San Francisco, CA, Wednesday, November 2, 2011—The Chinese American Citizens Alliance salutes the courageous and proud Japanese American veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service on being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their tenacious service during World War II.  During ceremonies on Capitol Hill Wednesday to pay tribute to the surviving Nisei, second generation Japanese Americans, each earned what is considered, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. 

Grand President Carolyn H. Chan acknowledged, “With the heroic efforts of these Japanese American soldiers and that of many other Asian American servicemen during that difficult and awful time, our country has at long last recognized their immense contribution and steadfast patriotism in times of intense prejudice on home soil and a determined enemy on foreign soil.  It was an unfortunate time when these men served a country that had also interned them and their family members, yet had to prove beyond any shadow of a doubt their loyalty and patriotism.”

The Alliance also applauds Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) in pushing the Senate and House versions of the bill granting the Congressional Gold Medal to these soldiers.  “You fought World War II on two fronts,” Sen. Boxer of California told the veterans, quoting former President Harry Truman.  “You fought not only your enemy; you fought prejudice, and you won.”