在1860年代晚期就有亚洲人錄取進入美国海军学院,出身该校1873年班的日本留学生,后为华族的松村淳藏(日语:松村淳蔵)男爵是该校第一位亚洲毕业生[35][36]。作为外国人的松村和多数来美国的留学生一样,毕业后选择回到自己的国家服役[35]。大约四十年以后,第一批亚裔才追隨亚洲人前輩进入了美国联邦级别的军事院校。出身美属菲律宾的华裔学员文森特·林(英语:Vicente Lim)就是他们中的一员。林是西点军校1914届毕业生,毕业后在菲律宾侦查军中担任少尉[6][37]。他是第一位少数錄取進入西点军校的美属菲律宾人,在当时一个班里只能有1位菲律宾人,且最多只能有4人[6][38]。从1916年起,美国海军学院也开始招收美属菲律宾人,第一批军校生在1919年入校学习[35]。这些毕业生在1935年菲律宾自治时失去了美国国民(United States nationals)之身份,他们中的许多人选择在菲律宾军中继续服役[39]
1939年9月,德国入侵波兰打破了欧洲的宁静[58]。当时美国尚且对此保持中立,但是美国人在宣战前还是在某种程度上参与到了战争当中,比如援华的飞虎队和英国皇家空军的雄鷹中隊[59]。美军还根据「现购自运」(cash and carry)政策向他国提供后勤支援,并承诺在大西洋上给以护航[60]。1941年末,日本对珍珠港的袭击,美国正式对轴心国宣战[61]。从那时起,亚裔美国人便参与到了这场战斗中来。包括日裔在内的许多亚裔美国人,在夏威夷前线瓦胡岛等地,对美军给以援助[62]。在地球的另一端,菲律宾自治领也在美军的指挥下,开始针对日本的入侵进行防御[63]。
二战期间,大约有12000[81]华裔在美军中服役,这约占当时全部华裔美国人口的22%[10],他们中的40%没有美国国籍[1]。与日裔和菲裔不同,75%的华裔军人在非种族隔离的单位服役[1]。华裔美国人将自己与日裔区分开来,因此遭受到较少的种族歧视[82]。四分之一的华裔军人在美国陆军航空军服役, 他们中的一些人調至中缅印战区的第14空勤大隊(14th Air Service Group)[83]和中美混合團[84]。剩下的约70%华裔军人分别在第3、4、6、32和77步兵师服役[10]。海军方面则在战前就开始招收华裔美国人入伍,但工作仅限于炊事兵[84],直到1942年5月才停止这项限制[84]。1943年,陆军女性部队开始招收华裔女性进入情报部门[76]。美国陆军航空军也开始招收华裔女性,其中的一小部分在后来以平民身份组成了女性航空军飞行员(Women Airforce Service Pilots)[76]。
1944年末,第34步兵团的弗朗西斯·魏上尉因雷伊泰岛之战追授杰出服役十字勋章,这项荣誉在2000年的重审中升格为荣誉勋章[83]。威尔伯·施(Wilbur Carl Sze)则成为了第一位华裔海军陆战队军官[85]。
菲裔
二战时期美军的一幅关于菲律宾人的宣传画
菲律宾作为二战中亚洲战场的前线,在偷袭珍珠港后不久便遭到了日军攻击。当时镇守菲律宾自治领的统帅是麦克阿瑟将军,他最初计划死守菲律宾[86],但随着日军登陆吕宋, 美军紧急启动橘色戰爭計畫,匆忙退往巴丹半岛[87],以阻拒日军进驻马尼拉湾[88]。1942年3月,罗斯福总统将麦克阿瑟调离菲律宾[89]。同年4月,第二集团军司令官爱德华·金(英语:Edward P. King)少将因无法组织起有效的防御,向日军投降[90],75000名士兵成为战俘,其中63000人为菲律宾人[91],包括数千菲律宾华人[92]。他们被强令步行至圣费尔南多,这就是后世所称的“巴丹死亡行军”,大约5000到10000名菲律宾战俘死于途中[93]。继续在科雷希多岛山区进行抵抗的少数参与部队随着日军进攻科雷希多岛也彻底土崩瓦解。是年5月,美军驻菲总司令官乔纳森·温莱特中将向日军投降[94]。在降将之中,有23名西点军校毕业的菲律宾军官,日军将其中的6人处决,这里面包括了前章节所叙述的菲律宾华裔军校生文森特·林,他毕业后在美国陆军的菲律宾侦查军服役,官至中校,菲律宾自治后又在菲律宾陆军中升至准将[95]。
第一位晉陞将官的亚裔美国人是母系拥有部分华人血统的莱曼准将(Brigadier General Albert Lyman)[165]。在他之后的钟云少将成为了美国海军第一位亚裔将官[166] 。亚裔军人所获军衔中等级最高者是第34任美国陆军参谋长艾力·新关将军,他与哈里·B·哈里斯为目前仅有的美軍亚裔四星上将[167]。
^ 7.07.1Allerfeldt, Kristofer. Work or Fight!. Reviews in History. The Institute of Historical Research. January 2009 [2013-02-04]. (原始内容存档于2012-08-03). He shows that while the Dawes Act and Alien Land Laws explicitly barred non-whites – Native Americans and Asians rather than ‘coloreds’ (African Americans) – from the ownership of land, the San Diego draft still included ‘American Indians, Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans and Mexican Americans’, all called as part of the ‘“white” quota’. Perhaps unsurprisingly none of these groups ever saw combat, but at least for the Native Americans it contributed to their gaining of citizenship, en masse, in 1924.
^Korean War Recipients. Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Army. United States Army. [2013-01-22]. (原始内容存档于2012-10-15). Vietnam War Recipients. Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Army. United States Army. [2013-01-22]. (原始内容存档于2012-10-15).
^ 15.015.1Dr. Betty D. Maxfield. FY09 Army Profile(PDF). Headquarters, Department of the Army. United States Army. 2009-09-30 [2011-04-27]. (原始内容(PDF)存档于2010-12-18).
^ 17.017.117.2Williams, Rudi. An Asian Pacific American Timeline. American Forces Press Service (U.S. Department of Defense). 1999-05-19 [2009-08-27]. (原始内容存档于2009-09-18). 21-1861 Chinese American John Tomney joins New York Infantry, later dies of wounds at Battle of Gettysburg (1863).
^China at Gettysburg. New York Times. 1863-07-12 [2012-07-05]. (原始内容存档于2013-06-18). Among the killed at Gettysburgh was a young; Chinaman, known as JOHN TOMMY.
^VADM J.C. Harvey Jr. RAAUZYUW RUENAAA7101 1082000-UUUU—RUCRNAD. United States Navy. 2007-04-18 [2011-05-29]. (原始内容存档于2019-02-22). Seven first-generation Japanese Americans and one Chinese American where killed when the U.S.S. Main was sunk in Havana Harbor in 1898.
^Emerson, William K. Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms. University of Oklahoma Press. 1996: 295 [2012-07-05]. ISBN 9780806126227. (原始内容存档于2014-06-27). History of Camp Crame. Headquarters Support Service. Philippine National Police. 2010-08-25 [2012-07-05]. With the official designation and consumption of General Henry T Allen as its first Chief, the Constabulary was formally inaugurated in August 8, 1901 at Intramuros and with the bulk of its organization housed at the Gagalangin Barracks in Manila.[永久失效連結]
^The Philippine Independence Act (Tydings-McDuffie Act). Philippine laws, statutes and codes. Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. [2012-07-08]. (原始内容存档于2011-06-11). For the purposes of the Immigration Act of 1917, the Immigration Act of 1924 [except section 13 (c)], this section, and all other laws of the United States relating to the immigration, exclusion, or expulsion of aliens, citizens of the Philippine Islands who are not citizens of the United States shall be considered as if they were aliens. For such purposes the Philippine Islands shall be considered as a separate country and shall have for each fiscal year a quota of fifty.
^Office of the Historian. American Entry into World War I, 1917. Bureau of Public Affairs. United States Department of State. [2012-12-31]. (原始内容存档于2014-01-13).
^Slotkin, Richard. Lost Battalions: The Great War and the Crisis of American Nationality. Macmillan. 2006: 199 [2012-08-26]. ISBN 9780805081381. (原始内容存档于2016-10-14). Sing Kee would reeive the Distinguished Service Cross and be promoted to color sergeant, the highest rank attained by a Chinese-American in the AEF. Nancy Wey. Quarantine And Its Aftereffects. Five Views: An Ethnic Historic Site Survey for California. National Park Service. 2004-11-17 [2013-02-26]. (原始内容存档于2019-05-13). On June 13, 1919, Sing Kee returned home to San Jose after receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery in action with the 77th or "Liberty" Division in the Argonne Forest. Valor awards for Sing Kee. Military Times Hall of Valor. Gannett Government Media Corporation. [2013-02-26]. (原始内容存档于2014-02-21).
^Solliday, Scott; Vince Murray. The Filipino American Community(PDF) (报告). City of Phoenix. 2007 [2011-03-10]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2011-07-23).引文使用过时参数coauthors (帮助)
^Graham, Sylvia. Firsts & Lasts at USMA(PDF). Register of Graduates and Former Cadets. United States Military Academy. 2005 [2009-09-24]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2016-04-21).
^McKay, Kevin; Chang, Diane. Seven posthumous degrees to be awarded at ROTC Commissioning Ceremony. News release archive. The University of Hawaii System. 2012-05-09 [2012-12-31]. (原始内容存档于2012-11-04). In the hours following the bombing, all UH ROTC cadets were told to report to duty, forming the Hawai‘i Territorial Guard (HTG), which was assigned to guard military installations on O‘ahu. A month later, members who were of Japanese ancestry were expelled from the HTG because of their ethnicity.
^Miho, Katsugo. Home Frot. The Hawaii Nisei Project. University of Hawaii. 2006 [2012-12-31]. (原始内容存档于2013-11-04). On January 19, 1942, all men of Japanese ancestry in the Hawaii Territorial Guard are discharged.
^Sadao S. Munemori. Military Times Hall of Valor. Gannett Government Media Corporation. [2012-10-30]. Sadao Munemori was the ONLY Japanese-American awarded the Medal of Honor during or immediately after World War II. With prejudice still strong, it required intervention by Congress to at last see him posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
^Asian Pacific American World War II. Medal of Honor Recipients. United States Army Center of Military History. 2009-06-08 [2009-08-25]. (原始内容存档于2009-09-04).
^Major Karen J. Gregory, USAFR. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month(PDF). Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. [2011-05-31]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2019-02-22). On December 15, 1943, Wilbur Carl Sze was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and the first Chinese-American officer in the U.S. Marine Corps apa-usmc02. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2002. Department of Defense. 2002 [2011-05-31]. (原始内容存档于2011-05-31).
^Louis Morton. Chapter 6. Center of Military History. United States Army. [2009-11-12]. (原始内容存档于2010-01-09).
^Morton, Louis. Command. Greenfield, Kent Roberts (编). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. 1953: 357 [2012-01-08]. LCCN 53-63678. (原始内容存档于2012-01-08).
^Morton, Louis. Surrender. Greenfield, Kent Roberts (编). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. 1953: 466 [2012-01-08]. LCCN 53-63678. (原始内容存档于2012-01-08).
^Bataan death March. Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Army. United States Army. [2013-01-08]. (原始内容存档于2013-03-31).
^Colonel Clarence E. Endy, Jr. USMA Foreign Cadet Program—A Case Study. United States Army War College. Defense Technical Information center. 1981-05-04 [2012-09-11]. (原始内容存档于2013-04-08).
^Doroteo V. Vite. A Filipino Rookie In Uncle Sam's Army. Asian American Studies 456 Filipinos In America Course Reader. San Francisco State University. [2009-11-12]. (原始内容存档于2019-05-13).
^Andrew Ruppenstien; Manny Santos. The First and Second Filipino Infantry Regiments U.S. Army. Historic Marker Database. 2010-01-21 [2011-05-10]. (原始内容存档于2011-09-23). Personnel won more than 50,000 decorations, awards, medals, ribbons, certificates, commendations and citations.引文使用过时参数coauthors (帮助)
^(Nota Bene: These combat chronicles, current as of October 1948, are reproduced from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510–592.)
^VA Benefits for Filipino Veterans(PDF). United States Department of Veterans Affairs. April 2008 [2011-03-15]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2010-12-06). Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. [2011-03-15]. (原始内容存档于2010-12-08).
^Dr. Steven M. Graves. Geography 417. Geography 417. California State University, Northridge. [2011-05-18]. (原始内容存档于2011-09-16). Lt. Col. Leon Punsalang, a West Point graduate, command of the 1st Battalion marking the first time in that an Asian American commanded white troops in combat.
^World War II American Fighter Aces at Museum. The Museum of Flight. 2009-07-01 [2012-03-08]. (原始内容存档于2010-12-28). The Museum will host a panel of three fighter pilots: Capt. Fred Ohr, who is the only American ace of Korean ancestry, and had six aerial victories and 17 ground victories; Lt. Col. Richard W. Asbury, who participated in 240 combat missions spanning three wars; and Lt. Col. Stan Richardson, who flew P-38s and P-51s in the European Theater during World War II, and participated in the D-Day Invasion.
^ 126.0126.1Wilson, John B.; Jeffrey J. Clarke. Maneuver and Firepower(PDF). Washington D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. 1998: 212 [2009-11-22]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2014-03-01). As the nation demobilized, Congress approved, with the consent of the Philippine government, the maintenance of 50,000 Philippine Scouts (PS) as occupation forces for Japan. On 6 April 1946 Maj. Gen. Louis E. Hibbs, who had commanded the 63d Infantry Division during the war, reorganized the Philippine Division, which had surrendered on Bataan in 1942, as the 12th Infantry Division (PS). Unlike its predecessor, the 12th's enlisted personnel were exclusively Philippine Scouts. The War Department proposed to organize a second Philippine Scout division, the 14th, but never did so. After a short period President Harry S. Truman decided to disband all Philippine Scout units, determining that they were not needed for duty in Japan. The United States could not afford them, and he felt the Republic of the Philippines, a sovereign nation, should not furnish mercenaries for the United States. Therefore, the Far East Command inactivated the 12th Infantry Division (PS) in 1947 and eventually inactivated or disbanded all Philippine Scout units.引文使用过时参数coauthors (帮助)
^Lou Hoffman. History: Korean War. The New Mexico Veterans' Memorial, Museum, & Conference Center. City of Albuquerque. [2013-08-07]. (原始内容存档于2013-05-27).
^Kelly, Francis John. History of Special Forces in Vietnam, 1961–1971. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. 1989: 6–7 [1973] [2014-02-15]. CMH Pub 90-23. (原始内容存档于2014-02-12).
^LtCol F. T. Fowler. Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Week – 1990(PDF). Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. Department of Defense. December 1989 [2011-03-04]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2019-02-22).
^Gulf War. Army.mil features. United States Army. [2011-03-14]. (原始内容存档于2011-06-24).
^Asians Asians and Pacific Islanders and in the United States Navy(PDF). Naval History & Heritage Command. United States Navy. 2011-04-12 [2011-05-01]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2015-02-05). Gordon Chung-Hoon, a Hawaiian-born Chinese American and a 1934 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was the first Asian American to command a Navy warship, USS Sigsbee (dd 502). When a kamikaze attacked caused explosions and flooding on board the destroyer, Chung-Hoon directed damage control, enabling the crew to save the ship. Awarded the Navy Cross for his actions, he was later promoted to rear admiral, making him the first Asian American flag officer.