Bay Briefs
June 24, 2005
Interned Boy Scouts Hold Reunion
The Santa Clara County Council of Boy Scouts of America held a reunion dinner honoring Japanese American scouts interned during World War II.
When 120,000 Japanese Americans were sent to live in internment camps, many of the young boys and their families still embraced the Boy Scouts.
“Our parents wanted us to get integrated into American life as quickly as possible,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, a Heart Mountain Scout. “Scouting was one of those activities that they thought would do that.”
After the war, the scouts scattered –– rebuilding new lives and forgetting their time behind barbed wire.
More than two dozen old-time scouts gathered with many young new scouts at the first-ever reunion.
Survivors included Buddy Takata, 76, who earned an electrical engineering degree at UCLA. George Imokawa and his troop leader, Art Okuno, both got married and raised families less than 10 miles apart from each other but never crossed paths.
UCD Gets $4.48M to Reduce Cancer in APAs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. –– Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), announced $4.48 million from the National Cancer Institute for the UC Davis Cancer Center to lead a new nationwide effort to reduce cancer in Asian Americans by increasing cancer screenings and hepatitis B immunizations as well as promoting a healthy diet.
“[We] will lead the way in reducing the toll of this disease among all Asian Americans –– from the newest Hmong immigrants, who are at high risk of cancers caused by chronic infections, to fifth- and sixth-generation Chinese and Japanese Americans, who face rapidly increasing rates of such cancers as breast and colon cancer,” Matsui said in a statement.
Cancer claimed five of Matsui’s family members: her mother, father, sister-in-law and father-in-law. Her husband, Rep. Robert Matsui, died Dec. 31 from a form of bone marrow cancer.
The new grant builds on a previous NCI-funded project, known as the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training.
Davis’ Dr. Moon Chen, Jr. says the latest effort will “translate awareness into action.”
Chu Bill Yields HIV-AIDS Rebates
SACRAMENTO, Calif. –– With a 9-0 vote, Assembly Bill 8 by Assembly Member Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) was approved to require pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide state rebates for HIV-AIDS and cancer drugs.
The Senate Health Committee joined seniors, health care and AIDS advocacy groups pushing the bill. It is expected to save $17.7 million in supplemental rebates for drugs.
Chan Interim Pres. of Occidental College
LOS ANGELES –– UCLA alumnus Dr. Kenyon Chan was recently appointed as interim president of Occidental College in Los Angeles, making him part of a small group of Asian Americans who have been appointed as presidents of high education institutions in the United States. Chan is currently the dean and vice president for Academic Affairs at Occidental College.
Additionally, Chan received his undergraduate and doctoral degrees at UCLA, where he has held faculty and administrative positions. He has also held a number of other positions at CSU Northridge and Loyola Marymount University. Chan was a former president of the Association of Asian American Studies, and his current research focuses on Asian American children and families.
DA Harris Adds 2 APA Attorneys
SAN FRANCISCO –– District Attorney Kamala D. Harris announced the hire of three new deputies to the misdemeanor unit. The prosecutors are Karen Catalona, Long Do and Archibald Wong. Harris says she has heightened the enforcement of misdemeanor gun crimes. “We are sending clear and consistent messages that gun crimes will no longer be tolerated,” said Harris.
Long Do is a former litigation associate with Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk & Rabkin in San Francisco. He received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his JD from UCLA School of Law. Archibald Wong obtained his BA from UCSC, and his JD from Santa Clara University School of Law. He is a former deputy DA from Riverside County. Karen Catalona is a former deputy DA in Contra Costa County. She received her JD from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
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