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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 12, 2008

Nisei vets deserve a stamp in their honor

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You can buy a U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring The Incredible Hulk. It's part of the Marvel Comics Super Heroes series that also features such luminaries as Spider-Man, the Silver Surfer and Captain America.

How about a new stamp honoring authentic American heroes?

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, state lawmakers and others want the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to approve a stamp that pays tribute to the Japanese-American soldiers who served during World War II.

It would honor our nisei veterans, including those who served in the highly decorated 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service.

The story of these veterans is well known and part of our national history.

Their battlefield performance demonstrated a fierce loyalty to their country. It was also a rebuke to the shameful and racist policy of imprisoning Japanese-Americans in internment camps, and a permanent example of courage and perseverance in the service of the nation and in the face of great odds.

The stamp selection criteria requires that "stamp subjects have stood the test of time, are consistent with public opinion and have broad national interest."

By that standard, our nisei veterans deserve the honor. They have more than earned it.

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