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The National Veterans Network Announces Names of Japanese American WWII in National Museum of the United States Army Exhibits
NVN Instrumental in Gathering Artifacts and Developing the Nisei Soldier Exhibits
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 18, 2020) – Following a three-year labor of love, the National Veterans Network is proud to announce the names of the more than 100 Japanese American WWII soldiers whose individual or collective stories will present their dedicated service to the United States through exhibits inside the National Museum of the U.S. Army.
From 2017-2019, the NVN worked closely with the National Museum of the United States Army to incorporate the service of the Nisei Soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd RCT and Military Intelligence. The NVN lead the development of the historical content for the Nisei Soldier exhibit, Soldiers Stories Gallery and Army & Society Gallery Timeline exhibit.
Over 90 soldiers’ oral histories, photos and 26 objects of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd RCT and Military Intelligence Service will be represented in four areas of the museum in order to represent the overall experience of the Japanese American soldiers in World War II. The NVN along with the National Museum of the U.S. Army are proud to announce the names of the soldiers who will be included in exhibits in the National Museum of the U.S. Army.
In preparation for its opening, the National Veterans Network is seeking the next of kin contact information for a number of WWII veterans. The veterans are noted below with an “*”, if you are a family member or friend of the family, please contact info@nationalveteransnetwork.com
The WWII Japanese American Soldiers included are (in alpha order by unit):
Alfred Arakaki, 100th*
Mitsuyoshi Fukuda, 100th
Makoto Hashimoto, 100th*
Shigeru Inouye, 100th
Warren Iwai, 100th*
Stanley Izumigawa, 100th
Yeiki Kobashigawa, 100th
Takeichi Miyashiro, 100th
Kaoru Moto, 100th
Sadao Munemori, 100th
Calvin Shimogaki, 100th
Sakae Takahashi, 100th
Gary K. Uchida, 100th
Thomas Yamanaga, 100th
Henry Hank Yoshitake, 100th
Young Oak Kim, 100th Officer
Bert Nishimura, 100th/442nd*
Marty Higgins, 141st Infantry
Harry Huberth, 141st Infantry*
Al Tortalano, 141st Infantry*
Nelson Akagi, 442nd
Masato Doi, 442nd*
Kenji Ego, 442nd
Kiyoshi Bones Fujimoto, 442nd*
Howard Hanamura, 442nd*
Norman Ikari, 442nd
Senator Daniel Inouye, 442nd
Susumu Ito, 442nd
Art Iwasaki, 442nd
Victor Izui, 442nd*
Hiroshi Kaku, 442nd
Enoch Kanaya, 442nd
Genro Kashiwa, 442nd
Dave Kawagoye, 442nd
Shig Kizuka, 442nd
Shinyei “Rocky” Matayoshi, 442nd
James Mitsumori, 442nd*
Jimmy Mizote, 442nd
Frank Mizufuka, 442nd
George Morihiro, 442nd
Henry Nakada, 442nd*
Roy Nishio, 442nd*
Yohei Sagami, 442nd
Carl Saito, 442nd
Lawson Sakai, 442nd
George Sakato, 442nd
Matsuji Mutt Sakumoto, 442nd
Takashi Senzaki, 442nd
Terry Shima, 442nd
Jim Tazoi, 442nd
Charles Ujifusa, 442nd
Jim Yamashita, 442nd*
Joseph Yasutake, 442nd*
William Yasutake, 442nd*
Joseph Ichiuji, 442nd / 552nd
Ed Ichiyama, 442nd / 552nd
George Oiye, 442nd / 552nd*
Tadashi Tojo, 442nd / 552nd
Ted Tsukiyama, 442nd / MIS
Robert Foote, 442nd Officer*
Christopher Keegan, 442nd Officer*
Harold Okimoto, 442nd/522nd
Ben Kuroki, Army Air Forces
Harry Akune, MIS*
George Aratani, MIS
Harry Fukuhara, MIS
Howard Furumoto, MIS
Masami Hayashi, MIS
Grant Ichikawa, MIS
Arthur Ishimoto, MIS
George T. Ito, MIS
Kenzo Robert Koike, MIS*
Shinyei Rocky Matayoshi, MIS
Roy Matsumoto, MIS
Tom Sakamoto, MIS
Susumu Toyoda, MIS
Kazuo Yamane, MIS
Ralph Yempuku, MIS
Terry Nakanishi, Nisei WAC
Chizuko Shinagawa, Nisei WAC*
Dick Hamada, OSS*
Vince Okamoto, Vietnam War
Harry Akune, MIS
Howard Furumoto, MIS
Ben Honda, MIS
Rusty Kimura, MIS*
Hoiichi Kubo, MIS
Roy Matsumoto, MIS
Charles Moriyama, MIS
Reynold Muranaka, MIS*
Kunihiro Pete Nakao, MIS*
Victor Nishijima, MIS
Donald Okubo, MIS
Barry Saiki, MIS
Tom Sakamoto, MIS
Kan Tagami, MIS
Fred Tanakatsubo, MIS
Susumu Toyoda, MIS*
Roy Uyehata, MIS
Gordon Yamada, MIS
Herbert Yanamura, MIS
Following the Congressional Gold Medal bestowment on the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd RCT and Military Intelligence in 2011, the Nisei Soldier exhibit in the National Museum of the United States Army is a significant national recognition for the Nisei Soldiers. Originally scheduled to open on June 2, 2020, the National Museum of the U.S. Army has postponed the opening of its 84-acre site in Fort Belvoir, Virginia built to honor our American soldiers and preserve the 240-year history of the U.S. Army.
Interested individuals can stay updated on the Nisei Soldier exhibit at NMUSA by signing up for the NVN Newsletter. For sponsorship opportunities for the opening of the Nisei Soldier exhibits, please contact the NVN at info@nationalveteransnetwork.com.
About National Veterans Network (NVN)
NVN is a consortium of organizations and individuals dedicated to educating the nation on the Japanese American WWII experience. The network launched the campaign to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the first Asian American recipients in the 100th, 442nd and MIS units, and worked with the U.S. Mint to design the medal. In 2012, they partnered with the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service for a seven-city tour to promote recognition of the Japanese American experience.
In 2016, along with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, NVN launched an online Digital Exhibition to share the story of Japanese American soldiers of WWII (cgm.smithsonianapa.org). NVN’s mission is to preserve, educate and advocate how the Nisei Soldiers’ Loyalty, Courage, and Patriotism embody American values and shape future decisions about justice and equality in a democracy. Please visit us at www.nationalveteransnetwork.com, and follow the NVN on Facebook (NationalVeteransNetwork), Twitter (@NtlVetNetwork) or Instagram (nationalveteransnetwork).
