[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 177 (Wednesday, November 16, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING NORIO UYEMATSU

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 16, 2022

  Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Korean War Veteran 
Norio Uyematsu.
  Norio was born in Cupertino, California, the oldest of four children 
raised by parents Niroku and Shitsuyo Uyematsu, who immigrated to 
America from Hiroshima, Japan. Norio is a second-generation Japanese 
American, or Nisei, and he is now one of the few surviving Japanese 
American veterans who served in the Korean War.
  During World War II, when he was age 11, Norio's family was 
imprisoned for three years in a Japanese American concentration camp in 
Heart Mountain, Wyoming. As they had no home to return to, the Uyematsu 
family relocated to Brigham City, Utah, in 1945. He graduated from Box 
Elder High School in Brigham City in 1948 and decided to enlist in the 
Army. He was only 17 and needed his parent's approval. His father 
signed his enlistment form immediately, but his mother would not sign 
until a month before his 18th birthday.
  His service began January 3, 1949, when he went through basic and 
advanced training in Anti-Aircraft Artillery at Fort Bliss in El Paso, 
Texas. In April of 1950, his planned transfer to Okinawa, Japan, was 
abruptly changed with the invasion of North Korea into South Korea. 
Instead, he was transferred to Camp Drake in Japan and was assigned to 
guard Misawa Air Force Base in Northern Japan.
  In July of 1951, his unit was sent to Korea to guard Kimpo Air Base. 
Norio was then assigned to the 521st Military Intelligence Service to 
interrogate prisoners of war.
  For his service, Norio, who achieved the rank of Corporal, was 
decorated with 10 medals. He was honorably discharged from the Army on 
July 27, 1952 and returned to Utah. From that day forward, Norio 
dedicated his life to remembering his fallen comrades and to keeping 
the Korean War veterans' memories alive
  The Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950 and concluded on July 
27, 1953, became known as the ``Forgotten War.'' But Norio never forgot 
that 33,600 American soldiers were killed in action fighting to prevent 
the North Korean Communist regime from taking over South Korea.
  Of the 33,600 men who lost their lives defending South Korea, 247 of 
those soldiers were Japanese Americans. Because of their selfless 
sacrifice, the tide of communism on the Korean Peninsula was halted and 
liberty triumphed over tyranny. Today, the Republic of Korea is a free 
democracy because of the service of the 5,000 Japanese Americans and 
other honorable soldiers who fought in the Korean War. Now, a few 
months short of age 92, he is still working to make sure the sacrifices 
made by his fellow soldiers are remembered. To fulfill his mission, 
Norio has served as an active member in several veterans organizations: 
the Japanese American Korean War Veterans. the Korean War Veterans 
Association, the Nisei Veterans Coordinating Council, the Disabled 
American Veterans Chapter 100, the American Legion, and the Japanese 
American Veterans Association, and the Kazuo Masuda VFW Memorial Post 
3670, of which he was a three term commander. To continue his ties to 
his Utah roots, he is also a member of the Salt Lake Chapter of the 
Japanese American Citizens League.
  Norio also continues his volunteer activism by supporting community 
projects and attending events, including the July 27, 2022 dedication 
of the Korean War Veterans Memorial ``Wall of Remembrance'' in 
Washington, DC.
  Throughout his life, Norio was supported in his work by his wife of 
63 years, Hanako Rose Fujikawa Uyematsu, also from Brigham City. They 
raised three boys, Michael, Ronald, and Thomas, who gave them eleven 
grand-children and two great grandchildren. Rose passed away in 2020 at 
home in Anaheim, California.
  For many, Norio Uyematsu's contributions to his community are not 
well known since he preferred to humbly work in the shadows. But his 
spirit of service will continue by the foundation he set reminding 
others of what Korean War veterans did over 68 years ago to defend 
Democracy and Freedom. The people of America and the Republic of Korea 
will be forever grateful.

                          ____________________