During August’s Nisei Week Parade, Japanese American veterans who served in every major conflict in recent U.S. history marched down the streets of Little Tokyo in a united front of bravery, patriotism and service. The generational gathering also marked the 50th anniversary since the end of the Vietnam War.
Pictured (from left) are: Front row: Terry Weber (Navy), Vietnam; Wally Takata (Army), Korean War; David Miyoshi (Marines), Vietnam; Ken Hayashi (Army), Vietnam; Garry Tanaka (Army), Vietnam; Chris Segawa (Army), Vietnam; Keith Kawamoto (Army), Vietnam; Row 2: Ramiro Puentes (Army), Vietnam; Ray Fukumoto (Army), Vietnam; Cory Shiozaki (Army), Vietnam; Dennis Yamamoto (Army), Vietnam; Don Nakamura (Army), Vietnam; Mayumi Kimura (Navy), post-9/11;
Row 3: Fred Maldonado (Navy), Vietnam; Art Ishii (Air Force), Vietnam; Kenji Hatakeyama (Army), Vietnam; Ken Sasaki (Army), Vietnam; Edward Sugita (Army), Vietnam; Ron Kita (U.S. National Guard), Vietnam; Row 4: Earnest Low (Navy), Vietnam; Richard Odagawa (Army), Vietnam; Les Higa (Army), Korea; Row 5: Ron Nakawatase (Army), Vietnam; Eddie Ohara (Army), Vietnam; Jack Lew (Army), Vietnam; Scott Takahashi (Army), Vietnam; Shunji Hosozawa (Army), Vietnam; Ken Tanaka (Navy), Vietnam; James Ota (Air Force), Vietnam; Eddie Yorizane (Army), Vietnam; Row 6: Kiyo Fukumoto (Army), Vietnam; George Tanaka (Army), Vietnam; Tim Yoshinaga (Air Force), Gulf Wars; Row 7: Russell Nakaishi (California National Guard); Sonny Tasaki (Army), Vietnam; Bryant Ng (Air Force), Vietnam; Roger Yasunaga (Army), Vietnam; Larry Miyamura (Army), Vietnam; Mike Uyeda (Army), Gulf Wars; Row 8: Jin Kwan (Army), Vietnam; Yuji Toda (Navy), active duty; Ricky Taira (Army), Vietnam; Nolan Tanaka (Air Force), post-Vietnam; Don Suehiro (Army), Korea DMZ; Cliff Ishigaki (Marines), Vietnam; Ron Shintani (Army), Vietnam; Gregory Sugioka (Army), Vietnam.
Not shown: Tyson Takeuchi (Army), active duty; David Sumida (Navy), Global War on Terror.
Photo: Courtesy of David Miyoshi