Considering their ages average in the mid-80s, the four dozen World War II veterans who greeted one another on the grounds at 'Iolani School yesterday were a spry, agile and jovial bunch. Some hadn't seen each other in decades.

"There's my original mess sergeant, Ed Nishihara," said Martin Tohara, 90.

Nishihara, 87, who had flown over from Maui for the occasion, quickly moved to his old friend, who he said appeared to be shrinking.

"I don't remember him being that short," he said.

Tohara confirmed the diagnosis.

"The doctors told me I had shrunk two-and-a-half inches," the 5-foot-1 Tohara said with a hearty laugh. "I was 5-foot-3 1/2 during the war. That's age."

This bunch of soldiers has always been an extraordinary lot.

They were the Nisei, or second-generation Japanese-Americans, who fought to prove their loyalty after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. They were in town for the weekend to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans organization.

The celebration officially began with a memorial service at Saint Alban's Chapel at the school.

"Today we will start off by remembering those who are no longer with us," said Mike Harada, second vice president of the organization. "Not only those who were killed in action, but those who have passed on in the years that have followed."

One of the veterans Harada remembered yesterday was his father, Edward Komao Harada, who died last October at age 89.

"He was one of the original 100th members," Harada said. "He was in the Territorial Guard before that."

After Pearl Harbor, Harada said much of the country doubted the patriotism of Japanese-Americans. Their own government even doubted them. After they were finally allowed to fight as the 100th Infantry Battalion — comprised of all Japanese-American volunteers from Hawai'i — the unit became one of the most decorated in U.S. military history.

Proof of their loyalty came at a heavy price. More than 380 of the 1,432 infantry battalion were killed in action.

Fewer than 450 are still living. As time passes, Harada said it is important that the 100th does not fade from the collective memory.

"The freedom that we all enjoy did not come easily," he said. "We need to be vigilant in reminding folks about that."

The message of the memorial sermon was one of gratitude.

"I am a recipient of the many blessings that came because of your sacrifice," Pastor Sidney Sumida, son of 100th veteran Goro Sumida, told the veterans. "You are a significant generation and a significant people.

"On behalf of the generations that came after you, I want to say a big thank you."

After the service, the veterans gathered on the lawn outside the chapel for photos and conversation. Most of the talk focused on the good times. Shizuya Hayashi, 89, said little about his heroism near Cerasuolo, Italy, on Nov. 29, 1943, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

His Army citation reads:

"During a flank assault on high ground held by the enemy, Private Hayashi rose alone in the face of grenade, rifle, and machine gun fire. Firing his automatic rifle from the hip, he charged and overtook an enemy machine gun position, killing seven men in the nest and two more as they fled ... an enemy antiaircraft gun opened fire on (his) men. Private Hayashi returned fire at the hostile position, killing nine of the enemy, taking four prisoners, and forcing the remainder of the force to withdraw from the hill."

But yesterday, other thoughts were on his mind.

"It's good to see all the boys come back together," he said with a warm smile and a chuckle about how much they had all changed over the years.

Twenty-five veterans present were original members of the 100th. Among the oldest of those was Thomas Tsubota, "92 1/2 years old," whose war story was unusual. While the famed battalion is always associated with Europe, Tsubota, who spoke fluent Japanese, was ordered into the Military Intelligence Service and shipped to the Pacific where, as an infantry soldier, he fought the Japanese.

"We were Americans," Tsubota said. "That's what we wanted to prove — that we were just as loyal as the haole boys. We wanted to fight for the USA."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.