NEXT Meeting February 10, 2001 11:00 am Meeting for Friends & Family of Nisei Veterans in Mountain View. Located off of Showers Drive near San Antonio Road in Mountain View, CA  (see map) or call Mike Hanley 415-775-7082
12/5/00	I'm Darrell Kunitomi, a cast member of "A Jivebomber's Christmas,"the popular camp musical-drama that's played for seven years, son of a MIS vet (Jack Kunitomi), nephew of Teruo (Ted) Fujioka (Pfc., AT unit)  KIA'd near Bruyeres, 11/44, buried at Epinal, France. This weekend we are playing Las Vegas, two shows only 12/9, at 2 and 7 pm. Location:  West Charleston Library 6301 W. Charleston Las Vegas Call: 1-866-884-8769, toll free for tix.  Nisei Charters is sending two busses to LV from LA in a package deal that includes hotel, bus fare and tix to show. (Sorry, I don't have their number in LA). Last shows are in Hawaii -- 12/15 -- 17 at the Blaisdell Center, Pikake Room. call 808-591-2211 for tix. "JB" is a family/historical experience, with music from the 40s, swing dancing, humor, drama and tears. It has moved audiences wherever we've played -- Clovis, Seattle, Orange County, SF, Berkeley, all around LA and at the JANM, where we humbly started so long ago.
10/30/00	The 36th Infantry Division is planning a tour of France scheduled for June 2001. Ray Wells, Company H, 141st Infantry Regiment (last year's association president and a 36th Infantry Division Association director) wishes to contact the 100th Bn / 442nd RCT to extend an invitation for as many veterans, their families and friends as wish to join the tour. Can you provide contact names, addresses, telephones numbers for any 100th Bn / 442nd RCT related association Ray may contact? If you do and are able to provide the information, you may send it either to me or directly to Ray at rwellsbob@aol.com To support the tour I've created a website. On the tour pages I've also included a link to the 1998 Tour Report, which included a memorial service held at the 442nd RCT monument in the Vosges. Feeling seems to be this may be the last or among the very last tours the veterans make. Hope not.   Gary W. Butler Texas Military Forces Museum 36th Infantry Division Association 36th Infantry Division Online Library 112th Cavalry Regiment Second Battalion, 131st Field Artillery
9/16/2000	September 16, 2000 11:00 am Meeting for Friends & Family of Nisei Veterans in Mountain View. Located off of Showers Drive near San Antonio Road in Mountain View, CA  (see map) or call Mike Hanley 415-775-7082
6/21/2000	President Clinton announces award of Medal of Honor to 100th/442nd RCT List of recipients of Medal of Honor upgraded from Distinguished Service Cross from the 100th Bat./442nd RCT: Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu, Second lieutenant, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT) on April 21, 1945 at San Terenzo, Italy. In attacking a fortified ridge guarding an important road juncture in the Po Valley, Inouye directed his platoon through a hail of gunfire, captured an artillery and mortar observation post, and brought his men to within 40 yards of the main enemy force. Although wounded in the stomach by a sniper's bullet, he continued to rake other positions until his right arm was shattered by an exploding German rifle grenade. He pried a grenade he was about to throw from his right hand, and tossed it with his left hand. Kaoru Moto (Makawao, Maui,  Private First Class, C Company, 100th Battalion) on July 7, 1944 at Castellina, Italy. Attacked a machine-gun nest, took a prisoner, then captured a house used as an observation post. Wounded, he continued to defend the position from being retaken by the Germans. Later, he spotted another machine-gun nest and opened fire, wounding two Germans and capturing several others. Died in 1992. Yukio Okutsu (Hilo, Hawaii, Technical sergeant, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT) on April 7, 1945, at Mt. Belvedere, Italy. While his platoon was bogged down by fire from three machine guns, Okutsu crawled to within 30 yards of the nearest nest through heavy fire. He stood up, hurled two grenades at the nest, killing three machine-gunners. Crawling and dashing from cover to cover, he again stood up and threw a grenade, silencing a second machine gun, wounding two Germans and forcing two others to surrender. Seeing a third nest, he again moved forward through small arms fire and was stunned momentarily by a shot that glanced off his helmet. Recovering, he charged several German riflemen with his submachine gun, forcing them to withdraw. Then, rushing the machine-gun nest from the flank, he captured the weapon and its crew of four, allowing his platoon to resume its assault. Robert Kuroda (Aiea, Staff sergeant, H Company, 2nd Battalion, 442nd RCT) on Oct. 20, 1944 at Bruyeres, France. Attacked a machine-gun nest, killing three Germans with a grenade, and killed or wounded three others with his rifle. Killed by a sniper while advancing on a second machine-gun nest. Posthumous. Yeiki Kobashigawa (Waianae, Technical sergeant, B Company, 100th Battalion) on June 2, 1944 at Lanuvio, Italy. During an attack, his platoon came across a series of German machine-gun nests. Spotting one 50 yards away, he crawled forward with one of his men, threw a grenade and then charged with his submachine gun while his companion provided covering fire.  He killed one German and captured two. Kobashigawa and his comrade were fired on by another machine gun 50 yards to their front. Directing a squad to advance to his first position, he again moved forward with his companion to subdue the second machine-gun nest. After throwing grenades into the position, Kobashigawa provided close supporting fire while his fellow soldier charged. Four prisoners were captured. On the alert for other nests, he discovered four more machine guns and skillfully lead a squad in neutralizing two of them. Barney Hajiro (Waipahu, Private First Class, I Company, 3rd Battalion, 442nd RCT), on Oct. 29, 1944 at Bruyeres and Biffontaine, France. Hajiro, acting as a security guard on top of an embankment, observed a friendly unit under attack in a house 200 yards away. He directed fire at the enemy stronghold, and, disregarding personal danger, fired three bursts at two snipers, killing or wounding them. He volunteered for outpost security when I Company held a forward attack position on a ridge east of Belmont. Together with his squad leader, they captured two light machine guns, two automatic rifles, four pistols, 10 rifles and a number of grenades.  By his intrepid conduct, he was a defensive factor in the capture of "Suicide Hill." Masato Nakae (Honolulu, Private First Class, A Company, 100th Battalion) on Aug. 19, 1944 at Pisa, Italy. Defending an outpost position, Nakae held back a probe by German forces. Wounded during a mortar barrage, he refused to leave and continued to fire, forcing the Germans to withdraw. Died in 1998. Shinyei Nakamine (Waianae, Private, B Company, 100th Battalion) on June 2, 1944 at La Torreto, Italy. Killed three Germans and captured two in taking out a machine-gun nest. Later in the day, he led another attack that took out another machine-gun nest. Spotting a third machine-gun emplacement, he led another charge and was killed.  Posthumous. Mikio Hasemoto (Honolulu, Private, B Company, 100th Battalion) on Nov. 23, 1943 at Cerasuolo, Italy. Killed fighting with Ohata. Responsible for killing 27 Germans in one battle and wounding three. Posthumous. Shizuya Hayashi (Pearl City, Private, A Company, 100th Battalion) on Nov. 29, 1943 at Cerasuolo, Italy. During an assault on high ground held by the Germans, Hayashi rose alone in the face of grenade, rifle and machine- gun fire, fired his automatic weapon from the hip with the aid of a shoulder sling, and charged the machine-gun nest. He took the position, killing seven men and two more as they fled.  After a platoon advance of 200 yards from his point, an enemy anti-aircraft position opened fire on the platoon. Hayashi returned fire, killing nine, taking four prisoners and forcing the remainder of the force to flee from the hill. George Sakato, Oct. 29, 1944, Biffontaine, France: His squad pinned down, he rose and led a charge that destroyed a German stronghold. RANK: PRIVATE -- UNIT: Co. E, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: DENVER  Frank Ono, July 4, 1944, Castellina, Italy: Took out a machine-gun nest, killed a sniper and helped rescue a wounded leader. Posthumous. RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: Co. G, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: NORTH JUDSON, IND. Kiyoshi Muranaga, June 26, 1944, Suvereto, Italy: Manning a 60-mm mortar alone, he produced such accurate fire that the enemy's anti-personnel and anti-tank 88-mm gun withdrew. Posthumous. RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: Co. F, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: AMECHE, COLO. Joe Hayashi, April 22, 1945, near Mt. Nebbione, Italy: Killed while knocking out two machine-gun nests. RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: Co. K, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: PASADENA, CALIF. William Nakamura, July 4, 1944, Castellina, Italy: Attacked a machine-gun nest that pinned down his platoon and was killed when the Germans attacked his platoon as it withdrew. RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS -- UNIT: Co. G, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: HUNT, IDAHO Kazuo Otani, July 15, 1944, Pieve di S. Luce, Italy: While covering his platoon, he drew enemy fire and fought off a German counterattack. Killed while dressing the wounds of a fellow soldier. RANK: STAFF SERGEANT -- UNIT: Co. G, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: VISALIA, CALIF. Joe Nishimoto, Nov. 7, 1944, La Housssiere, France: Killed after being responsible for breaking a three-day stalemate against German forces.  RANK: PRIVATE -- UNIT: Co. G, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: FRESNO, CALIF. Ted Tanouye, July 7, 1944, Molina A Ventoabbto, Italy: Wounded in the battle, he stayed through several fire fights. Later died of his wounds. RANK: TECHNICAL SERGEANT -- UNIT: Co. K, 442ND -- HOMETOWN: TORRANCE, CALIF. James K. Okubo, Oct. 1944, Vosges Mountains, France: Over several days, rescued and delivered aid to soldiers of the Texas "Lost Battalion." RANK: TECHNICAL SERGEANT -- UNIT: 442ND -- HOMETOWN: BELLINGHAM, WASH.
5/31/2000	From: Ron Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 Subject: Re:Hawaii's celebration The AJA council of Honolulu (composed of 4 AJA organizations) is planning a parade through Waikiki on August 26 and a hugmongous banquet at the Convention Center for about 3 to 4,000 people. The Go for Broke Bulletin will be publishing all 21 citations in the next issue and we have nearly all of their photos except for four more: two from G Company and 2 from K company.  As soon as we get their addresses we will be requesting for their photos to be in the bulletin, the Fort DeRussy Gallery of Heroes and the Hawaii Herald.  The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii will coordinate the banquet and the USARPac will handle the parade with input by the AJA council for every detail.
5/20/2000	Annual Memorial Service Open to the public and all veterans May 20th, 2000 Roberts Park in Oakland located in the East Bay Regional Parks District.  Each year a service is held and a pot luck afterwards to remember those that have served our country and those that made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom. email for more info on how to attend. Friends & Family of Nisei Veterans
	Date:  1/21/2000 From:  Northern California "E" Company re:  Funeral Service for Kanji Ikegaki One of our prominent Northern California Easy Company comrades, Kanji Ikegaki passed away early Thursday morning. He was a resident at the California Veterans Home in Yountville for the past few years.  Services for his funeral will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, January 24, 2000 at: Sunset View Mortuary  101 Colusa Avenue El Cerrito,  CA  94530-4118
	Meeting Held March 4, 2000 11:00 am Meeting for Friends & Family of Nisei Veterans in Mountain View. Located off of Showers Drive near San Antonio Road in Mountain View, CA  (see map) or call Mike Hanley 415-775-7082
	Annual Memorial Service Open to the public and all veterans May 20th, 2000 Roberts Park in Oakland located in the East Bay Regional Parks District.  Each year a service is held and a pot luck afterwards to remember those that have served our country and those that made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom. email for more info on how to attend. Friends & Family of Nisei Veterans
12/12/99	The 442/100 Returns to Pietrosanto  and the Italian Battlefields of WWII The city of Pietrosanto is building a park and memorial to the Allied Forces who fought to liberate Northern Italy along the Gothic Line.  This monument will include the figure of Private First Class Sadao Munemori as a symbol of the sacrifice made by the Allied Armies. In conjunction with the dedication of the Memorial, Americo Bugilani, George Nishinaka, and Kiyo Yamate have suggested a comprehensive fourteen day itinerary of the area for those who will plan to attend the dedication.  This Memorial Tour will depart the U. S. April 17, 2000 and return April 30. Chase Travel is the exclusive Agency for this tour.  Anyone wishing additional information, or to join this tour should contact: Phyllis Anesetti at (800) 394-5100 or (818) 246-1661. CHASE TRAVEL SERVICE 315 E. Broadway Glendale, CA 91205-1011  ___________________________________ In addition, a short article was written which described briefly some information  and high lights of the proposed trip.  "A monument  to the memory of the Fallen...who fought in Pietrasanta and Versilia will be erected...first among them from the Army of the US will be Pfc Sadao Munemori." ... "The six foot bronze statue of ...Munemori will be sculpted by Professor Marcello Tammasi, an eminent sculptor of international renown." ...  "The date of the unveiling will be April 25, 2000, is Liberation Day, a National holiday ibn Italy."  ... "... Chase is planning a tour of Italy in conjunction with  the unveiling.  The tour will visit this area for three days.  In Rome a free day is available to visit the battle site at Anzio.  The tour will visit the Abbey at Mt. Cassino. ..." That is all the information I have for now.  Kiyo Yamate who is one of the co-sponsors of the trip will send me more info as he gets it.  But, you should call Chase if you are interested.