442nd Infantry Regiment: Jimmie Kokubu
Jimmie Kokubu
1919-1944
My grandma's younger brother, Jimmie, was given the choice to either fight in an all-Japanese American Infantry for the United States or be interned in Minidoka with his family. He fought for the country that put his family in an internment camp. The 442nd Infantry Regiment was the most decorated unit in U.S. Military history for its size. They fought the battle abroad while back in the U.S. their family members looked out at their "home of the free" from behind barbed wire. The 442nd received 18,000 awards, and Jimmie was presented a Purple Heart award. He was killed in action fighting for the liberation of Bruyeres, France before he could see his family freed from an internment camp. His service is one of the reasons why Japanese Americans hopefully will never have to face internment again.
"Go for Broke"
The Nisei and Japanese immigrants made up the 442nd Infantry. 2/3 of them were from Hawaii and 1/3 were from the mainland. They accumulated 18,000 awards, including 9,486 Purple Hearts, 4,000 Bronze Stars and 21 Medals of Honor, but most importantly they fought for the future treatment of Japanese descendants in the U.S.
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