FFNV Hosts A Membership Meeting
Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans (FFNV) kicked off the year with its traditional membership meeting on Feb. 8 at Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center. The authentically restored WW II era jeep (by Tim and Ben Edes of Morgan Hill) configured with weapons used by soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (442 RCT) greeted the attendees at the entrance.
As always, veterans of all wars were appropriately recognized. Sadly, Lawson Sakai and Sam Sakamoto were the only 442 RCT veterans present. All Military Intelligence Service veterans who had attended the meeting in the past had passed on. Neither Odette Lependu (French Resistance Fighter) nor Al Tortolano (Lost Battalion veteran) could attend. However, as always, their family members, friends and supporters turned the meeting into a fun and memorable event. Pot luck lunch was enjoyed by all.
The featured presentation focused on an overview and highlights of the 100th/442nd RCT 75th anniversary travel tours in July and October last year organized by our travel master, Brian Yamamoto. The video was presented by Mike Izumi, professional videographer who recorded the tours. The video was so exciting and captivating that it was almost as if we were all part of the tour. Thank you, Brian and Mike.
The meeting concluded by viewing a video of the Nisei Veterans’ Exhibit aboard the USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier Museum, Pier 3, Alameda, CA. The exhibit shows Japanese American history with a focus on internment, tells the stories of our Nisei soldiers and preserves their proud legacy.
FFNV’s next event will be the annual memorial service on Saturday, May 16 at 12 noon at Roberts Park, Oakland Hills where the veterans of the E Company, 442nd RCT, planted a redwood tree in 1992 in memory of all 442 RCT vets who gave their lives. Questions? Please contact Brian Shiroyama at [email protected] or text at (408) 896-1021.