Atterbury, Ind., - Asian Pacific Americans have contributed to America's society and war time efforts since World War II, putting their lives on the line for their family and their country. The military celebrates these accomplishments in May, also known as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
"My grandfather fought bravely. He was eventually captured and killed in a Japanese concentration camp, leaving behind a wife and eight small children, one of them being my mother," said Dr. Laurimay Laroco, speaking of her grandfather, Herminio Limon, who served in the U.S. Army during WWII as a Philippine scout.
Service members, family, and friends of the 205th Infantry Brigade gathered to recognize Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, at the Sgt. Charles H. Seston U.S. Army Reserve Center, Ind., recently. Laroco, the guest speaker during the event, used her family to illustrate Asian Pacific American support.
"The youngest of the eight, my Uncle Junior, followed in his footsteps. He graduated from the Philippine Military Institute and retired as a general. His most notable career legacy was leading the team that brought down one of Al Qaeda's most dangerous terrorist groups in the Philippines," Laroco said.
Laroco touched on this year's theme "Building leadership: Embracing cultural values and inclusion." She suggested the audience apply familial stories to current society and rise above differences to create a world of inclusion.
"These are the stories, the cultural and oral histories, that make you proud of where you come from and how these chain of events were inspired by true leaders of that time -- those that demonstrated self-belief, motivation, inspiration, values of serving your country and fellow man," said Laroco.
These stories hold practical applications today, she explained.
"They learned to embrace the different cultures of the time, a great example of how inclusion of all members of a team can heed positive results," Laroco said.
Laroco went on to say she believes leaders today have a responsibility to lead by example.
"In order to promote the idea of inclusion and cultural awareness to others, we should avoid the promotion of participating in practices, methods, or even stereotypes that promote negativity towards the diversity of human kind," she advised.
It's a message of faith, family, and service.
"No other group in the America is better positioned to carry that message then the U.S. Army," said Col. John F. Dunleavy, commander of the 205th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East. "And if you are going to serve, why not lead?"
The AAPI celebration encompasses more than 50 ethnic groups representing a vast array of languages and cultures. These groups include Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Laotian, Cambodian, Hmong, Thai, Pakistani, Samoan, Guamanian, and other smaller groups within the Asia-Pacific Region.
"I can relate to her story," said Staff Sgt. Sonia Smith, an equal opportunity leader with the 3-411th Logistic Support Battalion. "Her message really spoke to me. Our families really believe in the same things: values, sacrifice, and making society better."
Smith's grandparents moved to the U.S. in the 1920s; however, her parents moved back to Mexico soon after Smith was born. When Smith returned at 14, she struggled with English and American traditions.
"When she talked about her cultural heritage -- it made me question my parenting in a positive way," said Sgt. 1st Class LaTonya Hooks, 205th Infantry Brigade finance advisor. "I had to ask myself, 'Am I teaching my children enough about their family history and their cultural values?'"
Hooks said she hopes her children are learning to build positive relationships with each other and with people of different cultures, races, abilities, religions and perspectives.
"I didn't come from a big military family," said Sgt. 1st Class Antione Drake, the intelligence noncommissioned officer in charge for the 3-411th LSB. "However, my family did believe in building relationships and community service."
"Everyone can be a leader," said Laroco.
"Being a leader does not require a title or a position. Being a leader is being the person that represents and believes in a positive value and encourages the inclusion of many types of people to be on one team with one goal. Being a leader, by that definition, is being a good parent, a teacher, an aunt, a mentor, a coach -- basically anyone of you here that has at least one person who looks up to you, is a leader," Laroco concluded.
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