Ellison Onizuka

Seven crew members killed after the space shuttle, Challenger, broke apart 73 seconds after being launched on it’s tenth mossion on January 28, 1986. The seven crew members were Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, and Judish Resnik.

* Ellison Onizuka was an astronaut from Kealakekua, Kona, HI. He was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, presented the Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and many more.He later became Colonel Onizuka, a mission specialist.

Hiroo Onoda

29 years after the end of World War II, Hiroo Onoda comes out from hiding in the jungle in the Philippines and surrender has died at the age of 91. On Thursday, January

16, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan Onoda passed away. On Friday, Yoshihide Suga, Chief government spokesman, expressed his condolences and praised Onoda for his strong will to live and indomitable spirit. He stated, “After World War II, Mr. Onoda lived int he jungle for many years and when he retured to Japan, I felt that finally, the war was finished. That’s how I felt.”

Onoda was an intelligence officer who came out of hiding on Lubang island in the Philippines in March 1974, on his 52nd birthday. His surrender was when his former commander flew there to reverse his 1945 orders to stay behind and spy on the American troops. After emerging from the jungle with another WWII hold out, Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi, in 1972 and returning hom they were welcomed as incredible heroes. They were in hiding for so long because Japanese were taught that complete loyalty to the country is the most respectable thing and that death was better than surrendering. Even when his own family members had called to him over loudspeakers and flights had urged him to surrender, Onoda refused.

Onoda had surrendered to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos with his 30 year old imperial military uniform, cap and sword, in very good condition.

After his welcoming ceremony had died down he ended up buying land in Brazil and later was head of children’s nature school in northern Japan. From his experience Onoda stated, “I don’t consider those 30 years a waste of time…Without that experience, I wouldn’t have my life today.” However, he understood his limited time, “I do everything twice as fast so I can make up for the 30 years. I wish someone could eat and sleep for me so I can work 24 hours a day.”

In Onoda’s earlier years he worked for a Japanese trading firm in Shanghai after finishing high school in 1939 and was drafted three years later. In 1944 Onoda was sent to Lubang, about 90 miles from Manila. Other Japanese troops surrendered when US troops landed in Lubang in February 1945, though hundreds went missing a for years after the war.

On Feb. 20 1974 Norio Suzuki, a young globe-trotter, came in contact with Onoda. They eventually started talking. Suzuki returned to Japan and contacted the government, which located Onoda’s superior, Maj Yoshimi Taniguchi, and flew him to Lubang to deliver his surrender order in person.

Hiroo Onoda did the most loyal, comitted, and honorable act of a soldier. He had an order and he stuck with it until the one person who gave him that order, came to tell him in person. Also, I find it funny how Onoda says that he wants someone to eat and sleep for him  so he could work. After years of hiding, and crucial conditions, and survival tactics, he wants to continue to work. He gives meaning in his life and stays an active member of society.

“If you have a heart for serving it, you can do it.” Paull Shin a state Legislature who had served for more than two decades has decided to step down. On January 7, 2014 Shin had revealed that he was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. In 1992, Shin had made history as the first Korean American to be elected to the Washington State Legislature.

Paull Shin was adopted during the Korean war by an American soldier. When he was a teenager he learned to read; furthermore, he later on eraned a doctorate from the University of Washington and became an East Asian studies professor. As the first Korean American to be active in the state Legislature, he has inspired many immigrants of the younger generation to enter the political sphere. Metropolitan King County Council canidate Shari Song, Shoreline City Council member Cheryl Lee, and state Representative Cindy Ryu were all inspired by Paull Shin’s service and call themselves Shin’s “political daughters.”

As well as his role as a pioneer for Asian Americans he had also promoted and pushed for trade between Washington and Asian countries. He was a well respected man who had his personal faith still ahead of him, but never bashed opposing views such as same-sex marriage. Also, in 2002 he had succeeded in terminating the term “Oriental” from the state code and his bill became the first law in the country to identify people of Asian descent as “Asian.” The term “Spanish Americans” had elso been changed to “Hispanics” as well.

His stepping down may be a saddening moment because of the things he has accomplished for the country; however, he has created a pathway, or stepping stones of confidence for Asians to be more involved with the country and progress. I find it very interesting that he had been adopted by an American soldier during the Korean war as well as the life that he has come to live. An American soldier adopted one of the “enemies” and that child turned out to be an active member of the United States Government. That is amazing.

Also, the feats. that he had accomplished during his terms shows how there are still prejudices in modern day. He has paved a path for change for all Asian Americans and has inspired many more Asians to take charge.