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Annual Nisei Veterans Memorial Service 150 150 omcadmin

Annual Nisei Veterans Memorial Service

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Roberts Park (above Oakland), in the East Bay Regional Park District

Memorial Service starts at 12 noon followed by a potluck lunch in the Bay Vista Picnic Area.

At the gate, advise that you are attending the veterans’ memorial service to waive entrance fee.

Go through first parking lot to lower level. Please bring a favorite dish or drinks to share.

For more information, contact, Lawson Sakai, [email protected], (408) 782-2054 or Brian Shiroyama, [email protected], (408) 896-1021

FFNV MEMBERSHIP MEETING 1024 768 omcadmin

FFNV MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans (FFNV) met at Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center on February 10, 2018.  As always, faithful members from northern California, Central Valley, and the Monterey Peninsula gathered in the spirit of fun camaraderie.

Consul General Jun Yamada expressed his deep gratitude to early Japanese American generations for making significant contributions to America despite difficult periods during WW II and post-war resettlement.  Audience appreciated his presence despite his imminent departure from San Francisco.

The featured speaker was James Taylor, a Medal of Honor recipient, who served in Vietnam.  The video highlighted his heroism in battle and his speech captivated the audience with the theme of teamwork that was necessary to achieve victories in Vietnam.

Alexander Irwin, a filmmaker at San Francisco State, screened his documentary on Lawson Sakai, a veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Celeste Brasuell talked about the Veterans’ History Project at the Library of Congress.

Carl Williams explained his role in fundraising to restore the monument in Bruyeres, France, erected on nearby Hill 555 in 1947 to commemorate the liberation of the town by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in November 1944 and to honor Nisei veterans.

The meeting concluded by showing of the inspiring video of the Nisei Veterans’ Exhibit aboard the retired USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier in Alameda.

FFNV’s next gathering will be the memorial service at noon on May 19, 2018 in Oakland Hills.   Questions?  Contact Brian Shiroyama at [email protected] or (408) 896-1021.

2018 Annual Meeting to be Held 150 150 omcadmin

2018 Annual Meeting to be Held

Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans (FFNV), a locally-based, multi-state Japanese-American veterans’ group, will hold its annual meeting on February 10, 2018 at the Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center, 16450 Murphy Avenue.  The main guest speaker will be Congressional Medal of Honor recipient James Taylor who was the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Independence Day Parade in Morgan Hill. Host will be Lawson Sakai who is President of FFNV and also Grand Marshal of the 2014 parade.

On November 9, 1967, First Lieutenant Taylor was serving in Vietnam as cavalry officer.   When his troops came under intense enemy fire and one armored assault vehicle was hit, Lt Taylor jumped into action.  The Medal of Honor citation reads: “His actions of unsurpassed valor were a source of inspiration to his entire troop, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers.”

Public is cordially invited to attend at 12:30 PM.  Pot-luck lunch for FFNV members and guests will start at 11:30 AM.

If you wish more information, please contact Brian Shiroyama at [email protected] or (408) 896-1021.

“The Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Courage” Shane Sato, Photography book 150 150 omcadmin

“The Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Courage” Shane Sato, Photography book
We are in need of help as the deadline (June) for completing our book and getting it to press approaches.  There are still many veterans we have not been able to contact to ask for:
1)    A lead to someone or resource, so that we can write a short personal story for each veteran, to go with their portrait.  
2)    A lead to someone or resource, to get either WWII era photos (scans if possible.) or that we can scan and return through FedEx.
3)    A contact person, so that a free copy of the book can be given to the photographed veteran or one representative member of his family
 
Attached is a list of veterans whom were photographed and the status of what we need to complete their page (Facing the portrait).
Would you also please pass along the following note and the list of veterans to your local community and network (either through the newsletter, email blast or both), so that we can get the largest response to gather this information?
 
Thank you,
 
Robert Horsting, on behalf of Shane Sato, photographer and author,
“The Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Courage”
 
Dear Veterans and friends,
 
My name is Shane Sato, a photographer for the past 30 years based in Los Angeles.  I’ve been shooting portraits of WWII Nisei veterans since 2000, starting with my “Go For Broke” series, which was shot in black and white and posed in their club shirts.  I wanted to do another series to continue shooting more veterans , so in 2007 I started shooting in color and I decided to use uniforms to help the public “see into the past”.  There was a dramatic change in response, because now people could equate these men in the twilight of their lives to the vets who fought in WWII.
 
Having shot about 130 portraits since 2000, I’m now working together with Robert Horsting, an oral historian, to create a “Coffee Table” book.  By combining these portraits with personal photos and a short story of a moment of each veteran’s life, we’re providing a “Then and Now” experience. This project is intended to be photo driven and not a history book.
 
I am reaching out to all of you in the Nisei veteran communities to ask you veterans, family members and friends, to help us locate a lead to someone or resource, so that we can write a short personal story for each veteran, and gather some WWII era photos to go with their portrait.
Feb. 13, 2016 Meeting 150 150 omcadmin

Feb. 13, 2016 Meeting

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Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans (FFNV), a Japanese-American WW II veterans organization, will host a meeting on February 13, 2016, at the rear building of the Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center, 16450 Murphy Avenue, at 12:30 PM. Potluck lunch will be served at 11:30 AM. The public is invited.

The highlight of this meeting is to feature four speakers on the subject of a legendary segregated Japanese-American unit (442nd Regimental Combat Team – 442nd RCT) rescuing the “Lost Battalion.” The 442nd RCT, formed in 1943, was initially engaged in Italy and quickly became a formidable and well-respected fighting unit. “Go For Broke” was its motto. For its size and the length of service, the 442nd RCT became the highest decorated unit in U.S. Army history with 21 Medal of Honor awards.

On October 24, 1944, the 1st Battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Division (originally the Texas National Guard), became surrounded and trapped by German forces in the Vosges Mountains, France. The 1st Battalion was deemed “lost” because repeated attempts by 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 141st Infantry Regiment failed to rescue the 1st. The Division Commander then ordered the 442nd RCT to rescue the “Lost Battalion.” Even though the 442nd RCT just came off bitter battles to liberate nearby towns and thus was severely short of manpower, they smartly saluted and valiantly pressed on. It was another opportunity to prove their loyalty to America after being classified as “enemy alien” after Pearl Harbor. On October 30, after taking extremely heavy casualties, the 442nd RCT broke through and rescued the “Lost Battalion.”

Tom Graves (professional photographer/author of “Twice Heroes”) will introduce other speakers. He will give the overview of the 442nd RCT. He will present the importance of the battle to rescue the “Lost Battalion.” He will also comment on why this rescue lives on in history.

Franz Steidl (author of “Lost Battalions”) will give an introduction to the regional military situation, military motives behind the battle and its results. He will also make an audiovisual presentation.

Al Tortolano (soldier of the 1st Battalion, 141 Infantry – the “Lost Battalion”) will talk about his side of the battle, what his fellow soldiers faced and knew and what they went through before the rescue by the 442 RCT.

Lawson Sakai (a 442nd RCT vet) will talk about the Regiment itself – its origin and training. He will then focus on his role during the battle to rescue the “Lost Battalion.”

Questions may be directed to Brian Shiroyama at [email protected] or (408) 896-1021.

Information on Annual Reunion, Registration, and Shirt Information 150 150 omcadmin

Information on Annual Reunion, Registration, and Shirt Information
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ANNUAL NISEI VETERANS’ REUNION
California Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
October 18-22, 2015

Download the registration/order forms here (PDF).

FFNV MEMBERSHIP MEETING 150 150 omcadmin

FFNV MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans (FFNV) held its annual membership meeting at Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center on February 14, 2015. About 70 members, guests and friends from Sacramento, Turlock, Fresno and Bay Area as well as South County enjoyed the traditional potluck and always warm camaraderie.

Lawson Sakai, Mas Tsuda and Mas Kadota (all 442 veterans) were recognized for being awarded of the most prestigious French Legion of Honor from the French Consul General on February 3.

The speaker of fascinating background captivated the audience. Lt Commander Goehner served as “frogman” of the elite Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) during World War II. The UDT was the original Navy SEAL. Lt Commander Goehner led many “suicide” missions against German Navy. In Hollywood’s Oscar-nominated movie “THE FROGMEN,” Richard Widmark, the lead actor, portrayed Lt Commander Goehner. His account of danger-packed mission against a German submarine base in Baltic Sea was exciting and his story of encountering a German soldier at Normandy was heartwarming.

A short video presentation of the Nisei Veterans’ Exhibit aboard the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda concluded the meeting.

FFNV will next gather on May 16 in Oakland Hills for the annual memorial service If you wish more information about FFNV, please contact Brian Shiroyama at [email protected] or (408) 896-1021.

MIS Veterans will hold national reunion March 27-28, 2015 150 150 omcadmin

MIS Veterans will hold national reunion March 27-28, 2015

The Military Intelligence Service Veterans Club of Hawaii will hold a National Reunion of MIS veterans – with the theme of “Keeping the MIS Legacy Alive” — that will include:

• March 27: 5 to 8 p.m., opening social, dinners and workshops, 100th Battalion Veterans Clubhouse, 520 Kamoku St.

• March 28: 9 a.m., grand opening ceremony for “America’s Secret Weapon,” a new exhibit at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, followed by museum tour. Army Historian James McNaughton, author of the book “Nisei Linguists,” will speak.

• March 28: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., reunion luncheon banquet at the Hale Koa Hotel DeRussy Ballroom. Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will speak.

Click here to download flyer (PDF).

 

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