By J.K. YAMAMOTO
Rafu Staff Writer

Nisei Memorial VFW Post 1961 held its Memorial Day service on May 26 at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute’s Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall.

After a musical medley by the Faith United Methodist Church Ensemble, opening remarks were made by Les Higa, Post 1969 junior vice commander and Veterans Memorial Court Alliance board member. The Gardena High School Army Junior ROTC presented and posted the colors.

Post Commander Stephen Moriyama led the Pledge of Allegiance, the Faith UMC Ensemble sang the national anthem, and Rev. Daniel Matsuda, senior pastor at Gardena Valley Baptist Church, gave the invocation.

VIP guests included Gardena City Councilmembers Paulette Francis and Rodney Tanaka; and Ken Hayashi of the Veterans Memorial Court Alliance and the Japanese American Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee.

The program included a tribute to Apache attack helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk Takeshi Fuchigami, Jr., 1^stBattalion, 227^thAviation Regiment, 1^stAir Cavalry Brigade, 1^stCavalry Division, who was killed in action while supporting U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan.

Born in Hawaii in 1994 and raised in Nevada, Fuchigami enlisted in the Army in 2016 and served until his death in 2019. He married McKenzie Norman just months before his deployment to Afghanistan. His awards include the Army Aviator Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

The Memorial Day message was delivered by filmmaker Cory Shiozaki, director of “The Manzanar Fishing Club.”

“A few years ago, I was invited by a fellow Vietnam veteran named Chris Segawa, a third-generation Japanese American, to join his group called the Buddhahead Breakfast Club,” he recalled. “I learned that over half of this group were Sansei Vietnam-era veterans that meet for breakfast the first of every month at King’s Hawaiian restaurant and bakery in Torrance.

“Meeting with these Vietnam veterans was the first time in over 50 years I’d shared about my military experience that I had remained silent (about) for decades for a war I was vehemently opposed to.

“Today’s message is to pay tribute to all veterans that made the ultimate sacrifice. But also, I would especially like to celebrate the surviving Sanseis that served during the Vietnam War who never received a thank-you or a welcome home.”

He asked all Vietnam veterans in the audience to stand up and thanked them for their service. He then acknowledged all of the veterans in attendance.

After showing a video about Sansei servicemen in Vietnam, Shiozaki noted, “There were approximately between 4,000-5,000 Sansei that served. Many were wounded, receiving the Purple Heart. However, what is not popularly known (is that) there were 117 Sanseis that were killed in action, with four receiving the Medal of Honor … I would like to honor those Sanseis that made the ultimate sacrifice to a country that so ill-treated their Nisei and Issei families during World War II.”

A video containing the names of those Sansei was shown.

Shiozaki also honored the 33,000 Japanese Americans who served in the military during World War II, many of whom did so while their families were incarcerated.

“We Sansei Vietnam veterans are grateful to stand on the shoulders of our Nisei parents,” he said.

The presentation included a music video of “Quiet Heroes,” a tribute to the Nisei soldiers by singer/songwriter Harold Payne. Payne attended the event and was recognized.

The posting of miniature flags was overseen by Moriyama and Post 1961 Adjutant Michael Miyamoto. Deceased members of Posts 1961, 4140, 9902 and 9938 were honored by VFW Women’s Club President Sue Watanabe.

Other attendees posted flags in memory of friends and family members, escorted by cadets from Redondo Union High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC and Gardena High School Army Junior ROTC and Boy Scouts from Troop 378, and assisted by Quartermaster Mickey Nozawa.

Special recognition was given to First Sgt. Steve Mick, who served with distinction from 1970 to 1997 with the U.S. Marine Corps. A decorated veteran, he saw combat in Vietnam and Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and was also deployed in Okinawa and mainland Japan. He was a door gunner on helicopters and an avionics technician before transitioning to artillery regiments. After retiring from active duty, he led the JROTC program, sharing his leadership experience and dedication to service with the next generation.

Mick was presented with a quilt from Quilts of Valor, represented by Don and Phyllis Generaux. The organization’s mission is to award quilts to service members or veterans who have been touched by war.

The program ended with a 21-rifle salute and the playing of “Taps” by the Redondo Union High School MCJROTC Honor Guard, a benediction by Rev. Masuda, the retiring of the colors by the Gardena High School AJROTC Color Guard, and closing remarks by Higa.

On May 25, a clean-up of more than 300 veterans’ gravesites at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles National Cemetery in West L.A. was carried out by scouts and adult leaders of Boy Scout Troop 719, Girl Scout Troop 310G, Boy Scout Troop 683, Boy Scout Troop 242, Boy Scout Troop 378, Girl Scout Troop 4345, and a few members of Post 1961. They trimmed overgrown grass, polished each grave marker, and secured American flags with post pendants and Buddy Poppies.

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