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Fifth Column
Nine Japanese Americans Veterans Groups Criticize Watada
2006-08-24
Nine Japanese American veterans groups have publicly criticized Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada for his decision to disobey deployment orders to serve in Iraq.

Watada, an officer based at Fort Lewis, is trying to "make himself a martyr and a hero," said Robert Wada, a charter president of the Japanese American Korean War Veterans. He said Watada's actions disrespect a legacy of military service by Japanese American soldiers dating back to World War II. "No Japanese Americans did anything like that, and that is why Japanese Americans are so upset," Wada said. "He is doing something that has never been done by Japanese Americans."
Thank you Mr. Wada both for your clarity and for your past service.
The groups expressed their outrage at Watada this week in a public statement.

Watada, 28, from Hawaii, refused to deploy to Iraq on June 22 with his unit. He is now awaiting the finding of a hearing held last week that could lead to his court-martial on charges of conduct unbecoming an officer, missing troop movement and contempt toward officials.

"No one refused to go just because they didn't believe in the war," Wada said. "We went to Korea, and we didn't know what the hell we were there for. ... But nobody refused to go."

That's not exactly the case, said Seattle resident Frank Abe. He produced "Conscience and the Constitution," a documentary about Japanese Americans who resisted the World War II draft because they and their families were held in internment camps for years after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Wada is "overlooking the fact that 315 Japanese Americans in World War II resisted the draft as a means of protesting the forced incarceration of their families," Abe said Wednesday. "They took a principled stand. These nisei, these second-generation Japanese Americans, were willing to serve in the armed forces, but only after their constitutional rights were restored," he said.
Yes, 315 Japanese-Americans refused to serve in WWII. But tens of thousands volunteered. Those soldiers fought in Europe and accumulated one of the best combat records of any Army unit. Puts it into perspective, doesn't it?
In one sense, Watada's case differs from the nisei resisters because he opposes the current war while the resisters did not object to the United States' involvement in World War II, Abe said. But in another sense, Watada and the resisters are similar in that both objected to actions by their government, he said.

Bob Watada, the lieutenant's father, said his son is grateful for the veterans who fought in previous wars and he isn't dishonoring their legacy. "My son is doing the same thing, fighting for the Constitution, fighting to preserve civil liberties," Bob Watada said. "He is standing up for our Constitution and all the principles it stands for."
Your son is a misguided coward.
Ehren Watada had scheduled a news conference at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles, but it was canceled after veterans complained that it would be inappropriate. The center is home to several memorials honoring fallen veterans, including Watada's uncle, who died in the Korean War.

The groups opposing Watada include the Japanese American Korean War Veterans, Americans of Japanese Ancestry WWII Memorial Alliance, five Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and American Legion post and the Nisei Veterans Coordinating Council of Southern California.
"He is also similar because he looks sort of Japanese and has a Japaneezy sort of name. He has also been observed eating sushi."
Posted by:Anonymoose

#7  yea and 315 that didn't go just wanted their family out of the intern camps can't really blame them.
Posted by: djohn66   2006-08-24 13:45  

#6  I can understand the reluctance of some internees to answer the draft call, but Watada wasnÂ’t drafted. He choose to join the Army, signed a contract, the Army trained him, and then he double-crossed them. Hard to say youÂ’re a victim when you made a conscience decision and youÂ’re an adult. Too bad the Army did away with public floggings because I would vote for that if I was on Courts Martial panel.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-08-24 13:02  

#5  Watada's another one of those idiots who thought the military was a career move or job-training vocational school.

Read the bottom line before signing on the dotted line: IN WARTIME, EXPECT TO BE CALLED TO DUTY. YOU MAY GET KILLED OR HURT.
Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden   2006-08-24 12:13  

#4  The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service, in the entire history of the U.S. Military. The 4,000 men who initially came in April 1943 had to be replaced nearly 3.5 times. In total, about 14,000 men served, ultimately earning 9,486 Purple Hearts , 21 Medals of Honor and an unprecedented eight Presidential Unit Citations.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-08-24 11:50  

#3  Too fucking bad. He volunteered for the military, therefore he has to go where they tell him too.

You swore an oath, of your own free will, dickhead. Now you should be shot for base stupidity.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-08-24 11:45  

#2  This sort of thing really rankles the traditional Japanese personality.

Call it a cultural offense, as if some American had come out to say that not only had he eaten dog meat, he liked it, and he was going to BBQ himself up some more pooches.

Well, okay, maybe not *that* bad.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-08-24 11:38  

#1  Swore an oath, and broke it. Traitor and liar. Simple as that.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-08-24 11:03  

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