Higashioka's grandfather served in famed WWII
unit for Soldiers of Japanese ancestry while family confined in
wartime relocation center
FORT
BELVOIR, Va., July 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego Padres catcher
Kyle Higashioka was presented today
with a replica of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded collectively
in 2011 to his paternal grandfather and fellow members of the U.S.
Army's 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat
Team, and Military Intelligence Service during World War II.
The presentation was arranged jointly by the National
Veterans Network (NVN) and the Players Trust, the
charitable arm of The Major League Baseball Players Association.
Retired General Eric Shinseki, Chair
of The Army Historical Foundation and 34th Chief of Staff of
the U.S. Army, presided over the ceremony, held at the National
Museum of the United States Army at Fort
Belvoir, Virginia.
Higashioka's grandfather, G. Shigeru
Higashioka, served in Company A of the 100th Infantry
Battalion of the 442ndRegimental Combat Team from 1943 – 1945,
participating in the European campaigns that made the unit the most
highly decorated in Army history. Like many American soldiers of
Japanese ancestry at the time, he served valiantly while the U.S.
government confined his parents and brothers in Poston War
Relocation Authority camp, out of prejudiced suspicions of Japanese
Americans. NVN conducted extensive research to uncover details of
the elder Higashioka's military service and his family's experience
at Poston WRA in Arizona.
"I am incredibly honored to accept the Congressional Gold Medal
on behalf of my grandfather," Higashioka said. "Learning more about
his heroism, especially in light of the injustice faced by many
Nisei families, is humbling and inspiring, and has influenced my
own charitable work with veterans. I'd encourage all Americans to
talk to the veterans in your lives, listen to their stories, and
consider all they have endured on our behalf."
The ceremony took place in a special exhibition area of the
museum featuring the Nisei Soldier Experience, a temporary exhibit
with an unprecedented collection of Japanese American artifacts. In
2011 the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian
honor, was presented to the 100th Infantry Battalion,
442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence
Service by the United States Congress.
Shinseki, whose four decades of Army service were inspired by
his uncles' service in the 100th Infantry Battalion and
442nd RCT, emphasized the importance of sharing this rarely
told story because it tells how the deep prejudice of the time was
met by the Nisei Soldiers' enduring belief in the promise of our
country and their unwavering will to serve.
In addition to discovering more about Higashioka's grandfather's
service, NVN located newspaper articles that recorded Higashioka's
uncles playing for a camp baseball team. Baseball had been embraced
by Japanese immigrants in the early 20th century, so they
formed teams in all 10 WRA camps as a way to build morale and
maintain a sense of normalcy.
"The Players Trust was proud to be part of this special moment
with Kyle and help recognize both his grandfather's storied
military service and how his uncles looked to the game that he
loves to rise above the extraordinary challenges of the time," said
Players Trust Director Amy Hever.
"This was a unique opportunity to further Kyle's commitment to our
servicemen and women while also recognizing his own family's
military experience."
The Nisei Soldier Experience at the National Museum of the
United States Army currently displays the original Congressional
Gold Medal on loan from the Smithsonian Institution until fall of
2025 when the Nisei Soldier Experience closes. The Museum, NVN and
The Army Historical Foundation are currently developing
the I Am An American: the Nisei Soldier
Experience traveling exhibit that will launch in 2026. The
Nisei Soldier Experience is included with the Museum's free,
timed-entry tickets, which are available by request through the
Museum's website at theNMUSA.org.
About the National Museum of the United States Army
The National Museum of the United States Army provides the only
comprehensive portrayal of Army history and traditions through the
eyes of the American Soldier. By preserving, interpreting, and
exhibiting invaluable artifacts, the National Army Museum creates
learning opportunities for all visitors and bonds the American
people to their oldest military service. We are America's Army
Museum. The U.S. Army owns and operates the Museum. The Army
Historical Foundation continues its fundraising role in support of
the Museum and manages all retail, catering, and special events.
The Museum is open daily with free admission. For more information
on the National Museum of the United States Army,
visit www.theNMUSA.org.
More details about the Museum can be found in the Museum's
media kit. A collection of high-resolution photos is
available https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmymuseum/.
About The Army Historical Foundation
The Army Historical Foundation establishes, assists, and
promotes programs and projects that preserve the history of the
American Soldier and promote public understanding of and
appreciation for the contributions by all components of the U.S.
Army and its members. The Foundation serves as the Army's official
fundraising entity for the Capital Campaign for the National Museum
of the United States Army. The award-winning, LEED-certified Museum
opened on November 11, 2020, at
Fort Belvoir, Va., and honors the
service and sacrifice of all American Soldiers who have served
since the Army's inception in 1775. For more information on the
Foundation and the National Museum of the United States Army, visit
www.armyhistory.org.
About the Players Trust
Established in 1996, the Major League Baseball Players Trust is
the charitable arm of the Major League Baseball Players
Association. The Players Trust is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
that harnesses the expertise, influence, and passions of players to
create meaningful and sustainable change in the lifelong well-being
of others. The organization amplifies the social impact of players
throughout the communities where they live, play, and call home,
impacting thousands of nonprofits and individuals around the
world. For additional information, please
visit www.playerstrust.org.
Media Contacts:
The Army Historical Foundation
Daniel Gregory:
215-285-4137 dgregory@susandavis.com
National Veterans Network
Michelle M. Suzuki:
310-930-6655 michelle@msc-pr.com
Major League Baseball Players Association
Kevin Slack:
646-627-6816 kslack@mlbpa.org
About National Veterans Network
NVN's mission is to educate current and future generations about
the extraordinary legacy of American WWII soldiers of Japanese
ancestry in order to promote equality and justice. The organization
launched the campaign to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the
first Asian American recipients in the 100th, 442nd and MIS units,
and worked with the U.S. Mint to design the medal. In 2012, the
organization partnered with the National Museum of American History
and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service for a
seven-city tour to promote recognition of the Japanese American
experience. In 2016, along with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific
American Center and Smithsonian's National Museum of American
History, NVN launched an online Digital Exhibition to share the
story of Japanese American soldiers of WWII
(cgm.smithsonianapa.org). Beginning in 2017, NVN worked with the
National Museum of the U.S. Army to gather artifacts from Japanese
American WWII soldiers and their families that resulted in a
special exhibit dedicated to Japanese American WWII soldiers when
the Museum's opening in 2020 along with artifacts and information
located throughout the museum. In 2020, the NVN in collaboration
with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, developed
elementary and middle school curriculum. The NVN continues to honor
the American WWII soldiers of Japanese ancestry by promoting,
protecting, and preserving their legacy of uncommon valor and
selfless service for future generations.
Please visit us at www.nationalveteransnetwork.com, and follow
the NVN on Facebook (NationalVeteransNetwork), Twitter
(@NtlVetNetwork) or Instagram (nationalveteransnetwork).
Press Contact:
Michelle Suzuki
310-444-7115
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SOURCE National Veterans Network