CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT - Soldiers of the 369th Sustainment Brigade participated in an event commemorating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on May 31, 2017. The event was hosted by Area Support Group Kuwait and the 335th Signal Command.
"I think it's great that the Army and the entire Military embraces diversity. Regardless of your race yellow white black red or brown, we all represent the United States of America," Chaplain (Maj.) James Kim, a Brooklyn, N.Y. resident, said of the event.
Kim is the chaplain for the 369th SB, famously known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." The unit's own history is one of diversity as they were one of the Army's first African American Infantry regiments. They fought under command of the French as the American Army was still racially segregated at the time. Kim, who is of Korean descent, offered the ceremony's invocation and benediction.
The event's guest speaker was Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Hager, commander of the 335th Theater Signal Command. Hager, who is of Indonesian descent spoke about the importance of the contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to the United States and to its military.
"Throughout our history, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made great contributions to America's heritage and prosperity," Hager said. "Since the earliest days of America, people of all cultures have traveled to our nation seeking the promises of freedom, opportunity, and justice. Many Asian/Pacific immigrants came to America to discover the promise of our nation and to realize their dreams."
The celebration also featured demonstrations of several traditional Asian and Pacific Islander dances, such as the Haka, Siva Samoa, Logo Te Pate, and Tahitian Jungle. There were also musical interludes as Soldiers sang and played songs from their respective cultures.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise roughly 4.4% of the U.S. Army and bring with them over 50 different languages, according to 1st. Lt. Yanrong Yang, a Brooklyn, N.Y. resident of Chinese descent. Yang spoke to the audience about the history of Asian American's in the Army and of all they have contributed.
"Very little is known about Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States Army since our numbers are fairly small," Yang, the personnel officer for the 369th Special Troops Battalion, said. "However, having the ability to come to this event and see the different cultures, the different dances, the different songs, people get a better understanding of who we are and exactly what we do for the military and also what we bring to the table."
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