Japanese American soldiers once branded 'enemy aliens' to be promoted posthumously
Source: AP
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Updated 5:03 AM CST, January 26, 2026
HONOLULU (AP) — Seven Japanese American soldiers will be promoted to officer ranks in a solemn ceremony Monday, eight decades after they died fighting for the U.S. during World War II despite having been branded “enemy aliens.”
The seven were students at the University of Hawaii and cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, on track to become Army officers, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. They initially served in the Hawaii Territorial Guard, but soon after the attack the U.S. barred most Japanese Americans from service and deemed them enemy aliens.
The seven cadets instead worked with a civilian labor battalion known as “Varsity Victory Volunteers,” which performed tasks such as digging ditches and breaking rocks, until American leaders in early 1943 announced the formation of a segregated Japanese American regiment. The seven were among those who joined the unit, known as the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
The combat team, along with the 100th battalion comprised of mostly Japanese Americans from Hawaii, went on to become one of the most decorated units in U.S. history. Some of its soldiers fought for the Allies even as their relatives were detained in Japanese American internment camps because they were considered a public danger.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/japanese-american-soldiers-pearl-harbor-761bc45b9a95f9b7be6ea6786ffca6cf
= new reply since forum marked as read
Curious minds want to know. I'm sure they were handled just as fairly as the Japanese Americans. 
I'm sure the rest of the Asian American population incurred the wrath of the righteous Americans.
Don't get me wrong, Japan was wrong and had to pay the price but we as Americans really need to accept the responsibility that comes with the privilege of being a uniquely diversified Country. Otherwise, those that disagree violently should really consider going back to the Country from which their ancestors originated, for their own peace of mind and safety.
You intolerant bigots are the true foreigners that choose to not follow the laws set out in our Constitution. Just because you personally, didn't cross a border or ocean to get here doesn't mean you're not an enemy of America. That goes for every Republican, every billionaire and everybody part of this Administration. Simply put, if you don't like it, leave it.
To stay beyond the term of this Administration is to accept the consequences of the justice that will be meted out.
Follow up after receiving supplemental information:
Over 11,00 German Americans were put in camps vs over 120,000 Japanese Americans. Japanese Americans were targeted based on ethnicity where as the German Americans were targeted based on suspicious Nazi activity following investigations.
This information was derived from a quick check of the internet for my convenience so make of it what you will. I stand by my original statement but less vehemently. There was definitely different treatment but not to the degree that I originally implied.
I didn't know that and now I will do some research. I hate being incorrect but I honestly never heard that nor was taught that information. I will edit or delete following research. Once again, thank you.
The 100th/442nd is historically the army's most decorated unit for it's size.
https://www.goforbroke.org/
