The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Death of Nisei Veteran Frank Wada, 99-- Part 1: 'Go for Broke'

From the July 6, 2021, San Diego (Cal.) Union-Tribune  "Obituary:  1921-2021:  World War II  nisei  veteran Frank Wada recalled  for his quiet courage" by Pam Kragen.

Frank Wada was a member of the all-Japanese U.S. Army's 442nd  Regimental Combat Team and died June 14.  he served in E Company made up entirely of Nisei, the American-born descendants of Japanese immigrants.  Most of its recruits came from internment camps, where  110,000 Japanese -Americans living on the U.S. West Coast were forced to move.

Family members say Wada was the last local  survivor of the regiment.

The 442nd  would become the most decorated unit, for its size and length of service, in the history of the U.S. military.  Roughly 18,000 men served in it, ultimately earning 9,468 Purple Hearts, 21 Medal of Honor and an unprecedented  seven Presidential Unit Citations.

"Go for Broke" was the regiment's motto, meaning "shoot the works."

--GreGen


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