U.S. President Bill Clinton on Wednesday presented the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military accolade, to 22 Asian-Americans, including 20 of Japanese descent, for their bravery in World War II.
In a ceremony held at the South Lawn of the White House, Clinton praised the recipients — who included a Chinese-American and a Filipino-American — for their valor and dedication "above and beyond the call of duty."
Beyond that, Clinton said the recipients accomplished their wartime valor "in the face of painful prejudice" against Japanese-Americans. "In so doing, they did more than defend America," he said. "They pushed us toward that more perfect union of our founders' dreams."
Among the Japanese-Americans honored by Clinton are 75-year-old Sen. Daniel Inouye from Hawaii and Barney Hajiro, 83. Most of the Asian-Americans honored Wednesday served in the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team — both highly decorated U.S. Army units in World War II.