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Pearl Harbor Visitor Center ** New Exhibit Honors Nisei Veterans

Sun, February 6, 2011 by Chris Green

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)

Sun, January 30, 2011 by Chris Green

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

Sun, January 23, 2011 by Chris Green

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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Community Exhibit Honors the Legacy of the Veterans

Sun, January 16, 2011 by Chris Green

Sons, daughters and friends have refreshed the “Honoring the Legacy” Exhibit at Central Pacific Bank in downtown Honolulu.

The AJA Veterans Exhibit Committee include sons, daughters and friends of the veterans from the 100th Infantry Battalion (100th), the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (442nd), and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). The Exhibit Committee creates exhibits on the four principal AJA units – the 100th, the 442nd, the MIS, and the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion (1399th). Alvin Yoshitomi and Eileen Sakai are the 442nd Sons & Daughters on the Exhibit Committee.

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Sons & Daughters 2010 Christmas Party

Sun, January 16, 2011 by Chris Green

The Sons & Daughters of the 442nd RCT annual Christmas Party was held on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at the Treetops Restaurant in Manoa. Although it was a rainy winter day, it did not dampen the festivities. There were lots to eat and everyone took home a door prize. Santa showed up and gave out presents for all the little ones, as well as to a few moms and dads.

Here are some of the photos taken at the party compliments of Wayne Iha.

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GFB Bulletin***Meet Barney Hajiro

Sun, January 9, 2011 by Chris Green

The following article was originally published in the Go For Broke Bulletin, Vol. XLVIII, No. 3, July-September, 1997. Under M Company’s “Mike Memoirs”, its contributors were Shiro Aoki, Mikers, Grace and Hiroshi Yamashiro, Dick Tochihara, and Yori and Shige Inouye.

Meet Barney Hajiro

For the heroic actions taken in the Vosges mountain in France, Barney Hajiro was recommended for the Medal of Honor. Like every other such recommendation the 100th/442nd had submitted it was downgraded to a DSC (Distinguish Service Cross). Now more than fifty years later, it is with high hopes that his DSC award will be upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor. To get better acquainted with Barney and some of his heroic deeds, excerpts from various publications are complied and reprinted here.

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TED’S CORNER *** Origins of the 442nd ***

Thu, December 30, 2010 by Chris Green

Here is Ted Tsukiyama’s compelling story of the people and events that led to the formation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team…

Several months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, a fearful and distrusting America barred its Japanese-American citizens from military service, altering their draft status from 1-A draft eligible to 4-C “enemy alien.” The story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team must really begin with the Nisei’s fight to regain their right to fight for their country in its hour of peril. How did the 442nd get its start?

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Congressional Gold Medal Award Update

Tue, December 28, 2010 by Chris Green

December 23, 2010

Christine Sato-Yamazaki, Chairperson of the National Veterans Network writes:

Dear Friends,

2010 was truly an exciting year for the 100th, 442nd and MIS who will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal. We now look forward to a year of celebration in 2011. Here is the latest on the Congressional Gold Medal planning:

National Veterans Registry

Thanks to many of your efforts, NVN continues to receive a steady flow of registrant each week. Over the past month, our numbers have more than doubled. As of today, we now have 1,600 people who are interested in attending the celebration in Washington DC next year. The breakdown is as follows:

201 Veterans
61 Widows
13 Next of Kin of those deceased in line of duty
91 Next of Kin of deceased veterans
Total of 1600 that include family members of above categories

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Ron’s Canteen*** The Evolution of Post World War II Hawaii Through the 442nd Nikkei’s

Sun, December 19, 2010 by Chris Green

Ron Oba is an active member of the 442nd Veterans Club in Honolulu. He has served as president of the organization. He is a veteran of the Second Battalion, F Company, 442nd RCT and spends much of his time promoting the 442. Here’s an article written by Ron, originally published in 1992.

The Evolution of Post World War II Hawaii Through the 442nd Nikkei’s

Whatever we do will have consequences. Conversely, whatever we don’t do will result in consequences – this is the meaning of “Karma”. “Karma” is not merely a cause and effect.

On December 7, 1941 we experienced the “Karma of Opportunity”. Our Nikkei (Japanese immigrants and their descendents) lives were not predestined to prejudice, injustice nor to a life of subordination purely on the basis of color or race. The Nikkei in Hawaii did not let faith take its predestined course. The young Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJA) took matters into their own hands to meticulously mold their fortunes and future by an indomitable will to succeed economically, intellectually and politically.

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Ted’s Corner *** Pearl Harbor Aftermath: From Tragedy To Triumph

Mon, December 6, 2010 by Chris Green

Ted T. Tsukiyama resides in Honolulu and is an active member of the 442nd RCT Veterans Club. During World War II, he was a member of the Varsity Victory Volunteers, the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion of the 442nd RCT, and the Military Intelligence Service. Throughout the years, Ted has served as a wartime historian, often writing about his own experiences.

We’re happy to have Ted’s participation on our website. We have created “Ted’s Corner”, which will feature, from time to time, Ted’s past and current articles.

PEARL HARBOR AFTERMATH: FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH

[This story is based on a speech by Ted T. Tsukiyama at a Pearl Harbor Day Retreat Ceremony on December 7, 1977 at Ft. DeRussey where the University of Hawaii ROTC corps honored as the only ROTC unit in the United States to be awarded a battle streamer in World War II]

UNIVERSITY ROTC

7:55 A.M, Sunday,  December 7, 1941, a day that will remain etched in my memory forever.

I couldn’t sleep late that fateful Sunday morning because of the constant rumbling of thunder that would not cease. Going outside I saw the sky black with smoke punctuated by puffs of white aerial bursts. “They’re sure making this maneuver look real!” I thought. Turning on the radio we heard the KGU announcer screaming, “Take cover! Get off the streets! We are being attacked by Japanese planes!  This is the real McCoy!  Take cover!” I felt as if a piece of shrapnel had pierced my very core.

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Congressional Gold Medal Award Update

Sun, November 14, 2010 by Chris Green

Christine Sato-Yamazaki, Chairperson of the National Veterans Network writes:

Dear friends,

I take this opportunity to share with you the most recent updates on the Congressional Gold Medal planning:

US Mint
The design process with the US Mint has officially begun. NVN with Christine as its official representative will serve as the authorized entity that will work with the US Mint on the design of the Congressional Gold Medal. The US Mint will commission several designers to come up with 3-4 designs to represent the contributions made by the 100th, 442nd and MIS. NVN’s Gold Medal Design Committee chaired by MG Jim Mukoyama will work with our NVN organizations to review the designs and to select a preferred design that best represents the significance of the 100, 442 and MIS. The US Mint has advised that it will take until June 2011 to come up with the final design as it requires approvals from the Fine Arts Commission, Citizen Advisory Coinage Commission and the Secretary of Treasury. Once approved, production for the medal will start in June 2011 for 8 weeks, which places completion somewhere around August 2011. The timeline is below:

  • November 2010 – US Mint announces guidelines for the Mint designers
  • December 2010 – US Mint commissions designers
  • January – February  2011 – Designers work on 3-4 designs
  • Late Feb or early March 2011- Designs will be shared with NVN
  • April 2011 – US Mint sends designs to two commissions: Fine Arts Commission and Citizen Advisory Coin Commission
  • May 2011 – US Mint Director sends it to the Secretary of Treasury
  • May or June 2011- Approval of CGM design
  • June 2011 – Production begins for 8 weeks
  • August 2011 – Congressional Gold Medal (original) and replicas completed

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Go For Broke Bulletin, September 2010

Sat, November 6, 2010 by Chris Green

Go For Broke Bulletin *** 442nd Veterans Club *** A Quarterly Publication *** Volume 62, Number 4, July-September 2010

Click to view Sept Bulletin

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Bert Noboru Nishimura, 1918-2010

Sun, October 24, 2010 by Chris Green

Colonel Bert Nishimura

Services were held on Saturday, October 23, 2010, for retired U.S. Army Colonel Bert Nishimura at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin Temple in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Bert Nishimura, the son of immigrants from Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, was born on August 1, 1918, at Pahala on the Island of Hawaii. His father worked at the sugar mill. When Bert was five, his parents moved to Honolulu and made their home in Kakaako. Bert attended both public school and the Hongwanji language school. After graduating from McKinley High School, he attended the University of Hawaii. He joined the ROTC, which prepared him for a job that would become his career. Read more »

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Small Museum in Seattle

Sun, October 24, 2010 by Chris Green

Rian of Seattle writes:

I am Rian Ebesugawa and I live in Seattle although I grew up in Honolulu (McKinley grad Class of 1976).  I am helping out with a small museum we are putting together at the Nisei Veterans Committee Hall here in Seattle.  As part of the museum, we are getting a bazooka or M1A1 rocket launcher.  As part of the display, we want to include a picture of Pvt. Henry Nakamura.  Yank magazine published the photo in August of 1945.  However, I think they spelled his name wrong and had is as Nakamora.  From my research, there was no one by the name of Nakamora at all from Hawaii or the mainland.

What I am interested in is any other information about Pvt. Nakamura to go along with the display.  I know that Pvt. Nakamura survived the war and I was wondering what he did when he left the army.  I want to include his bio with the picture and the bazooka.

Also, I am looking for information about and a picture of Pvt. Michio Fujikawa.  He was with the 522nd Artillery.  I recently acquired a post card he wrote to Hiroshi Kawamoto while Pvt. Nakamura was at Camp Shelby.  I hope to display the postcard/letter but I was hoping to include a picture of him and his bio as well.

I have attached the picture of Henry Nakamura.  I also attached some color pictures of three other 100th vets.  If anyone knows their names, please let me know that as well.

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Congressional Gold Medal Award

Mon, October 18, 2010 by Chris Green

Christine Sato-Yamazaki, Chairperson of the National Veterans Network writes:

First and foremost, the National Veterans Network (NVN) extends it warmest congratulations to all 100th, 442nd and MIS veterans on the passage of the Congressional Gold Medal bill that recognizes your extraordinary accomplishments with the nation’s highest honor. With the passage of this bill, NVN will work in collaboration with all 22 organizations nationwide to begin the planning of the awards presentation in Washington DC. On behalf of NVN, I am pleased to provide you with our first planning update.

The National Veterans Network (NVN) has launched its new web site – www.nationalveteransnetwork.com. This web site was designed to provide background and planning updates on the Congressional Gold Medal congressional ceremony that will take place in 2011. We encourage you to check the web site periodically and to share the web site with others. NVN gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Donna Cole in Houston, Texas for sponsoring this web site.

https://www.nationalveteransnetwork.com

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