From left: Debbra Lee Kashino, Louise Kashino Takisaki, Sen. Cantwell, Shigeru Momoda, Toshikazu Okamoto, and his wife, Toshiko (Photo provided by the Office of Sen. Maria Cantwell)
On Nov. 2, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined in honoring 33 World War II Japanese American veterans from Washington state with the highest civilian award in the United States.
The Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony took place in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center’s Emancipation Hall, where hundreds of Nisei veterans from across the country were honored.
The Nisei veterans from Washington honored hail from communities across the state, including Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Edmonds, Friday Harbor, Gig Harbor, Issaquah, Kent, Seattle, Shelton, Silverdale, Spokane, and Vancouver.
The ceremony honored members of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Services of the United States Army. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was one of the most decorated units in military history, bringing home 21 Congressional Medals of Honor, 33 Distinguished Service Crosses, 559 Silver Stars, 22 Legions of Merit, 4,000 Bronze Stars, and 9,846 Purple Hearts.
Honorees from Washington state:
Daniel E. Takehara — Auburn
Robert Y. Handa — Bellevue
Shigeru Momoda — Bellevue
Yukio B. Yoshihara — Bellevue
William T. Yasutake — Bothell
Masaru H. Odoi — Edmonds
Roy H. Matsumoto — Friday Harbor
Jimmie Kanaya — Gig Harbor
Roy H. Inui — Issaquah
Frank T. Matsuda — Issaquah
Mitsuru Hayashi — Kent
Sakae S. Aoyama — Seattle
Roy N. Fujiwara — Seattle
Francis M. Fukuhara — Seattle
Hiroshi H. Hirano — Seattle
Tsuguo Ikeda — Seattle
George Iwasaki — Seattle
Thomas T. Kobayashi — Seattle
Frank K. Nishimura — Seattle
Toshikazu Okamoto — Seattle
Matthew M. Seto — Seattle
Ted T. Yasuda — Seattle
Art S. Yorozu — Seattle
Mitsuru Takahashi — Seattle
Saburo Tsuboi — Seattle
James T. Suzuki — Shelton
Stanley S. Segawa — Silverdale
Charles T. Furumasu — Spokane
George A. Minata — Spokane
Fred A. Shiosaki — Spokane
George T. Yamada — Spokane
Eisaku Hiromura — Vancouver
Teruo Yamashita — Vancouver (end)