LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA), in partnership with The Chinese American G.I. Project, is hosting an inaugural exhibit themed “Duty, Honor, Country, Courage: Asian-Americans in Military Service”.

An event feat uring the exhibit, which coincides with Asian American Pacific Islander Month, will be held May 20, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., in the Art Deco lobby of the historic bui lding.

“This exhibit is one of the most extensive we’ve hosted in Patriot ic Hall and that’s appropriate because it tells a story not often told in t his country,” said MVA Director Jim Zenner. “The stories of these brave men and women showcase a courage that crosses any ethnic divide, permeating the culture of military service in L.A. County.”

Asian Americans have been in uniform from the Civil War through Afghanistan and this exhibit is focused on recognizing them as a cohesive group for the first time, regardless of country-of-origin. The exhibit includes artifacts and highly visual presentations highlighting the often-little-known stories of these men and women.

Montgomery Hom, founder of the Chinese American G.I. Project, created the exhibit. ” I’m honored to partner with MVA to highlight our Asian American veterans in Los Angeles County with this first-time exhibit ion created from my archives, integrating local veterans and families members who are sharing their stories,” he said.

The exhibit feat ures a number of stories highlighting the service of Asian Americans throughout history, including Angelenos like Judge Delbert Wong, a World War II 8-17 navigator who flew more than 25 combat missions and in 1952 became a judge in southern California, the first Chinese American judicial judge in the U.S. His artifacts from the war are on display publicly for the first time.

Another Angeleno, Nancy Kwan, gained fame as a Hollywood film actress in t he 1960s after being smuggled as a young child out of Japanese-occupied Hong Kong by her father, Wing Hong. He was recruited by British Intelligence M 19 and later by American forces in China to help facilitate the rescue and escape of American pilots shot down behind enemy lines.

“As the Supervisor representing the largest concent ration of AAPI residents, I applaud the Los Angeles Country Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for giving these brave men and women a long-overdue platform where we can experience t heir inspiring stories and remind ourselves of the power of diversity that makes our nation stronger,” Supervisor Hilda Solis of the 1st Supervisorial District said.

The Chinese American G.I. Project is part of the San Francisco-based Chinese Historical Society of America, the largest and oldest organization commemorating Chinese American history. The exhibit will run until the end of June.

Members of the public can regist er below for the May 20 event or contact Montgomery Hom at ChiAmGl.info@gmail.com. Press inquiries should be d irected to W. Regen Wilson, 323.823.6896, wwilson@mva.lacounty.gov.

The LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs {MVA} provides assistance to L.A. County veterans, active service members and their families with resources, programs, services and state and federal benefits, including: compensation and pension claims, burial benefits and services, medical and mental health referral, education and vocational rehabilitation, home loans and grant applications, employment and job placement assistance, OMV veteran designation,
legal service referrals, appeal processes, programs for incarcerated veterans, as well as aid and attendance.