CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- I can recall a conversation with a young man at a store some time ago. I had recently been commissioned in the Air Force. When I asked him if he worked in the local area, he said, "I work on base." He was apparently an active-duty military member. When he asked me where I worked, I replied, "I work on base as well." But before I could finish my response, he quipped, "Oh, so you work at the BX."

There are many Asian-Americans who work in the civilian sector on base and provide a valuable service to military people and their families. Despite what some people might think, there are also many Asian-American citizens who dedicate their lives to the United States through military service.

Before I joined the military, I told a man in a business office that I was born in the Philippines and my family and I immigrated to America when I was 13. He was proud to say he was stationed in the Philippines when he was in the military and knew a great deal about the country.

Then he said, "You speak good English."

"I should be able to speak English well," I said to him. "I'm a journalist."

He seemed surprised that I had a college degree and was a professional journalist. And I wasn't Connie Chung!

It's too bad that in this information age and global community there are still Americans who cling to old myths and stereotypes about Asian-Americans.

Some people think Asian-Americans, especially women, are only capable of working at the BX, owning a Chinese restaurant, or coming to America after marrying a military member. They don't know there are many Asian-Americans who immigrated to America on their own, and through hard work and sacrifices became successful and helped make America the great country it is today.

Asian-Americans have made remarkable contributions in many aspects of American life, including the arts, science, civics and government, education, sports, business and in the military. According to historical records, Asian-American military service dates back to the 19th century. Numerous Asian-Americans served in the U.S. military during World War I.

On July 23, 1863, Chinese-American William Ah Hang became one of the first Asian-Americans to enlist in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War.

During World War II, a substantial number of Asian-Americans served in America's armed forces. Approximately 25,000 Japanese-Americans proved their courage on the battlefield.

More than 6,000 Nisei (first-generation, American-born Japanese) trained as interpreters and translators in the U.S. Army's Intelligence Service Language School and 3,700 linguists served in combat. More than 20,000 Chinese-Americans served in the armed forces, and Filipino-Americans and Korean-Americans formed small units for the nation's war effort.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed primarily of Asian-Americans, was the most decorated unit of its size with seven Presidential Distinguished Citations and 18,000 individual decorations, including the Medal of Honor, 47 Distinguished Service Crosses, 350 Sliver Stars, 810 Bronze Stars and more than 3,600 Purple Hearts.

Asian-American women first entered military service when the Women's Army Corps recruited 50 Japanese-American and Chinese-American women to be trained as translators. In 1943, Chinese-American women served in the Army Air Force as "Air WACs." Chinese-American Hazel Ying Lee was one of 38 Women Airforce Service Pilots who died in the line of duty.

Filipino-American women helped American forces in the Philippines in World War II. They smuggled food and medicine to American prisoners of war and carried information on the enemy's movements to Filipino and American forces.

Josefina V. Guerrero supplied American POWs with food, clothing and medicine and passed them contraband messages. She also mapped Japanese fortifications at the Manila waterfront. Her map included information on secret tunnels, air raid shelters and new installations. She even saved members of the 37th Infantry Division by smuggling a map that enabled soldiers to avoid land mines before their invasion of the Philippines.

Many Asian-Americans served in combat units in the Korean War and have fought in many wars since then. Asian-Americans continue to keep alive the proud heritage and legacy of military service their predecessors established. There are currently more than 1,600 Asian-American officers and 8,100 enlisted members in the Air Force. Some have held key positions, such as Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, Army chief of staff.

May is Asian-Pacific Heritage Month and this year's theme is "Unity in Freedom." Hopefully, during this special month, Americans will open their minds, broaden their views and learn more about Asian-Americans, their culture, achievements and contributions.

After all, it is only through a better understanding of others and appreciating what they have given to our country that we, as Americans, can say we are truly united in freedom.