WASHINGTON — The Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) is honored to host a commemorative ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the historic return of the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Com-bat Team from Europe.
The event will take place on Tuesday, July 15, at 9 a.m. EDT, at the Price of Freedom Wall at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
This anniversary reflects a pivotal moment in American history. On July 15, 1946, President Harry S. Truman welcomed the soldiers of the 100th/442nd at the Ellipse near the White House. Despite the rain, Truman honored the unit with its seventh Presidential Unit Citation, recognizing their extraordinary heroism during World War II. Addressing the troops, he declared:
“You fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice — and you have won. Keep up that fight, and we will continue to win — to make this great republic stand for just what the Constitution says it stands for: the welfare of all the people all the time.”
Composed primarily of Nisei, the 100th/442nd became the most decorated units for its size and length of service in U.S. military history. Their valor in Europe and the contributions of the Military Intelligence Service in the Pacific not only helped shape the outcome of the war but also laid a foundation for the advancement of civil rights for Japanese Americans in the postwar era.
The July 15 ceremony will include a wreath-laying in honor of the 33,000 Japanese American men and women who served during World War II. JAVA is privileged to welcome Col. (U.S. Army, retired) Paris Davis, Medal of Honor recipient, who will offer remarks reflecting on the legacy of the Nisei soldiers of the 100th/442nd.
This annual observance — known as the Day of Affirmation — is a tribute to the enduring values of courage, loyalty, and equality. The event will be live-streamed on JAVA’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JapaneseAmericanVeteransAssociation/ and on the JAVA website at www.java-us.org.