HONOLULU (AP) – Japanese-American World War II veterans are preparing to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in a future ceremony after President Barack Obama announced it would be awarded last fall.
Details of the event to honor the veterans will be announced Monday at Iolani Palace, where the community bid farewell to the soldiers on the same day in 1943.
About 36 veterans are expected to attend Monday’s event in anticipation of the award ceremony.
The medal is being awarded collectively to those who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service.
The 100th and 442nd soldiers served in Europe while those in MIS translated and interpreted Japanese military communications in the Pacific.
The 442nd became the most highly decorated military unit in U.S. history.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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