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Japanese-American trailblazer & Army General Theodore Shigeru Kanamine dead at 93
Retired Brigadier General Theodore Shigeru Kanamine, a trailblazing Japanese-American Army general, passed away on Friday at the age of 93. Kanamine, who served his country with distinction for over three decades, was a pioneer in the U.S. Army, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations.
Retired Brigadier General Theodore Shigeru Kanamine, a trailblazing Japanese-American Army general, passed away on Friday at the age of 93. Kanamine, who served his country with distinction for over three decades, was a pioneer in the U.S. Army, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations.
Kanamine was born in California in 1928 and was among the thousands of Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II. After the war, he enlisted in the Army and was soon commissioned as an officer. Kanamine’s leadership abilities were quickly recognized, and he was promoted through the ranks, serving in Korea, Vietnam, and Germany.
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Kanamine would go on to major in criminal psychology and attend law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Kanamine’s career in the Army was marked by a commitment to excellence and a dedication to diversity and inclusion. He was the first Japanese-American to command an infantry company in combat and went on to become the first Asian-American to command a battalion. In 1976, Kanamine was appointed as the first Japanese-American professor of military science at West Point, where he trained and mentored countless future Army leaders.
Kanamine served in Korea and later in the Vietnam War, where he was an aide to 4-star Gen. Creighton Abrams. He later took command of the 716th Military Police Battalion, which provided security to the capital city of Saigon. Once he returned stateside, Kanamine took charge of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s look into the Mỹ Lai massacre. He concluded his 28 years in the military as chief of staff of the First Army at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Following his retirement from the Army in 1980, Kanamine remained active in the Japanese-American community and was a passionate advocate for civil rights. He was a founding member of the Japanese American Veterans Association and served as its president from 1985 to 1989.
Kanamine’s many awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, and a Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Kanamine credited his success to personal discipline to know what is right and develop the skills necessary to do whatever the task is in the best way you know how. “This reflects my development in the military and the way I live my life today,” he said during the interview. “I believe in the philosophy of ‘Duty – Honor – Country.’ I think my family and friends know this.”
In a statement, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised Kanamine as “a true patriot and trailblazer who dedicated his life to serving his country and his fellow citizens.” Kanamine’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Japanese-Americans and all those who seek to promote diversity and inclusion in the military and beyond.
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