In a poignant event scheduled for Monday in Honolulu, seven Japanese American soldiers will receive posthumous promotions to officer ranks. This honorary ceremony comes eight decades after these brave individuals lost their lives fighting for the United States during World War II, despite being unjustly labeled as “enemy aliens.”
These seven soldiers were originally students at the University of Hawaii and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps, on their way to becoming Army officers. Their path took a dramatic turn when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Following the attack, most Japanese Americans were barred from military service and classified as enemy aliens, disrupting their military ambitions.
Instead of succumbing to this prejudice, the cadets joined a civilian labor battalion known as the “Varsity Victory Volunteers.” This group undertook various labor-intensive tasks such as digging ditches and breaking rocks. Their perseverance paid off in early 1943 when American leaders established a segregated Japanese American regiment, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which these cadets joined.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, alongside the predominantly Japanese American 100th Battalion from Hawaii, emerged as one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history. These soldiers fought courageously for the Allies, all the while knowing that many of their own family members were unjustly detained in internment camps due to unfounded fears.
Reflecting on this legacy, 1st Sgt. Nakoa Hoe of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regiment, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the sacrifices of these heroic forefathers. He noted that the once-segregated unit now celebrates a diverse mix of cultures, representing progress and unity.
“These individuals gave so much during a time of profound challenge, when their devotion to the country was questioned and their families faced imprisonment,” Hoe remarked, underscoring the deep significance of this overdue recognition.
The seven men — Daniel Betsui, Jenhatsu Chinen, Robert Murata, Grover Nagaji, Akio Nishikawa, Hiroichi Tomita and Howard Urabe — died fighting in Europe in 1944. All but Murata were killed during the campaign to liberate Italy from Nazi Germany. Murata was killed by an artillery shell in eastern France.
They will be promoted Monday to 2nd lieutenant, the rank they would have had if they completed the ROTC program. Relatives of at least some of the men are expected to attend the ceremony, scheduled to be held in a Honolulu park.
Even though Hawaii was not yet a state, the cadets were American citizens because they were born in Hawaii after its annexation in 1898.
“Fighting an injustice at home, these seven men later gave their lives fighting on the battlefields of Europe,” said a news release from U.S. Army Pacific. “They were unable to return to school and finish their commissioning efforts.”
Monday’s ceremony capping efforts to honor the men comes amid growing concern and criticism that President Donald Trump’s administration is whitewashing American history ahead of the nation celebrating 250 years of its independence, including last week’s removal of an exhibit on slavery at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park.
Last year, the Pentagon said internet pages honoring a Black Medal of Honor winner and Japanese American service members were mistakenly taken down — but it staunchly defended its overall campaign to strip out content singling out the contributions by women and minority groups, which the Trump administration considers “DEI.”
Honoring the seven isn’t about DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — but recognizing them for their merit and that “they served in the ultimate capacity of giving their lives for the country,” said Lt. Col. Jerrod Melander, who previously led the University of Hawaii’s ROTC program as professor of military science.
Melander said he launched the commissioning effort in 2023 during former President Joe Biden’s administration and that the promotions were approved last year during the Trump administration.
The university awarded the men posthumous degrees in 2012. Laura Lyons, interim vice provost for academic excellence at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, called their promotions especially important.
“Everyone’s contribution to and sacrifice for the ideals of freedom and the security of this country should matter and should be acknowledged, regardless of who they are,” Lyons said.
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