

RELATED: WWII Filipino American veterans who raised me

Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Filipino, and other Asian Americans fought for both the Union and Confederacy in the Civil War. Many Asian immigrants served in the Navy (E), as this was the only branch that readily accepted immigrant recruits. Furthermore, many Asian Americans had sea experience from working on cargo ships and fishing.

According to the US Census, 264,695 Asian Americans have served our nation while another 27,469 are Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander military veterans. 1 in 3 Asian American military Veterans were 65 and older; and 1 in 5 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Veterans were 65 and older. 

FYI: Learn more about AANHPI veterans.

For Active Duty Military, 52,433 Asian Americans Active Duty including by 8,854 Officers and 43,579 Enlisted; There are 8793 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Active Duty Members including 486 Officers and 8,307 Enlisted. 

The first Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) to reach general officer rank was Brigadier General Albert Lyman, part Chinese American and Native Hawaiian, was the commanding general of the 32nd Army Division that fought in the Leyte campaigns in the Philippines in World War II. The highest ranking AANHPI in the military was Eric K. Shinseki, who was the former Army Chief of Staff.

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