Presentation of the Japanese American WWII experience and how that experience is relevant to current affairs. Will feature a panel discussion that will span seven decades, three generations and four wars as it brings together Japanese Americans who served in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Moderated by Darrell Kunitomi.

PANELISTS:

Masao Takahashi - World War II veteran, 100th Infantry Battalion attached to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Born in Modesto, California, Masao Takahashi and his family were forced by Executive Order 9066 to relocate to Manzanar incarceration camp. Takahashi secured a job in Detroit, and was able to leave Manzanar. In June 1944 he was drafted and assigned to the segregated Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion, and fought in the Po Valley and the Gothic Line/Northern Apennines campaigns.

Thomi Yamamoto - Korean War veteran, 24th Signal Company of the 24th Infantry Division. A native of Kent, Washington, Yamamoto was already in the Army in June 25, 1950 when North Korean forces launched an attack on the South without a declaration of war. Within a week Yamamoto, a combat photographer, was in observation planes taking photos of the invading North Korean People’s Army to provide intelligence information for US and South Korean forces. Later, working near the front line that quickly shifted above and below the 38th parallel, Yamamoto often found himself behind enemy lines.

Scott Takahashi - Vietnam War veteran, 2nd Battalion, 35th Artillery of the Second Field Force in the Vietnam War. Scott Takahashi was born in Pasadena, and was drafted in November 1968. He served in A Battery of the 2nd Battalion, 35th Artillery. Unlike its B and C Battery counterparts, A Battery moved constantly, and was even ordered to cross into Cambodia where it was attached to the 11th Cavalry. Returning from war, Takahashi took advantage of the GI Bill and became an X-ray technician. He is the son of Masao Takahashi.

SGT Christopher Arakawa - Currently with the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry of the US Army Reserve, who deployed in 2008-2009 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. SGT Arakawa was born in Kaneohe, Hawaii and works in his civilian career as a Military Technician, Staff Operations and Training Specialist for the 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Regiment. Arakawa enlisted in the Army Reserve in August 2006 and was deployed with Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines in 2007, and to Iraq in 2008-2009. He has received numerous awards and decorations, and has volunteered hundreds of hours to support the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Club in Honolulu.

Presented in partnership with Go For Broke National Education Center.