Fort Bliss Monitor

Bliss observes Asian-Pacific heritage, diversity

Spc. Mark Miranda
11th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Fort Bliss celebrated ethnic and cultural diversity at the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Observance at Soldier Hall May 20.

Sponsored by the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the theme for this year’s observance was “Freedom for all, a Nation we call our own.”

The event opened with a visual presentation that highlighted Asian-Pacific Americans’ contributions to the country in sports, theater, politics and the military with figures such as architect I.M. Pei, Olympic Skater Kristy Yamaguchi, and Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, the highest-ranking Asian American in U.S. history.

Asian Americans have proudly served this country in the past and in the present. Several Asians have been noted for their courage and heroic efforts on the battlefield in defense of this country.

The observance noted that in 1941, there were 5,000 Japanese-Americans in the United States Armed Forces. Battalions of Nisei (second generation Japanese-American) Soldiers were sent to fight in Europe and Africa during World War II, among the most notable being the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

The unit was highly decorated, to include 18,000 awards for bravery, 9,500 Purple Hearts, and seven Presi-dential Distinguished Unit Citations awarded. In 2000, President Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to 22 Asian Pacific Americans who had also earned the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II.

Justice David Wellington Chew was the guest speaker for the observance. Born in El Paso, Chew was a student at University of Texas, El Paso, before he accepted a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy. After serving as an officer in the Navy, he entered into private law in El Paso. He was elected to the Eighth District Courts of Appeals and sworn in on January 1, 1995.

“As the most senior Asian-American elected official in the state of Texas, it’s always a pleasure to be at one of these occasions,” Chew said.

He recalled his experiences during his military service during Vietnam.

“Military service has probably been the greatest contributor to the diversity of our community; to the diversity we find in the United States,” Chew said.

He spoke of April 2004 census statistics that found that the 13.1 million Asians in the U.S. constitute about five percent of the population. Adding in the Pacific Islanders at almost one million adds another half percent.
“Since the last census in 2000, the Asian population has increased by nine percent,” Chew said.

Asian-Americans have also done well from an economic standpoint, making on average about $52,000 a year. Education-wise, 47 percent of all Asian and Pacific Islanders over the age of 25 have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher; 16 percent have a Masters’ Degree or higher.

“There’s really over 50 different ethnic, cultural, racial and language groups that comprise the Asia Pacific Islanders,” Chew said. “What is interesting to me is the fact that there are over 400,000 Asian Americans who are military veterans. That number includes my father, who in June of 1944 joined Company B of the 22nd Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division shortly after D-Day.”

The audience at the observance was also treated to demonstrations of cultural dances from performers Seta Stansbury and Tracy Sauerzopf. Dances included those from Hawaii, a Maori tribal dance from New Zealand, a Tahitian dance and a Samoan cultural dance.

The celebration is one of many events held every year and hosted by the Fort Bliss Equal Opportunity’s Office for Special Emphasis Pro-grams.



www.bliss.army.mil		Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 27, 2004

SPC. MARK MIRANDA Tracy Sauerzopf demonstrates cultural dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa.	Bliss observes Asian-Pacific heritage, diversity Spc. Mark Miranda 11th ADA Bde. Public Affairs Fort Bliss celebrated ethnic and cultural diversity at the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Observance at Soldier Hall May 20. Sponsored by the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the theme for this year’s observance was “Freedom for all, a Nation we call our own.” The event opened with a visual presentation that highlighted Asian-Pacific Americans’ contributions to the country in sports, theater, politics and the military with figures such as architect I.M. Pei, Olympic Skater Kristy Yamaguchi, and Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, the highest-ranking Asian American in U.S. history. Asian Americans have proudly served this country in the past and in the present. Several Asians have been noted for their courage and heroic efforts on the battlefield in defense of this country. The observance noted that in 1941, there were 5,000 Japanese-Americans in the United States Armed Forces. Battalions of Nisei (second generation Japanese-American) Soldiers were sent to fight in Europe and Africa during World War II, among the most notable being the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The unit was highly decorated, to include 18,000 awards for bravery, 9,500 Purple Hearts, and seven Presi-dential Distinguished Unit Citations awarded. In 2000, President Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to 22 Asian Pacific Americans who had also earned the Distinguished Service Cross in World War II. Justice David Wellington Chew was the guest speaker for the observance. Born in El Paso, Chew was a student at University of Texas, El Paso, before he accepted a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy. After serving as an officer in the Navy, he entered into private law in El Paso. He was elected to the Eighth District Courts of Appeals and sworn in on January 1, 1995. “As the most senior Asian-American elected official in the state of Texas, it’s always a pleasure to be at one of these occasions,” Chew said. He recalled his experiences during his military service during Vietnam. “Military service has probably been the greatest contributor to the diversity of our community; to the diversity we find in the United States,” Chew said. He spoke of April 2004 census statistics that found that the 13.1 million Asians in the U.S. constitute about five percent of the population. Adding in the Pacific Islanders at almost one million adds another half percent. “Since the last census in 2000, the Asian population has increased by nine percent,” Chew said. Asian-Americans have also done well from an economic standpoint, making on average about $52,000 a year. Education-wise, 47 percent of all Asian and Pacific Islanders over the age of 25 have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher; 16 percent have a Masters’ Degree or higher. “There’s really over 50 different ethnic, cultural, racial and language groups that comprise the Asia Pacific Islanders,” Chew said. “What is interesting to me is the fact that there are over 400,000 Asian Americans who are military veterans. That number includes my father, who in June of 1944 joined Company B of the 22nd Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division shortly after D-Day.” The audience at the observance was also treated to demonstrations of cultural dances from performers Seta Stansbury and Tracy Sauerzopf. Dances included those from Hawaii, a Maori tribal dance from New Zealand, a Tahitian dance and a Samoan cultural dance. The celebration is one of many events held every year and hosted by the Fort Bliss Equal Opportunity’s Office for Special Emphasis Pro-grams.