Asian American Heroes
May 25, 2008
Strutting down his platoon of soldiers, an Army lieutenant flashes a photo in their faces. “This is what the enemy looks like,” he explains with conviction. Amidst the growing sound of snickers, the soldiers turn their heads to a small group of Asians hidden in the ranks. Their eyes dissect their confidence. Their glares doubt their loyalty. They wonder if they are the enemy. The Asians, too, wonder.
Asian American history tells this story time and time again. From Chinese, Filipinos and Japanese in the first half of the 20th century to Vietnamese, Koreans and Middle Easterners in more recent decades, Asian American servicemen and women have stood in the face of questions of allegiance, and at the center of the issues that divide our community into pro- or anti-war, Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. Loaded questions linger: How can you be loyal to a country that is not loyal to you? Why don’t you appreciate the freedoms and liberties the U.S. military provides? Why are you willing to die for a country that has probably killed your ancestors? How can you call yourself an American without being patriotic?
These dangerous oversimplifications create animosity within our community, and the unique lives, experiences and circumstances of the individual military servicemen and women are lost.
In hopes of focusing more on the Asian American military experience, Peter Swing profiles in this issue a young Air Force commander stationed in South Carolina, Major Seung Paik. Born in South Korea and raised in Chicago, his successes have paved the way for aspiring Asian American military officers to come. In the same light, but in an extremely different time period, Emil Guillermo discusses his thoughts on S. 1315 and why the benefits of Filipino War veterans haven’t already been paid.
In the spirit of the Memorial Day holiday, let us be reminded of the courage that these men and women endure during difficult times and adversity. We acknowledge their contributions and honor their oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” — even when it means that they themselves may be questioned.
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