Other RCT Veteran Related News

“Go For Broke” Nisei Soldiers Commemorative Stamp

The United States Postal Service, USPS, issued the “Go For Broke” Nisei Soldiers Commemorative Stamp honoring the legacy of Nisei Soldiers of World War II on Thursday, June 3, 2021 – the First Date of Issue (FDOI). The City of Los Angeles is the First City of Issue.  It has been a long journey for the Stamp Our Story Founders and their supporters, but the stamp is finally a reality!

Stamp Our Story was founded in 2005 by three Nisei women, all of whom were incarcerated during the war.  They are Californians, Fusa Takahashi, 93, Aiko O. King, 93, and the late Chizuko Ohira. Mrs. Takahashi’s husband, Kazuo, served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS).  Mrs. Ohira’s husband, Ted, served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (442nd RCT) H Company, and hailed from Makaweli, Kaua`i.

“In the past, our founders have each expressed their wish that the stamp bring people and organizations together to remember and to honor what the Go For Broke (GFB) Soldiers accomplished, and to be reminded of their American legacy that impacts us all today,” said Stamp Our Story Co-Chair Wayne Osako who joined the campaign Founders in 2006. As children, Wayne’s parents were incarcerated in the Heart Mountain and Jerome incarceration camps even while relatives served in the 100th Battalion (100th Bn) and the 442nd RCT, MIS, and Women’s Army Corps (WAC).

The image on the stamp is veteran Shiroku “Whitey” Yamamoto, Antitank Company, from Hawai`i island.  Whitey is no longer with us, but seeing his image on this stamp fills our hearts with great aloha and pride.

Across the country, in Portland, Houston, Minidoka, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and more, special commemoration ceremonies took place.  Stamp Our Story – Hawai`i, in collaboration with USPS hosted a live-stream event from the 100th Battalion Veterans Clubhouse on June 4, 2021.  Dr. Lynn Heirakuji, NVL President and Co-Chair for the event served as emcee.  Eileen Veach, Hawai`i District Manager, USPS, Governor David Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, Major General Suzanne Vares-Lum, U.S. Army  (Ret.), Nisei veteran, Dr. Shinye Gima, MIS, and Rachel Radona, granddaughter of the late Masaharu Suzuki, Antitank Company, 442nd RCT, all spoke. 

To learn more on the evolution of Stamp Our Story, and for links to purchase stamps and to view recordings of the events that took place in Hawai`i and across the country, click here:  https://niseistamp.org

We are posting Certificates, Special Messages and Proclamations received here: 

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