Since my family came from china we knew of and heard the invasion of japan in china, korea, and other areas, and the movement of japan there. But we really did not feel that japan would be touching hawaii. The other reason was we had so many japanese family, friends in hawaii that were like family that it really did not occur to us about japan invading the United States in particular hawaii. I would tell you also of the age that i was there in school, we were hearing news about some possibilities of japan at that time moving out in invasion of other countries. But that was it. So december 7 was a huge surprise for us. I should tell you that december 7, i was in school which is a military school in hawaii, up on the hills. From the dormitory that i was in we could see pearl harbor. On the morning of december 7 it was about 7 45 a. M. When we started to hear these noises. When we looked out the window, you could see smoke rising at pearl harbor. As a matter of fact, we went out to the roof to watch. We did not realize that i was watching arizona being bombed and how it worked for several days. At that time, there was a squad of planes that flew over us to con another island, and i could see the red ball of japanese on the wings. That was when we knew it was the japanese. One of the shells that they fired to the squad landed on a stone wall close to our dormitory. That was a shock too. There was an explosion there on the hill. They bombed and strafed the island base. I would say it went on until about 8 30. By then, we were beginning to hear news on the radio. At the beginning, nobody knew really what was happening. But things happened real fast after that. As a matter of fact, at military school we were asked to put our forces together and guarded the hills against paratroopers, which we did. We did 24 hours taking the hills and protected the hills during that period of time. As hawaii changed, we had a blackout late tonight. So many things changed or hawaii. For hawaii. There was a military government that people do not realize that really covered hawaii. We can add that is another government rupture that hawaii government structure that hawaii had. That brought a huge change to hawaii. It was only the beginning of the war with japan on december 7. Interviewer senator on the army corps of engineers could you describe your induction . Senator akaka yes, i graduated in 1942. At halftime, there was a draft. It was only a matter of time that we were called up. Most of my class and into the military from that school. I went to the 13th repo depot where we trained for six weeks. It was tough training, we marched 25 miles there we would sleep in pup tents. After we were done we training with the six week training, they shipped us. Of course, we did not know where we were going. By trucks, we were taken to pure seven, which was in hullabaloo. Pier seven, which was in honolulu. I remember carrying my duffel bag and they would call out our name and get out our first names. When we got there, they called akaka, and i would say daniel k and get on board. There were five berths stacks and we would take one and that is where we slept. There were gang showers and gang toilets. It was not a huge change. We had our own mess kits, so we ate using those mess kits. We would also wash using them, dipping it into these tubs. That is how it was. In those days, we zigzagged. By the way, i went to the pacific during that time. Our first landfall was the marshall islands. We landed at the dock at that time. After that, they took us out and moved us to guam. We got into guam, and after guam they moved us to saipan. That is where i was when the war ended. It was in saipan that i was, and it was there where the american bombers again to fly to japan to bomb japan. It was the place where the atom bomb took off, which brother brought the surrender. Which brought about the surrender. I was there at the beginning and the end of world war ii. It ended in all on august 12. By december, i had left saipan to come back to hawaii. Interviewer do you know what they were carrying at that time . Senator akaka we were short ure, but we got word that it would take a special bomb. Of course, we read about what had happened following the flights. Interviewer when the bomb was dropped, of course you got the news in saipan. What was your reaction . Senator akaka from what news we received i was amazed at the destruction. I couldnt believe there was such a bomb. Of course, we got more information after that. But for us out there, we were glad to learn that japan was willing to surrender at that time. We felt badly because of the way that came from our diverse relations with japanese families. And i should tell you the other part that really affected me at the time was when we were in saipan there were japanese families there who were so afraid that they committed suicide by walking over a cliff. They called it suicide cliff because many families walked over to their deaths. That was on the saipan. It made me think also of hawaii, because after japan bombed pearl harbor there was a change. All of a sudden, we begin to realize that, gee, somehow our japanese families went quiet. Some of them were being moved out from hawaii. That part we couldnt understand what was happening is that they were sending them for a reason, to the camps in the United States. We did have some camps in hawaii as well, where they moved some of the families. The Japanese School instructors were of course taken early. But there was a change. As you know then, our boys at our age, japanese boys could not enlist. There was a time that they could, and they did. Those like dan, you know him and many of myaged friends volunteered, and were trained and went to europe, and also became mis people in the pacific. As a matter of fact, this past march, when i was in honolulu, i went to the 42nd 65th, continuing to go for broke dinner that they had there. I went to a table just to say hello to barney, who was there. I went around that table to say hello. One of them looked over at me, and i looked at him, and i said frank. Frank, my classmate in Elementary School and i said farnrank, i havent seen you in all of these years. He was a member of the full 42nd. I was so happy to see frank. We started to mention all of our other classmates who were in class. But no question, that japanese were like family to us in hawaii. Knowing of what happened to them in the training and fighting in italy and in france, in europe i felt that this country made some decisions about the treatment of the japanese at that time. Families also felt strongly that those who went to fight for our country and gave their lives as well were not given the proper honor. As a result of that strong feeling, i have been trying to do all i can to help the japanese families and those who fought for our country. One of them one of them was i thought they should have had more medals of honor than they had. There was only one medal of honor given by congress. Of course, it took me several years to do that, but i was able to begin by giving the pentagon 100 names to consider for the medal of honor, and as a result, it came down to 20 names. Finally, i learned about a man who did not receive one, and he was supposed to have received one. I learned from the pentagon that the reason he did not receive one was because he did not carry a gun. Of course, i was able to help them change that. He was a medic, but what he did as a medic was heroic. I wrote him up as a person who should receive the medal of honor, so within one week before the award of the medals, i was able to convince the pentagon to give him a medal, and he became the 21st. I called the family to ask the family to come and attend the assembly here. Terry that is admirable. Tomorrow, when we have our discussion, we will go over that. What i would like to ask now is from your own military experience what would you consider to be your most memorable experience in the military . Senator akaka you mean while i was in the service . Terry while you were in the service. Senator akaka as you know, i was a member of the engineers. We came into support. Of course, one of the experiences i did just mention that really affected me was walking point two suicide cliff two suicide cliff. Another was that we were trying to bring the war to an end, and we were in a place where that did help to come about, and that was the bombing of japan. At that point in time, i really did not know when my japanese brothers where my japanese brothers were, but knew that some of them were in the pacific. But these relationships with also other members that i met there in saipan, of course, brought out for me and admiration of how young men and i was young at the time, to o, but the kind of responsibilities young people had and how well they carried out their missions. In a sense, had a different view and feeling for the potential of people. Terry after the war you decided to go into education. Tell us what year did you become a teacher . What was the subject you were specializing in . Senator akaka when i went to university of hawaii, i used the g. I. Bill of rights. So did all of us. I tell you, it was really great because when i back when i think back, i think if that were not there, i would not have got to college. But it was there. I took advantage of it and it paid for everything. I was sent a check of 113. 15 a month for my Living Expenses and attendance at university of hawaii. While i was at university, i decided that i wanted to study something that would help people. Again, my family upbringing really determined that. I finally felt that one way of helping people is to help educate them, help them learn about things of life and even learn to be part of providing good life for others. So i chose to go into the college of education at that time. After my fifth year after graduating in my fifth year, i went to teach in hawaii as a teacher. I became a vice principal, a principal. Then i was moved up to work with the superintendent of education and worked on a state level in education. Terry what area of teaching what subject did you teach, and what grade level . Senator akaka as a teacher, i taught all the grade levels for the eight years that i taught. I should tell you that i minored in music. My first teaching job they put me to teaching music, but we also had other subject like math to teach as well and i went to several schools and finally became a vice principal and a principal. Terry what year did you start teaching, and what year did you become a principal . Senator akaka i started teaching in the year 1953. I became a principal in 1960 about 1968 and was the principle of an Elementary School. As a matter of fact, prior to that, i opened a new school in pebble beach and gave the school its name. In hawaiian, the name meant enlightenment, and i felt a school should be for enlightenment and gave it that name. The school is still in existence from when i opened that school and gave it that name. I moved on to an Elementary School as a principal, which was the Largest School at that time Elementary School in hawaii. It was from that school that i was moved into the state level with the superintendent of education for hawaii at that time. Terry shortly after, you changed careers and took a political twist. What needs did you see in your community that drove you to the political theater . Senator akaka at that point in time when i was in the state department of education, i never thought of politics or being an elected official but the governor at that time called me and asked me to work for him and i refused three times. I told him, look, this is what i like to do. This is what i need to do. Im doing what i want to do to give the service to people. He was so smart because after the third meeting that i refused him, he called me in, and he said, look, danny, he said im offering you a job under which you can give service to more people than you are doing now. That was it. I accepted it. I went to work for him, and he put me in a job that when people ask me what was my job, i said my job was fulfilling. Not knowing that that job would lead to where i am today, but my line of work took me from the most northern part of hawaii to the southern part with all of the communities, with all of the schools, with issues that they cared for, so i took those issues that there was a question who in the state would be handling this, and it was me, so i stepped in. Terry you were the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Among other provisions in your very large portfolio. What is your and Congress Greatest challenge in the area of providing veterans with entitlements . Senator akaka i feel at this point that one of the greatest challenges is access and the quality of service that we can give every veteran. As a matter of fact, as i looked at this there was a huge problem. I received complaints that they would go to a center, and they would say, come back in six months. They would need medical care. They were asked to come later on. The accessibility was not there. They were not getting the service they needed when they needed it, and that continues to be a problem. As i became chairman of this committee, i felt i wanted to bring about changes so that there would be more access. What i have done is i have come forward with the focus of restructuring the Veterans Administration for the purpose of giving accessibility. I know the quality of service has been good, but we need more than good quality service. I also want to raise the level of funding for veterans because we have had to stand in line but i want to tag it onto the cost of war so we can get enough funds to take care of the needs of our veterans and to create a seamless transition from active to civilian life for our troops so that they can have the best kind of service from the a from v. A. I feel that the veterans today should have a g. I. Bill that can help them as it helped me. So i am a cosponsor now of a g. I. Bill that is in my committee for the veterans up iraqi afghanistan iraqi for the veterans of iraq and afghanistan. This bill will provide better means of tuitions as well as Living Expenses as well as housing expenses for veterans. Its going to be a very costly bill and the bill is now in my committee. We have held two hearings on that bill already, and we are trying to move that bill had. We have made some amendments to the bill already, and were looking forward to taking it to the floor. Terry the library of congress has the responsibility of this project. What do you feel makes this a useful endeavor . The library of congress has the responsibility for the National Oral history project. What do you feel is the usefulness of that endeavor . Senator akaka i feel it is very important that they do have an oral history of the members of congress, particularly the senate. I have done that with the library of congress, and they will keep it in their files, but it gives a good feeling of a member who was in service at that time to elaborate on some of these ideas about what has been happening and how the person feels. It will be valuable, i think, for the future and for students of the future. Terry as chairman of the committee on Veterans Affairs you have done so much for all of the veterans. However, being that we are particularly interested in the aid amendment that you signed, our questions from here on will be on your role in helping out asianamericans. The first question is what motivated you to get the department of the army to review its award to ensure that it is awarded fairly to asianamericans . Senator akaka i knew of the full 42nd and the 100 Infantry Brigade and also the m. I. S. I was very concerned about knowing the casualty rate and what these units did during world war ii and felt that they were underrated. I knew that there was one person that was given the medal of honor by the congress, and i felt that that was not right. So i looked into how this could be reconsidered and went to the pentagon to find out what we can do to do that. Actually, i think we worked about two years or more on this. What i did was come up with 100 names from the full 42nd who i felt should be considered for the medal of honor and turned it over to the pentagon. They reviewed it they kept reviewing it for a wild. Each time they did that, the numbers were lowered until they came down to about 20, and they said we have 20 names for you that we feel should be awarded the medal of honor. With that, then we made the move to award those to the recipients and to their families. That was all set up in that way but it took a wild for that to happen. As i mentioned, at the last minute, i was told about one that was not on the list, and i was able to get the pentagon to approve that in a week, and his name was added to the list. So i real good about at least 20 of them. I still feel that it should have been more than that, but im glad that we had all of those to have their families, and receive at that time, and those who were still alive were able to receive it themselves was quite an honor and a privilege for me to see. Also at the same time, i felt that m. I. S. Were not given proper credit and consideration. At that same time, we did have m. I. S. Codified and confirmed as a unit, and they received a unit citation. I remember general shinseki participated in that ceremony. Terry yesterday, when we talked about the medic, we were not on camera. Could you kindly describe that particular case . Senator akaka yes. I learned that there was a person who did not receive the medal of honor because he did not carry a rifle and that disturbed me. I checked it out, and that was true. There were letters that were sent in by his commanders, praising him for his feats at that time as a paramedic. The things that he did were outstanding. Their recommendations they recommended that he received a medal of honor and the reason that he did not, i was told, was that he did not carry a gun. Well, i talked to the pentagon about that and they reconsidered that, and they felt that with the citation, he should have received that, and he was added to that list to receive a medal of honor. Terry all of the medal of honor recipients had their medals upgraded. In that case, wasnt he upgraded from silverstar . Senator akaka i think that is true. I do not recall where he was, but because he was recommended i felt that i should try to get him the medal of honor. Terry did you have any obstacles or resentments to your efforts to get these upgrades reviewed . Senator akaka i will tell you that i did not receive any obstacles or resistance except time to work the process. I learned that there is a process in the pentagon that they used to consider these metals metals medals what took time was for us to get the information that was needed for each person, and we did that also by visiting and talking to some of the living colleagues of the ones we were considering. That took a lot of time, to get these documented and written and provided for those in the pentagon to consider it. We had lots of help from the colleagues who fought with them in the second world war, in hawaii as well is on the mainland. This really was a big help because the kind of information that was collected really confirmed that these members should receive a medal of honor and it worked out, but it took time to work the process. Terry when the final count came in, the board reviewed all these Different Cases and settled on this number 22 medals of honor that they were going to bestow. How did you feel about that . Was that number a surprise to you . Senator akaka i felt that because at the outset, i had sent in 100 names, and i felt that it went down to 20. I wasnt really satisfied, but you get to a point after going through this process to feel that we were fortunate to have the 20, so i accepted it. I was so happy that the ceremonies and all were done so well, and it was so honorable so i felt good about the 20 being finally accepted. Terry along with the 20 japanese americans that received the medal of honor upgrade there were also two other asianamericans. What were their ethnicities . Senator akaka i think one had some filipino blood. I cannot recall the other. I think that one had chinese. But these were others who, of course earned that medal of honor. Terry and they both served in the pacific . Senator akaka they both served in the pacific. Terry what were some of the concerns are influences thought to have contributed to the delay in recognizing that these men qualified for the medal of honor . Senator akaka i think part of it was collecting information on each one of them. And to get it from that jesus served with them to get it from buddies who served with them and Commanding Officers as well. All of this took time to gather. The antigun, of course, was helping as a. We had to look to military records as well to get all of this information, but the collection of the information really took time and we wanted the best information to give to the members of those boards who had to review this and so im happy it worked out as well as it did. Terry some views have been expressed that possibly, given the time, the mood of the country, and possibly a racial component, and even maybe embarrassment on the part of the military for subjecting these men of the unit to so many situations that they could have incurred these injuries for being put in situations that would have qualified them in such high numbers. What are your thoughts about that . Senator akaka i felt that after learning the process i felt that the process was there to really reviewed and check all the information on anyone who was being considered for a higher metal. At this time, i look back at that is thinking that this is really necessary, so that whoever receives it has all has done all that is expected of a person who deserves that honor. And its a grueling process. To see it finally work, even with all the time that was spent, was really great for me. I think that they need to use that for consideration of all medal of honor recipients. Terry after getting the 20 20 award upgrades after getting the 22 award upgrades, senator what did this tell you . Senator akaka i was present at the ceremony. I was very elated and happy that this had come about. It made me proud of our country as well as all of those who served our country. And proud of families as well that were there. And all the families who were invited, even those who had been killed in action and those who had died to quickly had died subsequently, but all the families were there. The setup was so great because we assigned a ranking major to each family. And they took care of the needs of that family. When they say take care of the needs, thats to eat to get taxis, or whatever the family needed that major took care of it. What i learned on the families was that they did such a great job. Some of the families even told me at that time, we dont want to go home, because they were enjoying themselves and washington, d. C. But it was firstclass. They treated the families so well. And i got to know some of the families, and it was really great to know that the families felt that justice was done. Terry i can see that it made you feel good. In addition to the japaneseamericans and the asianamericans, were there other minority ethnic groups that had this kind of an upgrade . Senator akaka im not familiar with any. Terry changing the subject from the full 42nd to the m. I. S. , you were instrumental in getting the u. S. Army to publish a documentary saying that japaneseamericans in the military intelligence service. What prompted you to go to the u. S. Army on behalf of the m. I. S. . Senator akaka there were many young japanese who served in the m. I. S. , both in hawaii i was surprised to find that there were no documents or books or anything that talked about the m. I. S. There was a silence. I know that for about 50 years it was classified, so they did not even talk to their familys about their experiences in m. I. S. After that was made public, i felt that we needed something to tell the country what the m. I. S. Was all about, how they started how they served our country how they were not really a unit. They were assigned to different units in the pacific. And how well they served the pacific. And that they were regarded as those who shortened world war ii with japan by two years because of their work in the pacific with Different Military units. And this was true, but there was no story about this, so i felt that that story should be written and should be told. As a result, we are able to have the pentagon support it. A writer was selected, and again, we went through the process of trying to get all the information we can for those who are still living, and as a result of all of that, the linguists was finally published. Its a great book about the m. I. S. , and, hopefully, the children of the men who served as well as people of this country, will learn more about what the japanese and m. I. S. Did in the pacific. For me, there was another lesson that we need to learn militarily as well. Its that we need to use the talents as well as the language and the culture of those who are citizens of our country to deal with the country that we are fighting. This needs to be learned, and i hope the book the linguists will provide lots of that kind of information as well. Terry do you recall when you went to the military, do you recall what were their first reactions to your proposal . Senator akaka the first reaction was they did not realize what this was going to be all about. As a matter of fact, it did not get the kind of attention that we should have had. By insisting on this, the pentagon finally decided to do that work, and it was done real well. I am so proud of what was done and so proud of the book. Terry could you tell us the name of the author of the book and also his position . He also had quite a unique position. His name was dr. James mcnaught. We worked with him too, and he was very sensitive. Im so glad he was the one who was selected because he really wanted to do a good job, to get all of the feelings that he could from those who were still alive to tell their story. I thought he did a great job, and i commend him for it. Terry he was not just a regular civilian, was he . Didnt he have some unique decision with the army . Senator akaka he did work for the army writing histories, so he was a good person to select for this work, and he spent a lot of time and did a great job. As he was doing it, he did discuss parts of it with me and also with the families and with those who served in m. I. S. Terry you mentioned earlier that one of the obstacles was with the medal of honor process was time to track down superior officers. Could you give us a little detail along those same lines . What were the obstacles and trying to gather stories of men who were not actually in a cohesive unit but served . Senator akaka the time was really finding and looking for those who can add to this. I must tell you that these organizations like full 42nd and m. I. S. Did help the cause they had some members who were eloquent because they had some members who were eloquent and they used them. I remember some of them in particular who really gave information in hawaii as well as on the mainland and in california. Information that really helped mcnaughton, the author, to complete the book. Terry is there a story that really stands out to you among the tales of the m. I. S. Service . Senator akaka well, there were tales about interrogating prisoners from the Japanese Army , wherever it was in the pacific , and how they helped to give information to the commanders so that they could better strategize what needed to be done in the battles there in the pacific, and which made a difference for us and really saved Many American lives, but these m. I. S. Members really had a tough time in the jungles of the pacific. Terry last may was the launch of the book nisei linguists. In fact, it was right here in this hearing room, i think. I wonder if you would tell us how you felt when the book was finally published. Senator akaka i was happy and proud of again to see the book in print and then to join others here in this room in a ceremony to bring the book force and to hear others speak about it. I know you were there, and it was a great occasion. We really looked for that book being read by members of the m. I. S. As well as people of this country. Terry this large hall here was fully packed, and we were we the japaneseamericans were very proud of that particular day in may 2007, and we do thank you. Senator akaka without question, that was evident that you folks were proud of that. Terry i think you mentioned the First Edition was sold out immediately. Is that correct . Senator akaka thats correct. Terry changing the subject to your very dear friend, he was an Army Intelligence specialist from hawaii who was sent undercover to manila before world war ii to spy on behalf of the u. S. Army. Because of the nature of his work, there was no publicity about him. No one heard about him. Why did you go to bat for him to get him recognized for the distinguished medal of honor distinguished service medal, im sorry . Senator akaka i learned about him. I also talked to the author of a book called the spy in our midst, and that book was about him. It was amazing what he did. I think it was in early 1941. He was asked to join the service, which he did, and he was sent to the philippines, and he really did not know what this was all about, but he went to the philippines and then learned what his job was supposed to be and he lived in the philippines and served there. Of course, the japanese were there in the philippines, and he infiltrated the japanese and did work with the japanese there in the philippines. And was given the credit of in a sense, saving australia from being invaded because of the information he got that he sent to the commanders, and they were able to stop the japanese from invading australia. That was just one of the things that he did, but eventually, the japanese found out who he was and of course, he had to escape from the japanese, and he went into the mountains, and of course, he was caught by the filipinos. He tried to explain that he was an american, and they would not believe him, so they really hurt him. They wanted to kill him, so he had to escape from them. It was the story of him trying to stay alive, trying to get back to american lines. There was time that passed and all, and finally, he was captured by the americans. When he was captured by the americans, they would not believe him. He told them he was an american, and they would not believe him until they put him in prison. One day, he spoke to an officer and said, look, call this number. Thats the number he was using to pass information. When they called that number they were so surprised to find that he was a spy and they relieved him. Well, thats a terrific story of one person. When i heard about that, i went to bat to try to raise the level of his medals even to medal of honor but was not able to raise it to that level, but Richard Sakakida was a hero. What happened to him was amazing , but it is in that book a spy in their midst. I attended his funeral. His wife lives, i think, in california now. Im happy that we were able to do that much for him over the years. Terry he was one american soldier who was abused by the japanese, the filipinos, and the americans. Senator akaka thats right. Terry senator dr. James mcnaughtons book ends at the end of world war ii, and the Occupation Forces had 3000 japanese linguists nisei. In 2007, you sent a letter to the secretary of the army to request that a book be written about the nisei in the Occupation Forces, and the secretary sent a letter to you i think, in january of this year saying that they were going to do that. Why did you embark on that venture . Senator akaka after the linguists was written, i felt that there was another story that needed to be written, and that was the occupation of japan. I really believe the success of the japanese government today the foundation was set by the m. I. S. Service, and felt that our country needs to know that m. I. S. Members worked with the japanese government after world war ii. Many of the things that happened there that helped to shape the japanese government was really aided by the service of the m. I. S. That were there. They were the translators. They were the ones that worked with officials they. I know that General Macarthur at that time used m. I. S. As interpreters and that i know of one of them who was an interpreter with the emperor and who served passing information between General Macarthur and the emperor of japan and had the ear of the emperor. He even related to praise the emperor gave to the m. I. S. Members for their part in helping japan. I think there is a story that can help our country and the future of the United States in learning how the m. I. S. Made this come about for japan, which is a successful nation today and that this can be used with other future laws that we have. I think its a lesson that this nation can benefit from, so i was hoping that something could be written about this. Not only about the m. I. S. And their part in japan, but i would also like to have a part about what japan thought of the m. I. S. I hope this will be written. But now it is started. We did get approval from the secretary of the army, and i understand it is moving along. Now we need to get information from those who served at that time as well. The story needs to be written as quickly as it can. Terry the nisei population at this particular time are moving very fast. Senator akaka thats correct, but i feel this is an important book for the United States to read. It will give honor to the m. I. S. As well as to our military forces. Terry you have a unique connection in that someone who works for you worked with tagami. Would you talk about that at little bit . Senator akaka yes, his son worked for me. Very talented young man, one that was brought a Good Relationship with his family and with his dad. I was able to help his dad also and other things in hawaii when he was not physically well. So all of this created an urge in me to have this written, and i hope it can be done and done well and look forward to the printing of such a book. Terry they also plays a role in your effort to get the medal of honor upgraded. What role did he play . Senator akaka he was one of my staff who helped me in communications with people. That was key. Help for me and for us, and as you know, he then left me and worked for the secretary of the army and used his talents very well there. Terry we have covered a lot of ground, senator. However, is there anything that you believe that future historians and researchers should know that we have not discussed over the last couple of days . Senator akaka yes, to go back early in world war ii, i would say that our country needs to learn from what they did to the japanese families by incarcerating them. I think it is a huge mistake and a huge lesson i think that we can hold up for the United States to benefit from in the future and not make a mistake like that again. I feel that the japanese young men reared up and served the country to help make the point that even though they were treated in such a way, that they still wanted to serve this country and did it outstandingly. The country needs to know this and to learn of all their accomplishments over the years i would tell you that as an aside, that i think part of hawaii getting statehood was based on the japanese saving that lost battalion. I was told at one time by the speaker of the house that they supported statehood for hawaii because of what the japanese boys did to save their lost battalion. So these are stories also of what they did in the pacific the m. I. S. , and what they did in japan i think is a lesson that this country needs to learn as to how we can approach working with other countries as the wars come to an end and how they can use our soldiers as well to help shape the budding nations. When these are in writing, i think that it can help people of our country to realize all of this, and this tremendous part of our history of the United States that should be known by everyone not only in the United States but in the rest of the world. Terry as a followup to these things we have been covering, how did you feel that the actions of nisei veterans of world war ii have benefited other asian ethnic minorities . Senator akaka i should tell you that they benefited hawaii, many of them, where they came out of service took the g. I. Bill, were educated. Many became lawyers, doctors professionals. When they returned in the 1950s, they made a huge difference in professional services, including politics and many of them went into politics and changed the politics of those places, not only in hawaii, but in the nation, but in hawaii in particular, they made huge changes. As you know, the republicans in hawaii were the majority from 1900 for 50 years, and in 1954, it turned over to become democratic because of the japanese boys who decided to run for office, and it changed hawaii. Thats only hawaii, but here on the mainland, since then, and since i then in the house of representatives, with congressman minetta at the time we were able to begin this idea of setting aside time for asian americans, and we felt that we need to excite the asianamericans throughout the country to begin to look for areas they can work in politically. So our bill was passed to set aside asianpacific american week. We passed it, and it came about, and after 10 years, we felt that a week was too short. So we put in another bill to make it a whole month. So the month was set aside for asianpacific americans, and that was passed there has been a lot of activity in groups that have come forward. Now we are beginning to see more members in congress who are asian. It is beginning to change. We have a government now, they had governors and mayors. It is beginning to change. We have a government and members of congress have increased. We have had also i am here. I expect these organizations to begin to make differences. Youre watching American History tv. To join the conversation, like us on facebook. Next. Mark bradley explores the final months of fighting in carolina. This talk was part of a symposium on the closing of the civil war cohosted by