75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
 LC 696
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                     House Joint Memorial 8
                  Ordered by the House April 3
            Including House Amendments dated April 3
 
Sponsored by Representative CLEM; Representatives BAILEY, BARKER,
  BARNHART, BEYER, BOONE, BUCKLEY, CANNON, COWAN, DEMBROW, D
  EDWARDS, GARRETT, GILLIAM, HARKER, KAHL, KOMP, KOTEK, KRIEGER,
  MATTHEWS, READ, RILEY, ROBLAN, SCHAUFLER, SHIELDS, J SMITH,
  STIEGLER, TOMEI, WITT
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Urges Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to create postage stamp
commemorating  { + 100th Infantry Battalion and + } 442nd
Regimental Combat Team of United States Army for service during
World War II.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service and
  the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7,
1941, thrust the United States into World War II; and
  Whereas most Americans eligible for military duty were called
upon to serve their country in the Armed Forces of the United
States; and
  Whereas Japanese-Americans were categorized as '4C (enemy
aliens)' who were not eligible for military service; and
  Whereas many Japanese-Americans were required to live in
relocation camps in the western United States, from which they
were not free to leave for the duration of the war; and
  Whereas Japanese-Americans residing in relocation camps
petitioned the federal government to be allowed to volunteer for
military service; and
  Whereas in June 1942, the 100th Infantry Battalion?known as the
One-Puka-Puka?was formed by the United States Army in Hawaii,
consisting of more than 1,400 Nisei, or second-generation
Americans of Japanese ancestry; and
  Whereas the 100th Infantry Battalion so impressed military
trainers at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, that on February 1, 1943, the
federal government reversed its decision and allowed other
Japanese-Americans to volunteer for military service, and formed
 
the 442nd Regimental Combat Team?whose motto became 'Go For
Broke' ?of the United States Army; and
  Whereas these Japanese-American volunteers served in the 100th
Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the
Military Intelligence Service, saving tens of thousands of lives
because of their knowledge of the Japanese language and culture
and helping the Allies end World War II more quickly in the
Pacific; and
  Whereas the 100th Infantry Battalion deployed to Oran, Algeria,
in September 1943, then subsequently redeployed to Salerno,
Italy, where the unit took Monte Milleto, joined in the assault
on Monte Cassino, suffering heavy casualties, and continued on to
help defend the beachhead at Anzio, Italy; and
  Whereas the 442nd Regimental Combat Team landed at Anzio in
June 1944, and joined the 100th Infantry Battalion in
Civitavecchia, north of Rome; and
  Whereas the 100th Infantry Battalion was officially assigned to
the 442nd Regimental Combat Team as its 1st Battalion but was
allowed to keep its unit designation in recognition of its
distinguished fighting record; and
  Whereas the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental
Combat Team engaged in combat operations continuously for 12
months throughout northern Italy, France and Germany, including
the rescue of the 'Lost Battalion' at Biffontaine, France, an
operation in which the unit sustained more than 800
casualties?nearly half of its roster?during a five-day period;
and
  Whereas the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental
Combat Team became the most decorated unit in United States
military history for its size and length of service, including 21
Medals of Honor and 9,486 Purple Hearts; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service
and the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee are respectfully
requested to create a postage stamp commemorating the 100th
Infantry Battallion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for heroic
service and sacrifice to the United States of America and its
fellow citizens during World War II.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of
the United States, to the Senate Majority Leader, to the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, to the Postmaster General of the
United States and to each member of the Oregon Congressional
Delegation.
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