[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   DISCRIMINATION IN THE MARINE CORPS

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, Bruce Yamashita, a 
Japanese-American from Hawaii, was on the brink of earning his 
commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps 
when he was abruptly discharged for leadership failure.
  However, tomorrow morning, Mr. Yamashita, who was born and raised in 
Hawaii, won his commission after proving that he was the target of 
vicious racial and ethnic harassment during his 10-week officer 
training program.
  According to Marine records, Marine Corps instructors taunted Mr. 
Yamashita about his heritage and at one point told him: ``We don't want 
your kind around here. Go back to your own country.''
  This attitude of discrimination extends to the highest level of the 
Marine Corps. Last October, the Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. Carl E. 
Mundy told the TV news program ``Sixty Minutes'' that ``Marine Officers 
who are minorities do not shoot, swim or use compasses as well as white 
officers.''
  Although General Mundy has apologized for his remarks, I am deeply 
troubled that a military officer of this calibre did not choose his 
words a little more carefully on this very sensitive issue.
  Mr. Yamashita, rightfully, fought back and after two separate 
inquiries, the Marine Corps Inspector General, Maj. Gen. Hollis 
Davison, said that Mr. Yamashita was ``subjected to ethnic 
insensitivity'' and apologized. But General Davison who since retired, 
also concluded that Mr. Yamashita would have failed the program anyway.
  Mr. Speaker, for the record, I would like to point out that Mr. 
Yamashita is a descendent of Japanese-American soldiers who served 
during the second world war as members of the 100th Battalion and the 
442d Infantry Combat Group, and whose record to this day, is without 
equal. The 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry, made up completely of 
Japanese-Americans, remains the most decorated unit of its size in the 
history of the United States Army. During World War II, the unit 
suffered 314 percent casualties, earned more than 18,000 individual 
decorations, participated in 6 campaigns, and received 7 Distinguished 
Unit Citations. In addition, this infantry unit also earned 9,846 
purple hearts, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, 22 Legion of Merit 
Medals, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 bronze stars--1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters 
in lieu of second Bronze Stars, and 1 Congressional Medal of Honor.

                              {time}  2150

  Mr. Speaker, these are Mr. Yamashita's people who General Mundy said, 
``can't shoot straight.''?
  The significance of Mr. Yamashita's case extends far beyond his 
personal plight. His challenge prompted the Marine Corps to discover, 
during a review in 1992, that members of minorities drop out of its 
officer training program at a higher rate than white officers.
  Why is that?
  Anyone who reads the record could easily surmise that there has been 
a deliberate effort on the part of the Marine Corps to weed out 
minorities from their officer training program.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the action of Navy Secretary John H. Dalton, 
who overruled the Marines and authorized that Mr. Yamashita be 
commissioned a captain which would have been his likely rank had he 
been commissioned in 1989.
  Under the Navy Department's offer, Mr. Yamashita would be placed in 
the Standby Reserves, the last echelon of military reservists who are 
kept in an unpaid backup capacity.
  I also commend Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Mr. Speaker, for his 
tenacity in fighting this latest injustice, and certainly, outright 
racism in the treatment of Asian Pacific Islander Americans--
particularly those Americans who are of Japanese ancestry. Senator 
Inouye himself is a highly decorated veteran of World War II, and 
recipient of our Nation's second highest decoration for valor--the 
Distinguished Service Cross. He was a member of the famous 442d 
Infantry Combat Group, and he lost an arm while fighting in Europe 
alongside other Japanese-Americans--many of whom never returned.

  Isn't it enough that we wrongfully imprisoned those of Japanese-
American ancestry during World War II--while Americans of German and 
Italian ancestry were left alone?
  How long do we have to endure the attitude of those who consider 
Asians and other minorities as lesser Americans?
  Mr. Speaker, we must send a clear message to the military 
establishment that discrimination against minorities and women in our 
armed services will no longer be tolerated--and those who continue to 
hold these intolerable views should be immediately relieved of their 
duties in the armed services, regardless of their rank and 
responsibilities.
  Mr. Speaker, it will be a distinct pleasure and honor for me tomorrow 
morning to attend the ceremony before the House Armed Services 
Committee, whereby a fellow American by the name of Bruce Yamashita, 
will be officially commissioned as a captain in the United States 
Marine Corps. This will certainly be a proud moment not only for Mr. 
Yamashita and his family, but an important event for our Nation to 
rectify an injustice and wrong committed by the Marine Corps against 
this great American.
  I commend Captain Yamashita for his tremendous courage and commitment 
and determination to see that racial discrimination should never be 
tolerated throughout the armed services of our Nation.

                              Decorations


                        100th infantry battalion

                      422d regimental combat team

       7 Major campaigns in Europe.
       7 Presidential Unit Citations.
       9,486 Purple Heart medals.
       18,143 Individual decorations, including:
       1 Congressional Medal of Honor.
       52 Distinguished Service Crosses.
       3 Distinguished Service Medals.
       560 Silver Stars with 28 Oak Leaf Clusters in lieu of 
     second Silver Star awards.
       22 Legion of Merit Medals.
       4,000 Bronze Stars, 1,200 Oak Leaf Clusters representing 
     second Bronze Stars.
       15 Soldier's Medals.
       12 French Croix de Guerra, with two Palms representing 
     second awards.
       2 Italian Crosses for Military Merit.
       2 Italian Medals for Military Valor.


                     100th battalion, 442d infantry

       1. Mission: As with all infantry units, the mission of the 
     100th Battalion, 442d Infantry, is to close with the enemy by 
     means of fire and maneuver in order to destroy or capture him 
     or repel his assault by fire, close combat and counterattack.
       2. History: The history of the 100th Battalion, 442d 
     Infantry begins with the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 
     7, 1941. At the time of the attack, there were already some 
     1,500 Nisei's serving in the US Army, most of them with the 
     24th and 25th Infantry Divisions, and the 298th and 299th 
     Infantry Regiments at Schofield Barracks. Six months after 
     Pearl Harbor, in May 1942, Army Chief of Staff George C. 
     Marshall ordered the formation of the 100th Battalion, 
     composed of men already in the US Army. The 100th Battalion 
     (Separate) was thus activated on 12 June 1942, at Oakland, 
     California. The unit took its basic training at Camp Shelby, 
     Mississippi under LTC Farrant L. Turner and was deployed 
     overseas in August 1943. Landing in Oran, North Africa, the 
     battalion crossed over to Italy, attached to the 133d 
     Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. It participated in 
     the bitter advance up the Italian peninsula fighting in the 
     major battles at Salerno, Valturno River, Rapido River and 
     Cassino.
       The 442d Regimental Combat Team was activated at Camp 
     Shelby, Mississippi on 1 February 1943 with COL Charles 
     Spence commanding. After training at Camp Shelby and in the 
     Louisiana Army Maneuvers, the RCT deployed overseas in May, 
     1944. Landing in Italy, it joined the 34th Infantry Division 
     and the 100th Infantry Battalion. Together, they participated 
     in the Anzio and Rome-Arno campaigns and later fought in the 
     Rhineland and North Appenines campaigns attached to the 36th 
     Infantry Division.
       While attached to the 36th, they rescued the 1st Battalion, 
     141st Regiment, known as the ``Lost Battalion.'' During the 
     rescue, the RCT became closely attached to the people of 
     Bruyeres, France, a little town in the Vosges Mountains. A 
     sister city relationship exists today between Bruyeres and 
     Honolulu.
       In March 1945, the RCT returned to Italy and attached to 
     the 92d Infantry Division, participated in the Po Valley 
     campaign, their last campaign before the end of the war.
       The record of the RCT is without equal. The unit suffered 
     314% casualties, earned 18,143 individual decorations, 
     participated in six campaigns and received seven 
     Distinguished Unit Citations, three by the 100th Battalion. 
     It emerged as the most decorated unit of its size in the US 
     Army.
       The unit was inactivated in August 1946 and reactivated in 
     the US Army Reserve in July 1947. The Battalion is the only 
     battalion-sized unit in the U.S. Army that authorized its own 
     shoulder patch.
       During the period July 1947 to 13 May 1968 the Battalion 
     underwent organizational changes from Regimental to Battle 
     Group, to its present battalion structure. Significant events 
     during this period were providing individual personnel 
     replacements during the Korean War when all company grade 
     officers and senior NCO's were recalled to active duty. The 
     Battalion also participated in Operation Koolau with the 25th 
     Infantry Division in 1959 and Exercise Coral Sands with the 
     11th Infantry Brigade in 1967.
       On March 13th, 1968, during the Vietnam War, the 100th 
     Battalion, 442d Infantry was ordered to active duty and 
     attached to the 29th Infantry Brigade (HIARNG) as one of its 
     Maneuver Battalions. Its mission was to provide a strategic 
     reserve for the Pacific. Stationed at Schofield Barracks, 
     Hawaii, the Battalion trained for eventual deployment and 
     provided a manpower pool of trained replacements. On an 
     individual basis, most members of the Battalion were 
     reassigned to Vietnam. During the period 13 May 1968 to 12 
     December 1970 a total of nine gallant men from the 100th 
     Battalion, 442d Infantry gave their lives while serving in 
     combat in the Republic of Vietnam.
       Today the 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry (USAR) is a modern 
     and well equipped force. Made up of citizen soldiers from all 
     walks of life, the battalion continues to be an integral part 
     of the US Army's Total Force.
       During the period following the Vietnam War, the battalion 
     suffered from low strength. Averaging approximately 55 to 60% 
     strength, it was difficult to attain the readiness goals 
     required of the battalion. To counter this problem the 
     battalion undertook an ambitious expansion project. In 
     December 1980 a detachment was activated in American Samoa. 
     Several months later, detachments were also activated in Guam 
     and on the island of Saipan in the Marianas.
       Today these detachments have grown to a point where Company 
     C is now located on Saipan and the small detachment activated 
     in American Samoa has grown into Company B. Additionally, 
     Company E (442d Inf) is located on Guam.
       In recent years the reputation of the 100th Battalion, 442d 
     Infantry has extended also to several foreign countries. The 
     most significant relationship exists between the battalion 
     and the Territorial Forces (Reserves) of the Australian Army. 
     Biennially, the 100th Battalion and the Australian Reserve 
     exchange an infantry platoon for annual training. Members of 
     the battalion have also been called upon to participate in 
     exercises in Japan, Korea, Mainland US, New Zealand, 
     Philippines, Singapore, as well as at home in Hawaii.
       After over forty years of service, the 100th Battalion, 
     442d Infantry carries on the proud traditions of the ``GO FOR 
     BROKE'' spirit that originated with the first members of the 
     100th Battalion and the 442d Regimental Combat Team in World 
     War II. ``GO FOR BROKE'' remains a working philosophy for the 
     soldiers of the 100th Battalion today and in the future. It 
     is the common bond that unites the current battalion members 
     from throughout the Pacific with their veteran forbearers 
     whose tradition of gallantry, honor and service drive the 
     battalion today.
       3. Organization: The battalion consists of Headquarters 
     Company, three rifle companies: Companies A, B, C, and an 
     Anti-Armor Company, Company D. Company B is located in 
     American Samoa with its weapons platoon in Hilo, Hawaii. 
     Company C is also located in Erican Moa with its weapons 
     platoon in Oahu, Hawaii. All other units of the battalion are 
     located in Oahu, Hawaii.

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