Chinese American service in World War II

Soldier kneels aiming down the iron sight of a Thompson submachine gun in front of a M3 Half-track.
Chinese American soldier training at Fort Knox, Kentucky

It has been estimated that between 12,000[1] and 20,000[2] Chinese American men, representing up to 22 percent of the men in their portion of the U.S. population, served during World War II.[3] Of those serving about 40 percent were not citizens,[4] and unlike Japanese and Filipino Americans, 75 percent served in non-segregated units.[4] Chinese Americans distinguished themselves from Japanese Americans, and suffered less discrimination.[5]

Service

A quarter of those would serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces, some of were sent to the Chinese-Burma-India theater for service with the 14th Air Service Group[6] and the Chinese-American Composite Wing.[7] Another 70 percent would go on to serve in the U.S. Army in various units, including the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 32nd and 77th Infantry Divisions.[3] Prior to the war, the U.S. Navy had recruited Chinese Americans but they had been restricted to serve only as stewards;[7] this continued until May 1942, when restrictions ceased and they were allowed to serve in other ratings.[7] In 1943, Chinese American women were accepted into the Women's Army Corps in the Military Intelligence Service.[8] They were also recruited for service in the Army Air Force, with a few later becoming civilian Women Airforce Service Pilots.[8][9]

Recognition

Captain Francis Wai of the 34th Infantry was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for actions on the island of Leyte in late 1944; this awarding was later elevated to a Medal of Honor in the 2000 review.[6] Wilbur Carl Sze became the first Chinese American officer commissioned in the Marine Corps.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wong, Kevin Scott (2005). Americans first: Chinese Americans and the Second World War. Harvard University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-674-01671-2. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  2. ↑ "One Fifth of Chinese Americans Fight Fascism in World War II". Xinhua News Agency. 28 May 2001. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  3. 1 2 "World War II/Post War Era". Timeline. Oakland Museum of California. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  4. 1 2 Williams, Rudi (3 June 2005). "DoD's Personnel Chief Gives Asian-Pacific American History Lesson". American Forces Press Service. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "Asian Americans:World War II". Calisphere. The Regents of The University of California. 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  6. 1 2 James C. McNaughton (3 August 2009). "Chinese-Americans in World War II". Center of Military History. United States Army. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 Wong, Kevin Scott (2005). Americans first: Chinese Americans and the Second World War. Harvard University Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-674-01671-2. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  8. 1 2 Rudi Williams (27 May 1999). "Asian Pacific American Women Served in World War II, Too". American Forces Press Service. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  9. ↑ McLellan, Dennis (23 October 2000). "Adding a Missing Piece to Mosaic of American History". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  10. ↑ Major Karen J. Gregory, USAFR. "Asian Pacific American Heritage Month" (PDF). Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. Retrieved 31 May 2011. On December 15, 1943, Wilbur Carl Sze was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and the first Chinese-American officer in the U.S. Marine Corps
    "apa-usmc02". Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2002. Department of Defense. 2002. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
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