Oahu parade honors Japanese-American WWII veterans [View all]

Alan Rhoads gives a flag to veteran Theodore Wakai before the start of a parade in Waikiki honoring Japanese American WWII veterans, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 in Honolulu.

By Associated Press
POSTED: 07:23 a.m. HST, Dec 17, 2011
LAST UPDATED: 01:08 p.m. HST, Dec 17, 2011

Hundreds of Japanese-American World War II veterans have been honored with a parade in Honolulu — nearly 70 years after they volunteered to fight for their country even as the government branded them "enemy aliens."

The event Saturday celebrated the Congressional Gold Medal the veterans received in Washington, D.C., last month at a ceremony, which some did not attend because of fragile health.

About 200 of them rode through Waikiki in convertibles, troop carriers and trolleys, with a crowd of tourists, family and local residents cheering from the roadside.

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Two-thirds of the Japanese-Americans who served were from Hawaii.

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Four-Forty-Second Infantry— We're the boys of Hawai'i nei— We'll fight for you And the Red, White and Blue, And go to the front... And back to Honolulu-lulu. Fighting for dear old Uncle Sam Go for broke! HOOH! We don't give a damn! We'll round up the Huns At the point of our guns, And vict'ry will be ours! GO FOR BROKE! FOUR-FOUR-TWO! GO FOR BROKE! FOUR-FOUR-TWO! And vict'ry will be ours!