Decades after their deaths in WWII, U.S. Army posthumously commissions 2 Nisei soldiers from Kauaʻi

The Secretary of the Army has posthumously promoted seven second-generation Japanese American soldiers, known as Nisei, who were former University of Hawaiʻi Army Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, to the rank of second lieutenant.

The seven men, who were killed in action in Europe during World War II while serving in the famed 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, were denied commissions at the time because of wartime prejudice.

The honor includes two soldiers who were born in Kauaʻi: Sgt. Daniel Betsui (1922 – 1944), who was born in Hanapēpē and Sgt. Howard Urabe (1923 – 1944), who was born in Kapaʻa.

Betsui attended the University of Hawaiʻi from the fall of 1940 until Dec. 7, 1941 (the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor) and transitioned into the Hawaiʻi Territorial Guard on Dec. 8, 1941.

He became a member of the Varsity Victory Volunteers in February 1942 and inducted in the 232nd Combat Engineer Company of the 442nd RCT on March 12, 1943.

He died on Aug. 2, 1944 near Livorno, Italy during the Rome-Arno Campaign when a crate of TNT exploded, killing eleven soldiers.

Urabe also attended the University of Hawaiʻi from the fall of 1940 until Dec. 7, 1941 and transitioned into the Hawaii Territorial Guard on Dec. 7, 1941.

He became a member of the Varsity Victory Volunteers in February 1942 and inducted in G Company, 2nd BN of the 442nd RCT on March 24,1943.

He was killed by fragments from an artillery shell on July 4, 1944 in the vicinity of Port Piombino, Italy near Hill 140 during the Rome-Arno Campaign.

The promotions follow a June 26, 2024, request from the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation urging the Department of Defense and the Department of the Army to review the military records of the seven cadets and consider their eligibility for posthumous officer commissions.

The seven servicemembers were cadets in the University of Hawaiʻi’s Army ROTC program, which was suspended during World War II. Shortly after signing up with the Hawaiʻi Territorial Guard, all Nisei were expelled under policies related to Executive Order 9066 and widespread anti-Japanese American discrimination.

After being removed, the seven service members volunteered to serve in the US Army as enlisted soldiers in the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team. All seven were killed in combat in Europe in 1944.

“These young men wanted to serve as leaders in the US Army,” said U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, who represents Hawaiʻi. “They trained for it. They earned it. And, they were denied that chance because of wartime prejudice.

“But they still put on the uniform and gave their lives in defense of our country. Today, we finally recognize them as the officers they were meant to be. This is about acknowledging the history of our Nisei veterans and honoring their sacrifice the way it should have been honored 80 years ago.”

The other former cadets who were posthumously commissioned as second lieutenants are:

• Staff Sgt. Grover Nagaji (1920 – 1944, Born in Honolulu)
• Sgt. Robert Murata (1922 – 1944, Born in Honolulu)
• Sgt. Jenhatsu Chinen (1922 – 1944, Born in Wahiawa)
• Private First Class Hiroichi Tomita (1923 – 1944, Born in Wailuku)
• Private Akio Nishikawa (1922 – 1944, Born in Pāʻia)

The University of Hawaiʻi awarded all seven men posthumous bachelor’s degrees in 2012, but they were not commissioned as officers at the time of their deaths due to their earlier expulsion from the ROTC program.

The Army’s decision to grant these promotions was based on documentation and research provided by the University of Hawaiʻi Army ROTC program and the review process requested by the Hawai’i Congressional Delegation.

“The promotion of these seven former UH Army ROTC cadets is a meaningful, long-overdue step to recognize these brave men who served our country and fought alongside their fellow Americans on the battlefield in WWII,” U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono said.

“I’m glad to see the Army is doing the right thing,” U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said. “These servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and deserve every honor they’ve rightfully earned.

U.S. Rep. Ed Case said: “These seven sons of Hawai‘i were just barely out of their teens in our UH ROTC program when their commitment to serve their country loyally as United States Army officers was questioned by that country solely because of their race. Their perseverance in proving that loyalty as volunteer enlisted soldiers led to their ultimate sacrifice far from their home on the battlefields of Italy and France.”

Lt. Col. Jerrod Melander, University of Hawaiʻi professor of military science, said the promotions are “one way to maintain the connection with our past and keep the legacy alive. We shall never forget!”