Vol. 149, No. 9, November 6, 2009. 16 pages. View this issue
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Japanese American veterans of World War II filled this November 2009 issue. Nalea J. Ko profiled Jimmie Kanaya, a 442nd medic who became a prisoner of war after the rescue of the Lost Battalion, and the Crusaders, young Nisei women who wrote letters to soldiers overseas. John Tateishi remembered the Nisei soldiers of his childhood, and Lynda Lin wrote about 2nd Lt. Marisa Miyamura, who followed her grandfather Hershey Miyamura into the service.
Elsewhere, a timeline on page 10 traced the war years, including Executive Order 9066 and the battles of the 100th/442nd. Other pages covered a reunion of 442nd and Lost Battalion survivors in Houston, a Medal of Honor memorial at the University of Washington, and a talk with Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
What’s in this issue
National
- Iraq Veteran Brings Firsthand Knowledge to VA Department, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. L. Tammy Duckworth, assistant secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and a decorated Iraq War veteran who lost both legs in a helicopter attack, discusses her personal understanding of veterans’ needs and her work reforming VA services. She describes plans to expand women’s services, improve rural access to care, and increase transparency at the VA under the Obama administration’s expanded budget.
- Univ. of Washington to Dedicate Memorial in Honor of its Bravest, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 6. The University of Washington is dedicating a Medal of Honor Memorial on Veterans Day honoring alumni including William Kenzo Nakamura, a 442nd RCT soldier killed in action in 1944 who posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2000. The $152,000 monument, funded by private donations, features a sculpture and stone engraved with the names of Medal of Honor recipients.
- Nisei Rescuers Reunite with the ‘Lost Battalion’, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 13. Forty surviving members of the 442nd RCT and the ‘Lost Battalion’ gathered in Houston on Nov. 1 to mark the 65th anniversary of the historic WWII rescue at a fundraising gala hosted by the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation. Veterans from both units shared memories and expressed lasting gratitude, with military leaders praising the 442nd’s courage despite the discrimination they faced.
In-Depth
- A Nisei World War II Veteran’s Journey Into History, by Nalea J. Ko, page 4. Jimmie Kanaya, 89, a former 442nd RCT medic who became a prisoner of war after helping rescue the Lost Battalion, recounts his wartime experiences for a new History Channel special. The article details his capture, forced march through Germany, and eventual liberation, along with his lifelong military career spanning WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
- Meet the Crusaders, by Nalea J. Ko, page 5. A group of young Nisei women called the Crusaders, founded by civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama while interned at Santa Anita, wrote letters to boost the morale of Nisei soldiers overseas during WWII. Playwright Marlan Warren has dramatized their story and is seeking funding for a documentary to preserve their largely unrecognized legacy.
- Following in the Footsteps of Hershey Miyamura, by Lynda Lin, page 7. 2nd Lt. Marisa Miyamura, granddaughter of Korean War Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi ‘Hershey’ Miyamura, describes how her grandfather’s legacy inspired her to join the Air Force. The article also recounts Hershey Miyamura’s heroic actions in Korea, his time as a POW, and his later service with the 442nd RCT.
- Days of Heroism: A World War II Historical Timeline, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The Pacific Citizen presents a detailed timeline of events from 1941 to 1946 chronicling the Japanese American experience in WWII, including the formation of the MIS Language School, the incarceration under Executive Order 9066, and the battles of the 100th/442nd RCT including the rescue of the Lost Battalion. The timeline concludes with President Truman’s 1946 recognition of the units’ sacrifice and valor.
Commentary
- Remembering the Vets, by John Tateishi, page 8. Former JACL national director John Tateishi reflects on his childhood memories of Nisei soldiers returning home after WWII and the impact their heroism had on his community. He also recalls using the story of the 442nd’s achievements as a powerful tool during the Redress movement.
- How Will They Learn?, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. Yumi Sakugawa reflects on how future generations of Japanese Americans might learn about JA veterans’ WWII legacy as the number of living veterans dwindles. She highlights online oral history resources like the Go For Broke Foundation website as tools to preserve these stories for future generations.
Community
- A Fitting Tribute, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Two generations of Japanese American veterans, Min Hamada of the 442nd RCT and his son Lynard Hamada who served in Vietnam, visited the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington, D.C. representing the Wasatch Front North JACL at the third annual JACL Gala. Min Hamada also recalled seeing his name engraved at the Go For Broke Monument in Little Tokyo.
- Vice Adm. Harris Meets Seattle Nisei Veterans, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Navy Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris visited Seattle’s Nisei Veterans Committee on Oct. 16 and praised the valor and loyalty of WWII Nisei soldiers for paving the way for succeeding generations of Asian Pacific Americans. Harris, born in Yokosuka, Japan, was recently nominated for a promotion to commander of the sixth fleet.
Obituaries
- George Katagiri, by P.C. Staff, page 15. George Katagiri, born in Portland, Oregon, was interned at Tule Lake before serving in the Army in occupied Japan and later becoming Oregon’s first science education specialist. He was honored as State Employee of the Year in 1969 and spent his retirement preserving Japanese American history through the Bill of Rights Memorial and Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center.
- Col. Christopher Ray Keegan, 1915-2009: His Greatest Honor was Serving with the 442nd, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 15. Col. Christopher Ray Keegan, the WWII commander of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s ‘H’ Company and its last surviving company commander, died Oct. 11 at age 94. He considered leading the Nisei soldiers his greatest honor, describing the bond formed with his men as a lifelong family connection despite the discrimination they faced.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.