Voices of Asian American veterans
Student-Veterans Matt Seto and Amy Au hosted the Inter-generational Forum with members of the American Legion Chinatown Post. (Photo by Samuel Tsoi)
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Jun 5, 2009
By Samuel Tsoi
On April 28, University of Massachusetts Boston’s Asian American Studies Program (AASP) held an intergenerational veterans forum which brought together veterans from all walks of life. Some of them served the country as early as World War II, while others are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They came together to share stories, talk about their commitment to service, and reflect about identity and the meaning of patriotism.
In addition to commerce, science, academia, and the arts, the contribution of Asian Americans to the United States Military has made remarkable imprints in the country’s fabric. “[The story of Asian American veterans] is rarely heard,” introduced Matthew Seto, a recent veteran who currently studies at UMass and organized the forum. “Many do not listen to the voices of veterans anymore,” he added. Stories of veterans are ones of great sacrifice, commitment and service which all citizens should listen to and learn from.
Besides mutual support and sharing of stories, veterans are also contributing to communities by supporting community and youth development programs. “Don’t dismiss us as a group of old fellas with funny hats and occasional parades,” former National Commander for the American Legion, John Comer, said.
There is a rich history of Asian American contributions to the military, highlighted most recently by the current Secretary of Veteran Affairs, General Eric Shinseki. General Shinseki, a Japanese American from Hawaii had a long and distinguished military career, starting at West Point Military Academy in the 1960s, to being the Military’s Chief of Staff until 2003.
In a recent speech celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, President Obama remarked: “[Asian Americans] are serving in positions of leadership within the government more now than ever before. And along with all of our great service men and women, they have defended the United States from threats at home and abroad, serving our nation with valor.”
Many Asian Americans, ranging from Filipino to Chinese to Japanese decent among others, have served in all branches of the military in various capacities and ranks.
The forum presented a group from the local American Legion Post No. 328, also known as the Boston Chinatown Post, represented by Commander Alvin Wing, who served in the Air Force through the Vietnam War, and David Ching, who served in the US Army as a career radar specialist.
The post was started fifty years ago by a group of Chinese American World War II servicemen returning to Massachusetts with new feelings of belonging and patriotism.
Certainly, when one has served the country in its hour of need and stood the test of battle, one will feel a deeper sense of being part of the United States of America.
During the forum, a presentation by student-veteran Amy Au vividly illustrated the struggle for identity, belonging, and self-discovery. As part of a project for the Asian American Media Literacy class, Au’s video “American Born Chinese” showed the journey of her typical upbringing in an immigrant household in Boston, then Malden. “My parents gave us everything they never had,” Au reflected on her parents’ tireless efforts to provide through long hours at restaurants.
She went through a period of rebellion, but eventually returned home to be a “good Chinese daughter.” Soon after, she would go against the expectation of Asian American girls, and joined the Army at the age of 17 to “taste freedom.” There are very low numbers of Asian Americans in the military, perhaps 1 in 200, and Au was the only Asian American female in her unit.
Au, indeed, sojourned through the road less traveled, and in the process served honorably, discovered her inner strength, learned to appreciate her family’s sacrifices and the opportunities and freedom this country offer.
After her four honorable years of service, she is now finishing her degree in sociology and has already completed the AASP. She looks forward to attending graduate school for social work, and regularly volunteers in the community.
Au is well on her way to carrying on the rich tradition of service, just as many of the Chinatown Post members did. As the Post celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, it reflects on the remarkable members’ contribution to Chinatown, including commercial development, non-profit, and human services agencies that are still fixtures of civic life in Chinatown and the greater Asian American community in Massachusetts today.
Veteran groups across the city like the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System also serve the Asian communities through recruitment, workforce development, and scholarship programs.
Another student-veteran Richard Sann, who served in the Navy, is the son of Cambodian refugees. Sann lost two good friends during combat while deployed in Iraq in 2003. It was in those profound moments that he renewed his appreciation and empathy for his mother’s journey to escape war, and the struggle she must have felt while seeing her own son willingly putting himself in harm’s way.
Matthew Seto, who served on a Marines aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, reflected on how service opened many doors for him and how he is proud to represent his Asian American heritage, while hopefully paving the way for others to see military service as a viable and worthwhile option.
Although the older veterans recounted more severe stories of discrimination and racism in the military, the current veterans still have their own barriers to overcome. For instance, while other larger minority groups are allowed to observe their respective heritage months, Au had to petition to attend AAPI Heritage Month events.
Peter Kiang, director of the UMass AASP, applauded the inter-generational forum, and noted how UMass has had a long history of supporting student-veterans. “In the 1970s, many of the veterans who returned to the area attended UMass, not interested in the ideological battles back home, but wanted to seriously examine the consequences of war, rebuild lives and reconnect to community,” Kiang said. “Stories spoken today are very humanistic,” he added, which is what makes UMass’ scholarship and community relevant, extraordinary and welcoming.
Samuel Tsoi is a Sampan correspondent
On April 28, University of Massachusetts Boston’s Asian American Studies Program (AASP) held an intergenerational veterans forum which brought together veterans from all walks of life. Some of them served the country as early as World War II, while others are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They came together to share stories, talk about their commitment to service, and reflect about identity and the meaning of patriotism.
In addition to commerce, science, academia, and the arts, the contribution of Asian Americans to the United States Military has made remarkable imprints in the country’s fabric. “[The story of Asian American veterans] is rarely heard,” introduced Matthew Seto, a recent veteran who currently studies at UMass and organized the forum. “Many do not listen to the voices of veterans anymore,” he added. Stories of veterans are ones of great sacrifice, commitment and service which all citizens should listen to and learn from.
Besides mutual support and sharing of stories, veterans are also contributing to communities by supporting community and youth development programs. “Don’t dismiss us as a group of old fellas with funny hats and occasional parades,” former National Commander for the American Legion, John Comer, said.
There is a rich history of Asian American contributions to the military, highlighted most recently by the current Secretary of Veteran Affairs, General Eric Shinseki. General Shinseki, a Japanese American from Hawaii had a long and distinguished military career, starting at West Point Military Academy in the 1960s, to being the Military’s Chief of Staff until 2003.
In a recent speech celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, President Obama remarked: “[Asian Americans] are serving in positions of leadership within the government more now than ever before. And along with all of our great service men and women, they have defended the United States from threats at home and abroad, serving our nation with valor.”
Many Asian Americans, ranging from Filipino to Chinese to Japanese decent among others, have served in all branches of the military in various capacities and ranks.
The forum presented a group from the local American Legion Post No. 328, also known as the Boston Chinatown Post, represented by Commander Alvin Wing, who served in the Air Force through the Vietnam War, and David Ching, who served in the US Army as a career radar specialist.
The post was started fifty years ago by a group of Chinese American World War II servicemen returning to Massachusetts with new feelings of belonging and patriotism.
Certainly, when one has served the country in its hour of need and stood the test of battle, one will feel a deeper sense of being part of the United States of America.
During the forum, a presentation by student-veteran Amy Au vividly illustrated the struggle for identity, belonging, and self-discovery. As part of a project for the Asian American Media Literacy class, Au’s video “American Born Chinese” showed the journey of her typical upbringing in an immigrant household in Boston, then Malden. “My parents gave us everything they never had,” Au reflected on her parents’ tireless efforts to provide through long hours at restaurants.
She went through a period of rebellion, but eventually returned home to be a “good Chinese daughter.” Soon after, she would go against the expectation of Asian American girls, and joined the Army at the age of 17 to “taste freedom.” There are very low numbers of Asian Americans in the military, perhaps 1 in 200, and Au was the only Asian American female in her unit.
Au, indeed, sojourned through the road less traveled, and in the process served honorably, discovered her inner strength, learned to appreciate her family’s sacrifices and the opportunities and freedom this country offer.
After her four honorable years of service, she is now finishing her degree in sociology and has already completed the AASP. She looks forward to attending graduate school for social work, and regularly volunteers in the community.
Au is well on her way to carrying on the rich tradition of service, just as many of the Chinatown Post members did. As the Post celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, it reflects on the remarkable members’ contribution to Chinatown, including commercial development, non-profit, and human services agencies that are still fixtures of civic life in Chinatown and the greater Asian American community in Massachusetts today.
Veteran groups across the city like the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System also serve the Asian communities through recruitment, workforce development, and scholarship programs.
Another student-veteran Richard Sann, who served in the Navy, is the son of Cambodian refugees. Sann lost two good friends during combat while deployed in Iraq in 2003. It was in those profound moments that he renewed his appreciation and empathy for his mother’s journey to escape war, and the struggle she must have felt while seeing her own son willingly putting himself in harm’s way.
Matthew Seto, who served on a Marines aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, reflected on how service opened many doors for him and how he is proud to represent his Asian American heritage, while hopefully paving the way for others to see military service as a viable and worthwhile option.
Although the older veterans recounted more severe stories of discrimination and racism in the military, the current veterans still have their own barriers to overcome. For instance, while other larger minority groups are allowed to observe their respective heritage months, Au had to petition to attend AAPI Heritage Month events.
Peter Kiang, director of the UMass AASP, applauded the inter-generational forum, and noted how UMass has had a long history of supporting student-veterans. “In the 1970s, many of the veterans who returned to the area attended UMass, not interested in the ideological battles back home, but wanted to seriously examine the consequences of war, rebuild lives and reconnect to community,” Kiang said. “Stories spoken today are very humanistic,” he added, which is what makes UMass’ scholarship and community relevant, extraordinary and welcoming.
Samuel Tsoi is a Sampan correspondent
Article Reference: http://www.sampan.org/show_article.php?display=1987
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