ALCOAST 230/11

COMDTNOTE 5354
SUBJ: ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
1. THE COAST GUARD PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE MONTH OF MAY AS
ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. THIS DESIGNATION HONORS BOTH
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND
SACRIFICES IN ADVANCING OUR GREAT NATION. THIS YEARS THEME IS,
"LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY, EMPOWERMENT AND BEYOND."
2. ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS SERVE WITH DISTINCTION IN OUR
RANKS. MANUEL FERREIRA AND SAMUEL AMALU SERVED LONG CAREERS AS
LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS. AMALU RECEIVED A COVETED EFFICIENCY AWARD.
CHIAO-SHUN SOONG WAS THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN TO SERVE IN THE REVENUE
CUTTER SERVICE - ABOARD CUTTERS GALLATIN AND SCHUYLER COLFAX - AFTER
WHICH HE ATTENDED COLLEGE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND SERVED AS A
MISSIONARY IN CHINA. FLORENCE SMITH FINCH WAS A MEMBER OF THE
FILIPINO UNDERGROUND DURING WORLD WAR II, WAS CAPTURED AND PLACED IN
A JAPANESE PRISON CAMP, AND AFTER LIBERATION, SERVED AS A COAST GUARD
SPAR. SHE LATER RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM. KWANG-PING HSU WAS
AN ACCOMPLISHED AVIATOR WHO FLEW IN THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC. MORE
RECENTLY, JUAN SALAS WAS THE FIRST ISLANDER FROM GUAM TO GRADUATE
FROM THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY, OR ANY OTHER ACADEMY, AND COMMAND A
CUTTER DURING HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER.
3. THE MONTH OF MAY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED SINCE 1979 TO CELEBRATE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY ASIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
IN AMERICA. IT WAS CHOSEN TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST IMMIGRATION OF
JAPANESE TO THE UNITED STATES ON 7 MAY 1843. IT ALSO MARKS THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD, BUILT
BY A WORKFORCE WHOSE MAJORITY WAS CHINESE IMMIGRANTS.
4. COAST GUARD UNITS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO CELEBRATE, RECOGNIZE
AND EDUCATE THE WORKFORCE ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF PACIFIC ISLANDER
AND ASIAN AMERICANS WITHIN OUR SERVICE, NATION, AND WORLD. FOR MORE
INFORMATION ON THEIR RICH, DIVERSE HISTORY, GO TO
HTTP://ASIANPACIFICHERITAGE.GOV/.
5. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.