Rep. Tokuda Leads Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation in Posthumous Promotions of Seven Nisei WWII Soldiers

Washington, D.C. - The Secretary of the Army posthumously promoted seven second-generation Territorial of Hawaii Japanese Americans, aka Nisei soldiers, and former University of Hawaiʻi Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets to the rank of second lieutenant. The promotions follow a June 26, 2024, request from the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation urging then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth to review the military records of the seven cadets and consider their eligibility for posthumous officer commissions.

The seven servicemembers served in University of Hawaiʻi's Army ROTC program, which was suspended during World War II. Shortly after signing up with the Hawaii Territorial Guard, all Nisei were expelled under policies related to Executive Order 9066 and widespread anti-Japanese American discrimination. After being removed, the seven servicemembers volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army as enlisted soldiers in the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team. All seven were killed in combat in Europe in 1944.

"These young men wanted to serve as leaders in the U.S. Army. They trained for it, they earned it, and they were denied that chance because of wartime prejudice. But they still put on the uniform and gave their lives in defense of our country. Today, we finally recognize them as the officers they were meant to be," said U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02). "This is about acknowledging the history of our Nisei veterans and honoring their sacrifice the way it should have been honored 80 years ago. I'm grateful to the University of Hawaiʻi ROTC program, the Army, and the many who supported this long-overdue recognition."

The former cadets are:

• SSG Grover Nagaji (1920 - 1944, Born in Honolulu)
• SGT Howard Urabe (1923 - 1944, Born in Kapaa)
• SGT Robert Murata (1922 - 1944, Born in Honolulu)
• SGT Jenhatsu Chinen (1922 - 1944, Born in Wahiawa)
• SGT Daniel Betsui (1922 - 1944, Born in Hanapepe)
• PFC Hiroichi Tomita (1923 - 1944, Born in Wailuku)
• PVT Akio Nishikawa (1922 - 1944, Born in Paia)

The University of Hawaiʻi awarded all seven men posthumous bachelor's degrees in 2012. They were not commissioned as officers at the time of their deaths due to their earlier expulsion from the ROTC program. The Army's decision to grant these promotions was based on documentation and research provided by the University of Hawaiʻi Army ROTC program and the review process requested by the Hawai'i Congressional Delegation. The request was supported by the University of Hawaiʻi Army ROTC program, current cadets and alumni, the U.S. Army Pacific, and the Governor of Hawaiʻi.

"The promotion of these seven former UH Army ROTC cadets is a meaningful, long-overdue step to recognize these brave men who served our country and fought alongside their fellow Americans on the battlefield in WWII," said U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI). "Even in the face of the prejudice that followed Executive Order 9066-which included being expelled from the UH ROTC program-these men volunteered to serve with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. It has been 80 years since these brave, dedicated servicemembers were killed in action while protecting our country, and I am proud to work on righting this historic injustice and correcting their ranks to honor their sacrifice."

"These seven sons of Hawai'i were just barely out of their teens in our UH ROTC program when their commitment to serve their country loyally as United States Army officers was questioned by that country solely because of their race," said U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01). "Their perseverance in proving that loyalty as volunteer enlisted soldiers led to their ultimate sacrifice far from their home on the battlefields of Italy and France. The awarding of these gold bars three generations later means far more than final and just achievement of the rank of Second Lieutenant. It stands as still another in a long line of testaments to the commitment of Japanese Americans willing to fight and die to preserve and protect the values of democracy and freedom for a country that had not returned their loyalty."

"I'm glad to see the Army is doing the right thing. These servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and deserve every honor they've rightfully earned," said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI).

"It is only right to honor these seven Americans who, through setback, strife, and sacrifice, continued to remain committed to the ideals and principles espoused in the Constitution of the United States. This is a testament to the strength and courage of them, and all Nisei, who fought and died for freedom on a global scale while in the midst of tenuous conditions for Americans of Japanese descent in the U.S. at the time," said Lieutenant Colonel Jerrod Melander, UH Professor of Military Science. "The UH Army ROTC Program continues to honor those former Cadets, Cadre, and Alumni who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this Country. This is one way to maintain the connection with our past and keep the Legacy alive. We shall never forget!"

Photos and biographies for the seven cadets can be viewed here.

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