rise today to celebrate the lives of two trail blazers for their asian american community, ben and susumu. after the bombing of pearl harbor, ben was one of the first japanese americans to enlist in the united states air force during world war ii. at a time when over 100,000 other japanese americans were forced into incarceration camps without due process under the law. the need for aerial gunners was high so he applied for the job, was approved, and sent to a two week course in britain. he received on-the-job training and maiden flight was on december 13, 1942. during this time of heavy discrimination against japanese americans, his flight crew was instrumental in protecting him from the sneers and abuse by his fellow soldiers. he received three distinguished flying cross medals for volunteering to fly 25 combat missions against germany and 28 in the pacific. he was the only japanese american to serve as a gunner in the pacific theater during world war ii. the son of japanese immigrants farmers, he was born on may 16, 1917, in gaithersburg, nebraska. after his many missions in europe, he