We had to prove ourselves worthy of recognition when we came back to the States and that our parents and the rest of the Japanese-American community would be proud of us. (Video Interview, Part 2, 27:16)
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Jimmie Kanaya
Jimmie Kanaya, 2004
War: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army; Army; Army Unit: 3rd Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) Service Location: Pacific; European Theater; United States; also: Korea; also: Vietnam Rank: Colonel POW: Yes Place of Birth: OR
As a youth, Jimmie Kanaya became fascinated with the military, and at 20 he jumped at the chance to enlist in 1941months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. After helping his parents relocate from their Oregon home to an Idaho internment camp, Kanaya took his skills as a medic to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He aggressively looked out for his men, even negotiating a halt to fighting to bring in casualties from the battlefield. Captured by German troops, he escaped three times and at wars end was the only non-Caucasian in his POW camp. Kanaya continued to serve his country during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.