To United States Postmaster General John Potter, Chairperson Jean Picker Firstenberg, and Members of the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee We, the undersigned, respectfully request that a commemorative postage stamp be issued soon honoring the contributions of the Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII. Though many of them and their families were unjustly incarcerated in internment camps, they fought to prove their loyalty to the United States of America. Also called the "Nisei" (or American-born children of Japanese immigrants) over 20,000 men served in the U.S. Army, and over 300 women served in the Women's Army Corps and Cadet Nurses Corps. The 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed of approximately 14,000 Japanese American soldiers, became the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in American history. Among their many awards, they earned eight Presidential Citations, over 9000 Purple Hearts, and twenty-one Medals of Honor. The 100th/442nd fought many battles. One of the most historic was the Rescue of the Lost Battalion in October 1944, when the unit led a heroic drive through German lines in the Vosges Mountains to rescue 211 surviving soldiers of the 36th Texas Division. For this the governor of Texas named the Nisei soldiers \"Honorary Texans.\" In 1945, the courageous actions of the 100th/442nd were critical in breaking the German Gothic Line. They fought the Germans through intense combat and liberated towns such as Bruyeres, Biffontaine, and Belvedere. They also helped free Holocaust victims from a Dachau concentration camp. Approximately 6,000 Japanese Americans served in the Pacific Theater in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) of the US Army. These soldiers utilized their knowledge of the Japanese language and culture to defeat the Japanese military in the Pacific. General Douglas MacArthur's intelligence chief, Major General Charles A. Willoughby, estimated that these contributions shortened the war by at least two years and saved countless lives in the process. For this, the MIS was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. The exemplary record of these veterans extends far beyond the call of duty which represents the highest level of American patriotism. Their actions merit the swift issuance of a postage stamp in their honor. Sincerely, The Undersigned

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