“Fear is the only true enemy. Born of ignorance and the parent of anger and hate.”
-Edward Albert
In the past year, there has been a noticeable surge in anti-Asian sentiment in America. According to reports, over 3,500 hate crimes against Asians have taken place. It’s because China is believed to be the source of the Covid pandemic. These attacks and sentiments against Asians in the US are absurd and embarrassing. But, they aren’t unprecedented.
80 years ago this December, the US experienced its first military attack on domestic soil by a foreign entity. Japan struck the US fleet stationed in Hawaii – then US territory. President Franklin Roosevelt described it, “…a day which will live in infamy.”
The strike against that tiny Pacific island was literally a shot heard ‘round the world.’ Though it was just a spec of land some had never even heard of (It wouldn’t become a US state until 1959.), it rallied Americans from all walks to join the military and fight the Japanese....
Then and now, Japan has been considered a somewhat homogenous country. Not so with the US. Our “melting pot” has included countless nationalities. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many were distrustful of anyone of Asian descent. That wariness became so profound, in the western US, 120,000 Japanese Americans were interred in camps with their families until the end of the war. The US has since officially declared that a “grave injustice.”
What’s been most telling has been the combination of forgiveness and resilience among Asians given the actions against them in the 1940s. Following their confinement in World War II, there were no massive demonstrations. Though all received a formal apology and some were given reparations, most just resumed their lives and livelihoods excelling at what they did and created.
During the war, in the 1940s, there were a contingent of Japanese Americans – some with families incarcerated – who went stratospherically above what might have been expected. While Japanese citizens were being vilified, arrested and interred, 33,000 voluntarily enlisted in the US Army to fight in Europe against a common enemy.
At first, these second-generation Japanese were not allowed to enlist. Eventually, the “Nisei” as they became known, were permitted to join the war and fight. Forming the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Japanese American soldiers were sent to France. Others remained stateside acting as translators for the Army and additional branches of the military.
This June 3, the US is finally paying homage to the service of the 33,000 Japanese American soldiers (The group prefers to not have that designation hyphenated.) with a special commemorative postage stamp. Created in an engraved/intaglio format giving it depth and texture, the stamp features an image of a Japanese American soldier from a photo taken in 1944 at a train station in France.
In the upper right are the words, “GO FOR BROKE. JAPANESE AMERICAN SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR II. FOREVER. USA.” The text is in a vertical format reflective of the style the Japanese print their words. Also, in a rare move for a modern stamp, the USPS is producing it in just two colors, red and blue.
The slogan “Go For Broke” was the motto of the proud Japanese American soldiers in Europe. Whether to prove their loyalty or because of sheer determination and courage, the Japanese regiment became renowned for its bravery. In the end, the 442nd became the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in US history including receiving 21 Medals of Honor.
The new “Forever” First Class stamp has a current face value of 55-cents but will always be valid for First Class postage no matter the rate. It will be on sale nationwide beginning June 3.
Special First Day of Issue cancellations will be available to the public at no charge. To obtain one, purchase a stamp at a local post office, affix it to a self-addressed envelope and send that inside of a larger mailing envelope to: FDOI – Go For Broke, Japanese American Stamp, USPS Fulfillment, 8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO. 64144-9900.
There is no charge for the cancel and all envelopes will be returned via regular mail. Requests must be made no later than October 3, 2021.
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