Photo provided by David Miyoshi
On a warm August afternoon last Sunday, the streets of Little Tokyo bore witness to a powerful symbol of heritage, sacrifice, and resilience.
As part of the 2025 Nisei Week Parade, the Veterans Memorial Court Alliance (VMCA) and the Asian American Community Media Project (AAcomp) proudly helped gather Japanese American veterans from every major conflict in recent U.S. history — from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan — for a momentous march that honored the generations of service across decades.
This year, marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the Nisei Week Foundation bestowed its Inspiration Award to the Japanese American Vietnam veterans. Before commencing their march, VMCA and AAcomp captured a historic group photo of all parade march participants, placing the Vietnam veterans prominently at the front.
Each individual in the image stands not only as a testament to personal courage but also as a proud descendant of the trailblazing Nisei soldiers whose service in World War II forever changed the nation’s perception of Japanese Americans.
The photo and its accompanying listing of names and service branches underscore more than military valor — they affirm lineage and legacy. These veterans are the honored inheritors of the WWII Nisei warrior spirit: the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service, whose bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice earned admiration across the country, even while their families faced internment at home.
Today’s veterans have upheld that legacy with dignity and resolve. From the frozen terrain of Korea to the jungles of Vietnam, the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan, they have borne the burden of service while honoring the values instilled by their forebears. And to the Vietnam veterans, whose return was met with far too little recognition and gratitude, we say now, with deep sincerity and reverence: Welcome home.
This gathering was not merely ceremonial. It was generational. VMCA remains committed to preserving the Japanese American Memorial Court, where the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice are etched in granite.
In contrast, for those veterans who survived, AAcomp remains committed to proudly preserving their vital stories of loyalty, service, and commitment.
This year’s parade and photograph further ensure those honored memories live on not only in stone and video, but in the hearts and steps of every marcher who follows in their path. Name and military branch of veterans, from left:
Front row: Terry Weber (Navy), Vietnam; Wally Takata (Army), Korean War; David Miyoshi (Marines), Vietnam; Ken Hayashi (Army), Vietnam; Garry Tanaka (Army), Vietnam; Chris Segawa (Army), Vietnam; Keith Kawamoto (Army), Vietnam
Row 2: Ramiro Puentes (Army), Vietnam; Ray Fukumoto (Army), Vietnam; Cory Shiozaki (Army), Vietnam; Dennis Yamamoto (Army), Vietnam; Don Nakamura (Army), Vietnam; Mayumi Kimura (Navy), post 9/11
Row 3: Fred Maldonado (Navy), Vietnam; Art Ishii (Air Force), Vietnam; Kenji Hatakeyama (Army), Vietnam; Ken Sasaki (Army), Vietnam; Edward Sugita (Army), Vietnam; Ron Kita (U.S. National Guard), Vietnam
Row 4: Earnest Low (Navy), Vietnam; Richard Odagawa (Army), Vietnam; Les Higa (Army), Korea
Row 5: Ron Nakawatase (Army), Vietnam; Eddie Ohara (Army), Vietnam; Jack Lew (Army), Vietnam; Scott Takahashi (Army), Vietnam; Shunji Hosozawa (Army), Vietnam; Ken Tanaka (Navy), Vietnam; James Ota (Air Force), Vietnam; Eddie Yorizane (Army), Vietnam
Row 6: Kiyo Fukumoto (Army), Vietnam; George Tanaka (Army), Vietnam; Tim Yoshinaga (Air Force), Gulf Wars
Row 7: Russell Nakaishi (California National Guard); Sonny Tasaki (Army), Vietnam; Bryant Ng (Air Force), Vietnam; Roger Yasunaga (Army), Vietnam; Larry Miyamura (Army), Vietnam; Mike Uyeda (Army), Gulf Wars
Row 8: Jin Kwan (Army), Vietnam; Yuji Toda (Navy), active duty; Ricky Taira (Army), Vietnam; Nolan Tanaka (Air Force), post Vietnam; Don Suehiro (Army), Korea DMZ; Cliff Ishigaki (Marines), Vietnam; Ron Shintani (Army), Vietnam; Gregory Sugioka (Army), Vietnam
Not shown: Tyson Takeuchi (Army), active duty; David Sumida (Navy), Global War on Terror
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