[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 100TH INFANTRY BATTALION OF HAWAII

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Hawaii (Mr. Case) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues to recognize 
and honor the selfless service of the Japanese Americans who served our 
country in World War II with the famed 100th Infantry Battalion of 
Hawaii, or the One Puka Puka.
  This year, the fabled 100th celebrates its 80th anniversary. The 
battalion was composed of 1,400 Americans of Japanese ancestry whose 
loyalty was questioned by our government following the attacks on Pearl 
Harbor and much worse. Although much of the U.S. public looked upon 
them with disdain and skepticism, these soldiers simply persevered. 
Their story is one of patriotism, tenacity, and courage.
  Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor, and when anti-Japanese 
hysteria was at its peak, these young men raised their hands and 
demanded the right to defend America.
  With the support of U.S. military officers and others in Hawaii and 
elsewhere, the Federal Government eventually created an all-nisei, or 
second-generation Japanese-American Army unit, the 100th Infantry 
Battalion.
  Just before their deployment in August of 1943, the men of the One 
Puka Puka selected the motto ``Remember Pearl Harbor'' to reflect their 
anger at the attack on their country.
  Although the cloud of racism and underlying uncertainty hovered over 
these brave Americans, their performance was nothing less than 
exemplary. In September 1943, the 100th arrived in North Africa, but 
soon transferred to central Italy, where it faced heavy combat. It 
eventually became known as the Purple Heart Battalion because of its 
high casualty rate.
  One of its members and casualties was Captain Spark Matsunaga, who 
suffered grievous injuries in a mine field. He later became a Member of 
this hallowed House and, after that, a United States Senator, inspiring 
generations, including me, who was privileged to serve 3 years on his 
staff. His own story is just one of countless we can and should 
remember.
  In August, 1944, and after a year of combat, the battalion integrated 
with the Japanese Americans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. They 
then continued to fight through Italy and France. The men of the 100th 
spent 20 months in Europe and fought in six campaigns across Italy and 
France. They received six Distinguished Service Crosses and earned 
three Presidential Unit Citations. Along with the 442nd, the 100th 
Infantry Battalion is recognized as the most decorated American unit in 
our history for its size and length of service.
  The lineage and honors of the 100th and 442nd live on today and are 
preserved by the 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry, U.S. Army Reserve. 
Today, the unit is staffed with reservists from Hawaii, American Samoa, 
Guam, and Saipan. These men and women carry on the legacy of the 
soldiers that endured so much before them 80 years ago.
  We all owe a debt of gratitude to groups like the Nisei Veterans 
Legacy and the Military Intelligence Service Education Society of 
Hawaii, and others, for keeping the 100th Battalion's legacy alive. 
They have all been critical in recognizing the sacrifices of our 
Japanese Americans to defend a country that questioned their loyalty.
  On the walls of the National Japanese American Memorial, not far from 
our U.S. Capitol, the late Senator Spark Matsunaga's words still ring 
true today: ``We believed a threat to this Nation's democracy was a 
threat to the American Dream and to all free peoples of the world.''
  Today, we renew our debt of gratitude to the Japanese Americans of 
the One Puka Puka. May they live forever in our hearts and minds.

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