Most Honorable Son

Angelo

Allow me to introduce you to Robert Yamazaki who I met yesterday while visiting the "Go For Broke" Memorial in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo area. "Go For Broke" was the motto of their army unit.

Robert, 81, is a volunteer docent at the outdoor memorial with a quick smile, a quicker wit and seemingly unstopable energy to share the story of the Japaness-American soldiers who served in the 100th/442nd combat battalion.

Made up almost exclusively of Japanese-Americans, the 100th/442nd made significant advances on both French and German soil and did so as many of their parents were being hauled off to interment camps here in the states.

These Nisei (American born) joined the armed services and fought courageously in spite of the horrendous treatment their families were enduring because they lived by the customs of "duty, honor and responsibility"

Their accomplishments in the European theater were so significant that upon their return stateside they were honored by President Harry Truman at a White House ceremony; the first time such an honor was bestowed upon a small battalion unit.

It took until the 1980's for the USA to formally apologize to the families who were treated so badly with the passage of the Civil Liberties Act (1988). One of the factors that led to its passage in Congress was the tributes to the heroic efforts of the men of the 100th/442nd. This memorial bears the signature of President Reagan.

Mitchell

Beautifully narrated and documented. Nice photojournalism, Angelo!


mitch

pathfinder

Very interesting Angelo. I posted pictures of the entrance to Manzanar, the Internment camp you mentioned, in my 5400 mile trip to Yosemite thread.

Angelo

Mitchell wrote:

Beautifully narrated and documented. Nice photojournalism, Angelo!


mitch

Thank you Mitch.

Angelo

pathfinder wrote:

Very interesting Angelo. I posted pictures of the entrance to Manzanar, the Internment camp you mentioned, in my 5400 mile trip to Yosemite thread.

Yes, I know; I remembered your post as I came upon this. Thanks for commenting.

marlof

A great story with excellent pictures. My first knowledge on this subject was caused by Snow Falling on Cedars and I was intrigued by it. Thanks for helping me remember this.

MuskyDude

Well done Angelo, thanks for sharing.


AJ

Angelo

marlof wrote:

A great story with excellent pictures. My first knowledge on this subject was caused by Snow Falling on Cedars and I was intrigued by it. Thanks for helping me remember this.

Thanks Marlof - I'll have to research that book a bit.

Angelo

MuskyDude wrote:

Well done Angelo, thanks for sharing.


AJ

Thank you AJ

Harryb

Hey Angelo,



Excellent pics and text here. Thanks so much for sharing it.

tmlphoto

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing Angelo.

Angelo

Harryb wrote:

Hey Angelo,



Excellent pics and text here. Thanks so much for sharing it.

Thank you Harry.

Angelo

tmlphoto wrote:

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing Angelo.

Thanks for looking Thomas.