Chinese American WWII veterans await Trump's signature for medals

Chinese American soldiers march in Boston's Veterans Day Parade during World War II.

ALL THE BILL needs to honor Chinese American WWII veterans is Donald Trump's signature.

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed S. 1050, the Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act last Wednesday. 

This bipartisan legislation – led by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congressmen Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) – will recognize the unheralded contributions made by more than 18,000 Chinese American World War II veterans and award them with the Congressional Gold Medal. 

“Despite facing outright discrimination, more than 18,000 brave Chinese Americans volunteered to risk their lives to protect their fellow Americans during World War II. I’m proud my colleagues from both sides of the aisle have chosen to recognize this brave group of Veterans’ unwavering commitment and honor them with a Congressional Gold Medal,” said Duckworth.

The bill unanimously passed the Senate earlier this year and now awaits the President’s signature. 

Chinese American veterans are the latest group of Asian American veterans to receive the long-delayed recognition. Japanese Americans who fought in the famed 442nd Regiement were the first to be honored fofllowed last year by Filipino American WWII veterans.

"Like other minority service members, their contributions were not appropriately recognized during or immediately after World War II," said Hirono.

In fact, the Chinese are the only U.S. minority group that has not been recognized for their service. Native Americans and Navajo Code Talkers; Tuskegee Airman; Montford Point Marines; Women Air Force Service Pilots; have all been recognized for their service during World War II with Congressional Gold Medals along with the Japanese American and Filipino American vets.

"By proudly serving their country, even in the face of the shameful Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese American veterans exemplified patriotism and demonstrated a deep commitment to the United States," said Lieu.
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Vets' Day First Person: Families of Chinese American veterans push for Congressional Gold Medals

Descendants of Chinese American WWII vets brought photos of their fathers and grandfathers.

By Shirley Lew
ASAM NEWS

AN UNPRECDENTED GATHERING of descendants of Chinese American WWII veterans came to Manhattan’s Chinatown American Legion for a group photo to gain support of the Congressional Gold Medal Act.

Bit, along with her co-organizers, photojournalist Corky Lee and myself expected about 40-50 people to attend. However, to our amazement, we had well over 100 and ran out of chairs at the American Legion Lt. Kimlau Post 1291 and had to take three separate group photos instead of just one photo.

One woman traveled from Connecticut. Others came from New Jersey and the surrounding tri-state area. Attendees were to bring 8×10 photos of the veterans in their uniform. Some even had their discharge papers and another woman wanted to bring her 96-year-old father, a WWII veteran, but he was not able to attend due to the rain. 19- year-old Brittany Lew of NJ brought her great grandfather’s photo.

Thomas Lee, a Vietnam veteran and member of the American Legion, shared that he and his six brothers all served in the military. Holding back tears, he told the audience his oldest brother was shot in France and did not come home. What also crushed me was that he said his family did not have a car and could not afford to hire a driver to attend the funeral, but nevertheless, his father spent several weeks wages from working in the laundry business to get the family to the funeral.

I had the opportunity to explain to the audience what an average day of advocating is like at the Capitol, what is involved and what our advocating team’s language is when we are meeting with the legislative aid. I felt that this would give the general public an idea of what the process is like so that they may know what is involved to get our heroes recognized.

Attendees of the group photo shoot were encouraged to “snail mail,” tweet and or tag their Congressional members on Facebook to gain support. Making a telephone call to the Congressional members’ Washington DC office would also work in lieu of a group photo.
With only one final week planned to advocate for this bill in the Capitol, it is urgent that we get the attention of these remaining 100+ representatives to co-sponsor HR2358, not only because approximately only 50 Chinese American WWII veterans remain, but it would be symbolic that it pass in 2018, which is also the 75th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. We are so close, yet if it does not get passed, advocacy efforts will be required to start with zero support the following year, and that’s if we decide to try again

I, along with the former National Commander of the American Legion, Mr. Fang Wong and other members of the local Chinatown American Legion will be in Washington DC to advocate for co-sponsorship. This will be my third trip and and it is also the last viable week in 2018 to advocate as no one on Capitol Hill may be interested in our advocacy or any advocacy efforts of others after the mid-term elections.

We are also asking all supporters to download the image of the banner and to use that as their Facebook cover photo to bring awareness of the Congressional Gold Medal act. A big thank you to Donald Yee who donated the banner for the event.

An internet search turned up nothing similar to our gathering of descendants in the US, therefore, we are unofficially declaring this the first gathering of its kind. In Australia, descendants of Chinese Austrailian WWII veterans recently marched on Anzac Day for the first time to commemorate their ancestors’ service.______________________________________________________________________________

Filipino WWII vets running out of time to be recognized

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard  of Hawaii urges passage of HR2737.

THIS IS a critical time for Filipino veterans of World War II in their quest for recognition. If 
they get the Congressional Gold Medal for their service, the act that would grant them that honor would have to be passed before Congress breaks for the holidays.

"Time is of the essence for Congress to pass this legislation and honor these courageous men with the long overdue recognition they deserve,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii.


“Too long have our veterans been unrewarded for their valiant service to this country, said Johanna Puno Hester, national president of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. "This is such an important piece of legislation that would send waves to the Filipino and Filipino American communities on the significant role we’ve played (and continue to play) in American history.”

If the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 is not approved before a new Congress convenes in January, the whole legislative process would have to start over again. In the meantime, more of the elderly veterans will pass away before they receive that honor.

“Congressional Gold Medal bills require two-thirds of the House, or at least 290 members, to sign on to the bill before it can move forward," said Gabbard." I’m happy to report ... that we’ve exceeded this with 309 co-sponsors, with colleagues representing both parties and nearly every state and territory in our nation supporting legislation to recognize these men for their service and sacrifice.” 

Last week, U.S. House of Representative Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced that the House would vote on the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 – a vote that could happen as early as Nov. 29.

RELATED: 

• Senate passes bill to honor WWII Filipino vets
• Obama opens the door to Filipino veterans

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) urges members of the House to pass the bill and recognize our veterans who thus far been unrecognized and denied rights and privileges for their service.

APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana added: “We’re calling all hands on deck. The Senate already passed the bill earlier this year, and we need to continue to pressure our representatives in the House to ensure the bill goes to President Obama. It’s time to put our foot on the gas, not step on the brakes.”

The Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 would award Filipino veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor by Congress.

Senate bill S1555, which was already passed by the Senate, and House bill HR2737 will impact veterans who fought and were assigned in the Philippine Scouts, Philippine Commonwealth Army, Philippine Constabulary, New Philippine Scouts, Recognized Guerrillas, First Filipino Infantry Regiment, 2nd Filipino Infantry Battalion (Separate), and First Reconnaissance Battalion. The bills also include US Army officers (Caucasians) who commanded in the units. 

Over 260,000 Filipinos fought to defend the U.S. in World War II. "We think there are about 16,000 to 17,000 still alive from some 260,000 who fought back in WWII," said retired Gen. Antoino Taguba, who has lobbied Congress on the bill's behalf.

To support the campaign:

• Call members of the House Leadership to make sure our bill passes. Find contact information here: http://www.filvetrep.org/take-action/
• Share our social media outreach on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with your network and use the hashtag #FilVets and #FilVetREP

“Despite their critical role in the Pacific, Filipino World War II veterans have never been recognized by Congress for their service," said Tulsi, who is one of the sponsors of the House bill. "We’ve waited far too long to recognize these heroes alongside units like the Tuskeegee Airmen and Hawaii’s own 442nd/100th Infantry Battalion with the Congressional Gold Medal."