Nisei Stamp Campaign Gains Nationwide Momentum
By NAO GUNJI
Rafu English Assistant Editor
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007

The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to review the proposal at a January meeting.

NAO GUNJI/Rafu Shimpo
The Nisei Veteran Stamp Campaign volunteers pose at their petition booth at the Ventura County JACL’s annual Japanese Cultural Day, Oct. 14 in Camarillo. Back row from left: Wayne Osako, Col. Henry Ikemoto, and Ventura County JACL Chapter President Jeff Kunisaki. Front row from left: Aiko King, Chiz Ohira, Mildred Ikemoto and Laura Shigemitsu.

“I just wanted to get something out before they pass away. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are now,” said Aiko O. King, her eyes well­ing up with tears.

King, 80, of Camarillo, is one of three Nisei women leading a national campaign to urge the U.S. Post Office’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend the issuance of a com­memorative stamp for Nisei WWII veterans.

Along with Chiz Ohira, wife of the late 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran Ted Ohira, and campaign or­ganizer/educator Wayne Osako, King participated in the Ventura Japanese American Citizens League’s annual Japanese Cultural Day, held Oct. 14 at the Camarillo Community Center, in order to gather signatures for the cam­paign petition.

As a longtime stamp collector, King talked about her dream of having the Nisei soldier stamp issued to Ohira and Fusa Takahashi. The women launched the campaign a few years ago, however, it was not until Osako joined the drive last year that it started gaining national recognition.

The Nisei women approached the Sansei, who at that time worked at the Go For Broke National Education Center as an educational consultant. “I said, ‘Of course. Definitely, I’ll help,’” Osako told Rafu Shimpo at the Ca­marillo event.

Since then, Osako, whose relatives served the 442nd and the Military Intel­ligence Service, has been successful in having elected officials, including Rep. John Mizuno, Rep. Mike Honda, Rep. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Xavier Becerra, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, and organizations, such as JACL and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, involved in the campaign.

As of Oct. 13, the group has obtained more than 8,000 signatures. The Inde­pendent Cities Association, which is governed by a 20-member Board of Di­rectors elected by the 54 member cities throughout Southern California, voted Oct. 11 for a resolution to support the campaign. Also, Osako was recently no­tified that the Advisory Committee will review the proposal at their Jan. 24-25, 2008 meeting. A state resolution will be presented in California and Hawaii next year in support of the campaign.

“It takes them at least three years from the time they decide on a stamp subject and to actually design, create and issue the stamp,” Osako explained.

And that means the Nisei vet stamp will be considered for the 2010 issuance at the earliest.

“I hope to live that long,” said Col. Henry Ikemoto, a 442nd veteran, who was also at the JACL event with the campaign group and his wife Mildred. “You have to keep shoving, you can’t give up,” he said.

Ikemoto, 83, remembered his brother collecting commemorative stamps as a child. His brother taught young Ikemoto that each of those stamps had a history behind it. “It has to be something very important to be a stamp, so I feel very honored. I think it’s very nice and ap­preciative to be commended,” said the Nisei veteran.

Ohira, a Gardena resident, recalls her husband Ted, who died last March of a heart condition, was very supportive of the campaign. “(Ted) was in favor of it,” she said. “He’d have people sign the petition, but those veterans, a lot of them are typical Japanese-type of vets. They don’t like to sing high praise.”

Ohira said her husband suffered Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and oc­casionally had nightmares. “When they see the stamp, I’d like them to know what the veterans have gone through. Other­wise, Nisei veterans, who are they? The 442nd, what are they? They wouldn’t know. Maybe through the stamp, they would open up and learn something about them,” the widow said.

This month, the group launched an online petition, www.niseistamp.org, in an attempt to build nationwide momen­tum and collect 20,000 signatures by the end of this year. Osako said that they’d received comments from European WWII veterans, the Lost Battalion sur­vivors and their family members through the Internet petition.

“It’s fascinating to read, but it’s also inspiring the campaign to go forward and really push for this long overdue stamp,” Osako continued. “As Nisei veterans leave us, their stories will also leave us unless we work hard to preserve and cherish the history.”

For those who wish to support the Nisei WWII Stamp Campaign, visit the online petition at www.niseistamp.org or write to elected officials to sign a “Dear Colleague” Congressional Letter.