NASCC recognizes history, heritage of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders
The Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi Diversity Committees held an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month observance in the NHCCC Crew’s Lounge, May 21.
May was chosen as the AAPI observance month to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 10, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the transcontinental railroad completion on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks of that nation-unifying railway were Chinese immigrants.
The guest speaker for the event was HM2 Gabriel Besa, a native of the Philippines and the first member of his family to serve in the U.S. Navy. The observance featured items and food from the various countries that make up Asia and the Pacific Islands, as well as two traditional dances performed by Diversity Committee members.
“The first dance was the Haka, founded in New Zealand and later spread throughout Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands.” NASCC Diversity Committee member ET1 Ebony Griner said. “Our second dance was a Philippines folk dance called Tinikling, which originated during the Spanish colonial era.”
In addition to celebrating the heritage and culture of the AAPI region, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is also an occasion to remember the patriotism of AAPIs who have served, or are currently serving, in the Department of Defense and our nation. Thirty three AAPIs have received the Medal of Honor, and many others have served their country heroically during war and peace time. The following are just a few examples of Asian-Pacific Americans contributions to the Nation’s military.
Asian Pacific American women first entered military service during World War II. The Women’s Army Corps (WAC) recruited 50 Japanese-American and Chinese-American women to send them to the Military Intelligence Service Language School at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, for training as military translators.
Filipino American women worked with the underground resistance movement to help American forces in the Philippines throughout Japanese occupation during WWII. They smuggled food and medicine to American POWs and carried information on Japanese deployments to Filipino and American forces.
During World War II, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was a unit made up of the sons of Japanese immigrants. The 442nd was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the entire history of the U.S. Military.
Juan T. Salas was the first Chamorro (Asian Pacific Islander from Guam) to graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He was also the first Chamorro to reach the rank of commanding officer.
Ladda “Tammy” Duckworth is the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress in Illinois and the first member of Congress born in Thailand. She is also a former National Guard Black Hawk pilot. In 2004, her helicopter was shot down during a combat mission in Iraq, resulting in the loss of both legs and partial use of one arm.
Viet Xuan Luong became the first Vietnamese-born general/flag officer in the U.S. military. Luong achieved the rank of Brigadier General, Aug. 8, 2014, at Fort Hood, Texas.
A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia), and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island).
“Although we were not able to display all of the 50 countries that represent Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year,” said Griner. “We look forward to presenting other heritages in the future.”