The 442nd RCT Foundation continues to focus its financial resources to supporting the 442nd Veterans Club Archives. Especially in light of the declining contributions in recent years, the Foundation’s board of directors has consciuosly established the 442 Archives and the collection efforts of the 442nd-related documents from the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) by the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) as its top funding priorities.
Author Archives: Chris Green
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Ron’s Canteen *** Lt. Col. John D. Porter
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Lt. Col. John D. Porter
A nice article on Lt. Col. John D. Porter from the Go For Broke Bulletin (Vol. XLVIII No. 3 – July – September 1997) by Ron Oba.
It’s funny how one reminisces and start to treasure the days of old. As one ages, the urge to recapture youth through the acquaintances you haven’t seen or heard from since. It’s as if that the remembrances of old friends and the telling of your life story with the joy of coupling the stories with the names of soldiers you’ve lived with will somehow keep immortality alive. Maybe that is the reason so many of the veterans are now coming in to the Archives for their oral histories so that their legacy will live forever through the retelling of their stories.
John D. Porter, who volunteered for the 442nd from the 34th Division, is one of them. He was here on Oahu at the Waianae R and R Center with his family. He called to say how he remembered the men of the 2nd platoon, Capt. Akins, Capt. Hill, and others. You couldn’t stop him for relating how proud he is as a veteran of the F Co. 442nd. But let him tell you himself in the following taped resume (shortened for the bulletin) and anecdotes he has sent to F Company and the Archives for posterity.
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Sons & Daughters 2011 General Membership Meeting
?> ?>Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Sons & Daughters of the 442nd RCT held their annual General Membership Meeting at Treetops Restaurant in Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii. Approximately 50 people attended the dinner meeting. The causal setting allowed long time members to socialize. It also gave everyone the opportunity to meet a few new members as well.
One of the main functions of the meeting was the election of the officers for the organization for 2011. The following slate of officers were nominated and voted into office:
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President: Wes Deguchi
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1st Vice President: Anita Nihei
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2nd Vice President: Wade Wasano
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Treasurer: Shirley Igarashi
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Secretary: Susan Yoshitomi
The following images of the event are compliments of Wayne Iha:
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Go For Broke Bulletin Archives *** The Battlefields Tour: May 2004
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From the Go For Broke Bulletin Archives, here is an article on a tour of Italy and France taken in 2004 to see former battlefields and remember the the challenges that were faced and honor the memories of the fallen.
Go For Broke Bulletin Volume 55, No. 3 – April – June 2004
The Battlefields Tour: May 2004
By Sadaichi Kubota & Andy Ono
The Italian Phase of the Tour:
I could not resist the K Co sponsored tour – May 18 – June 3 – because I had promised myself I would one day make the pilgrimage to honor our buddies who fell along the way.
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CGM Press Conference at Iolani Palace
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March 28, 2011
A press conference was held today on the grounds of Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hawaii. Retired Major General Robert Lee provided an update on the Congressional Gold Medal Award events planned for both Washington DC and Hawaii. The press conference officially kicks off a fund-raising campaign for a gold medal celebration to be held at the Hawaii Convention Center on December 17, 2011. The event will include a parade through Waikiki, luncheon at the convention center, a video showing of the DC ceremony, and presentation of CGM replicas to all attending veterans.
A number of veterans attended today’s press conference. March 28th is a special date. 68 years ago, over 10,000 people gathered at Iolani Palace to bid farewell to the men of the 442, as they began their journey into history.
For more information about the upcoming CGM events, contact the 100th and 442nd veteran organizations.
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Congressional Gold Medal Award Update
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February 28, 2011
Christine Sato-Yamazaki, Chairperson of the National Veterans Network writes:
Here is the latest on the Congressional Gold Medal planning:
Speaker meeting: We finally secured a meeting with Speaker Boehner’s staff on March 22nd. We will be meeting with the Speaker’s Director of Scheduling and Special Events to begin discussion on the ceremony date, venue and attendee requirements. Since the U.S. Mint will not complete the minting of the Congressional Gold Medal until September (if all goes well), we are planning to push for an October ceremony date. We will also advocate for a large venue that accommodates 1,000 people, in the hopes that the Speaker will allow all registered living veterans, widows, next of kin of KIA and next of kin of deceased veterans to attend the awards ceremony. We do not anticipate having all the answers at this meeting, but we do expect discussions to begin on this very important subject.
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442 Movie Night
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The Sons and Daughters of the 100th/442nd RCT sponsored at social event call “442 Movie Night” on Saturday, February 26, 2011. Veterans, family members and friends gathered at the Club 100 in Honolulu for an evening of fun and fellowship. The program included dinner followed by the showing of the recently released documentary, “Live with Honor, Die with Dignity”. After the show, recognition was given to the veterans who attended the event.
The following photos of the evening were taken by Wayne Iha and Clyde Sugimoto:
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*** 2010 Honor Roll ***
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In Memoriam
The following tribute is in memory the veterans of the 100th/442nd RCT who have left us in 2010. It is with honor and gratitude that we dedicate our ongoing efforts to promote their legacy and all they stood for.
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Ted’s Corner *** The Nisei Soldiers of World War II
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The latest from Ted’s Corner… Here is the speech that Ted gave at the recent MIS Shinnenkai Installation Luncheon, held on January 29, 2011 at Natsunoya Tea Garden.
I join with everyone in celebrating Congress’s recent law S.B. 1055 which awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the veterans who served with the 100th, 442nd and MIS. But there were other Nisei units and soldiers who also served in the War. So speaking as a veteran I feel that that law really intended, if it were possible to do so, to recognize and honor all Nisei veterans regardless of when and where they fought or what unit they served in. After all, they were all Japanese-Americans, fighting the same war against the same enemies, and for a common cause, and also they all had to fight a second battle, the battle against distrust, racial discrimination and prejudice on the home front. It was their total collective service, loyalty, valor and sacrifice during the World War II that changed the course of social history of the United States and bettered the lives of all persons of Japanese ancestry who call America their home. So today, may I share with you a summary profile of the Nisei Soldiers of World War II and how they loyally served their country in a manner befitting the honor of a Congressional Gold Medal.
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Go For Broke Bulletin, December 2010
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Barney Fushimi Hajiro, 1916 – 2011
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Barney Hajiro
Photo by Vince Matsudaira
Services for Barney Hajiro was held on February 12, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. at Hosoi Mortuary. Burial with full military honors provided by the Army Reserve’s 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry was on February 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He passed away on January 21, 2011 at the age 94. He was a member of 442nd M Company and I Company and the recipient of the Medal of Honor. He was a retired Pearl Harbor Naval Base Security Guard. He is survived by wife Esther Y., son Glenn F., brothers Tokuro Hajiro and Umeo Hashiro, sister Pearl Yoshikawa and a grandchild.
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Pearl Harbor Visitor Center ** New Exhibit Honors Nisei Veterans
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Eileen Sakai reports on the “Face of the Enemy, Japanese Americans Struggle to Prove their Loyalty” exhibit that is now on display at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
MIS veteran, James Tanabe and his wife Yoshie are outspoken advocates for the accurate public portrayal of Japanese Americans. They arranged for the Exhibit Committee to meet with National Park Service officials to work out an agreement and design a small exhibit for the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center, focusing on the impact to Hawaii’s citizens of Japanese ancestry immediately following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
In addition to construction of the new visitor center, the USS Arizona Memorial became a World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, under a new federal program. The new visitor center, while still focusing on Japan’s December 7, 1941 attack on Hawaii, now tells a broader story about the entire war in the Pacific. Shari Tamashiro was the project leader for this exhibit, Face of the Enemy, Japanese Americans Struggle to Prove their Loyalty. On December 7th, more than one-third of Hawaii’s population was of Japanese ancestry. The attack immediately cast them under suspicion from friends, neighbors and their country.
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Go For Broke Bulletin Archives ***A Mike Memories Article (1992)
?> ?>From the Go For Broke Bulletin Archives (1992), Mike Memories’ Reporter, Yori Inouye reminisces about M Co members. It starts with a beautiful and evocative poem by Pvt. Satoru Onodera.
“A Voice in the Night” – by Private Satoru Onodera
I heard a whispered voice last night,
Which floated through the battle’s might
The way of men below:
“Weren’t they meant to trust and love
Instead of thinking each as foe?”
To enjoy as Thou the gentle rains,
That wash Thy cheeks so clean:
Sweeps o’er field of waving grains
And makes the grasslands green.
Stars that light the travelers’ way,
Winds that cool the fevered brow-
The sun that brightens each new day,
The smell of heather – the song of plow.
Do I speak of these in vain?
Must they live in greatest of sins?
Must they fight and curse the rain?
Knowing the while that no one wins?
Then midst the angry cannon’s roar
The voice for living spoke no more.
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Inouye Visits 442 Clubhouse
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On January 19th, Senator Inouye stopped by the 442nd Veteran’s Clubhouse in Honolulu to present to the veterans a copy of Senate Bill 1055, which awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the men of the 100th, 442nd, and MIS. A small reception was held in honor of the occasion, as veterans and family members showed up to greet the Senator.
The framed replica, along with one of the actual pens used in the signing of the bill, is on display at the 442 Clubhouse. Photos of the event compliments of Wayne Iha.
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