HR0921 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0921 LRB097 21031 KXB 68337 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On January 19, 1942, 6 weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy, second-generation Americans of Japanese ancestry, Nisei, were reclassified by the Selective Service as "4C," enemy aliens, ineligible to be drafted; and

WHEREAS, On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066, which authorized the Secretary of War and his designees to exclude any and all persons from prescribed military zones; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 9066 was the basis for General John L. DeWitt, Commander of the Western Defense Command, to forcibly remove over 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry, over 70% American-born citizens, from parts of Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona and detain them for nearly 3 years without charges or trials; and

WHEREAS, On June 5, 1942, the War Department activated the 100th Infantry Battalion, a racially-segregated unit composed of Nisei volunteers from Hawaii, that fought in the European Theater and became known as the Purple Heart Battalion due to its high casualty rate; and

WHEREAS, The War Department established the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a racially-segregated unit composed of Nisei volunteers from confinement sites used to detain Americans of Japanese ancestry, known as War Relocation Centers; and

WHEREAS, The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which came to include the 100th Infantry Battalion, spearheaded numerous battles, fought valiantly and courageously, and is widely regarded as the most decorated unit in American history for its size and length of service, with its members having earned 7 Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars, and over 4,000 Purple Hearts; and

WHEREAS, President Harry S. Truman, while presenting the seventh Presidential Unit Citation on the White House lawn, aptly observed, "You have fought not only the enemy, but prejudice, and you have won"; and

WHEREAS, The Military Intelligence Service was made up of approximately 6,000 Nisei soldiers attached to combat units in the Pacific Theater where they intercepted radio transmissions, translated enemy documents, interrogated enemy prisoners of war, volunteered for reconnaissance and covert intelligence missions, and persuaded enemy combatants to surrender; and

WHEREAS, The Military Intelligence Service soldiers served during the post-war occupation of Japan, assisting Japan in a peaceful transition to a democratic form of government and helping to win a lasting peace; and

WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives and United States Senate unanimously passed Public Law 11-254 on October 5, 2010, which was signed by President Barack Obama, conferring the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest civilian honor, to members of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service at a national ceremony held at Emancipation Hall in Washington, D.C., on November 2, 2011; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the many veterans that served with the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service, there were many other Japanese-American veterans that served this country during World War II; through the sacrifice and dedication of Japanese-American Veterans, negative attitudes and stereotypes were changed about these brave people; and

WHEREAS, The Japanese-American veterans of World War II are being honored at a special event, the Nikkei World War II Tribute, on Sunday, April 22, 2012, sponsored by the Chicago Japanese American Citizens League, Chicago Nisei Post 1183, the Chicago Japanese American Council, the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, the Japanese American Service Committee, and the Japanese Mutual Aid Association; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the Japanese-American veterans of World War II and thank them for their service to the country; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented and read at the Nikkei World War II Tribute on Sunday, April 22, 2012 as a symbol of our respect and esteem.