Japanese-American vets honored for WWII service
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| HARRY K NAGATA |
Monday, Feb. 20, 2012
HARRY NAGATA and his family beamed with joy on Sunday after he received
a bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal for his service in World War
II. It was the first big award that
Nagata has received for his work as an interpreter and interrogator for the
Military Intelligence Service between 1943 and 1945. "I am honored to be
honored," Nagata, 90, said. "It's something that only happens once in
a lifetime."
Nagata and nearly 50 other Japanese-American World War II veterans and
65 surviving spouses and family members were presented with the medals at the
2012 Day of Remembrance Luncheon in Clovis.
From left, Japanese-American World War II veterans NOBURU TOGIOKA, 91 (family imprisoned at Poston camp 3), HIRO ISOGAWA, 86, and CLARENCE K. SUZUKI, 86, reminisce during the
2012 Day of Remembrance luncheon. Togioka and Isogawa were members of the 442nd
Infantry Regiment, and Suzuki was a member of the MIS (Military Intelligence Service) Photo: JOHN WALKER / THE FRESNO BEE
About 700 people attended the event, an observance of the 70th
anniversary of Executive Order 9066, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
in 1942. The order led to the forced internment of more than 120,000
Japanese-Americans, mainly those living along the West Coast, after Japan's
surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II.
KAY K. KOBASHI, right, reminisces with
ROBERT l. YANO, a fellow 88-year-old member of the 442nd Infantry Regiment in
World War II, during the 2012 Day of Remembrance luncheon. Photo: JOHN WALKER /
THE FRESNO BEE
The Central California District
of the Japanese American Citizens League, which organized the event, used the
observance as a chance to honor living and deceased veterans from the central
San Joaquin Valley. The medals they presented were modeled after the national
Congressional Gold Medal -- considered, along with the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, to be the highest civilian award in the United States.
Dale Ikeda, co-chairman of the luncheon, attended a ceremony in
Washington, D.C., in November, where Congress awarded the national gold medal
to Japanese-American veterans nationwide for their service. Ikeda, a Fresno
County Superior Court judge, was so moved that he wanted to give individual
medals to local veterans, too. His father served in the military intelligence
service. The younger generation wished
to honor the Nisei, the second-generation Japanese-Americans who fought in
World War II, Ikeda said. "Their sacrifice paved the way for a better life
for their families," he said.
MAS NAKAMOTO, 83, of Fresno, sat quietly after the ceremony watching
families take pictures and friends congratulate each other. "I don't quite
feel I deserve this honor," said Nakamoto, a retired biochemistry
professor who was a translator during the war. "I feel uncomfortable
because there were others involved in combat. I'm basking in their glory."
KAY KOBASHI, 88, was reserved as well. The war happened 70 years ago,
said Kobashi, who owns a tree fruit farm in Parlier. "We were honored already," said
Kobashi, a staff sergeant who served as a scout. But his daughter, Carol Guerra,
disagrees. "It's very nice for all the veterans because they richly
deserve this," Guerra said. "I just wish the people who passed were
able to see it, too."
Source: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/19/2728975/japanese-american-vets-honored.html
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