Design and construction of the monument commenced in 1991 with the dedication occurring on June 5, 1999.[3] It is located at the end of North Central Street, adjacent to the Japanese American National Museum, and is surrounded on three sides by a pay-parking lot serving East Temple Street. The monument is accessible by the public at no cost.
Detail of some of the names listed on the back of the monument
The monument has a large semicircular face of polished black stone, set at an angle facing the Sun as it is perceived as traveling across the southern sky, and embracing a pole upon which the American flag flies. The monument's curved back wall lists the names of 16,126 nisei soldiers. At the foot of the flag is the shoulder flash of the all-Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
"Remember Pearl Harbor!" was the unit motto of the 100th Battalion,[4] while "Go for Broke" was that of the 442nd RCT.[5] It has since been adopted as a motto for all of the Japanese-American units formed during World War II.
The monument's main feature, a large inscription on the face, describes how they served even as they were being deprived of their constitutional rights during the period of forced removal and incarceration. This inscription uses the term concentration camps to describe the facilities then officially called relocation centers. The inscription is attributed to 100th Infantry Battalion veteran Ben Tamashiro, best known for his more than 60 appearances in television advertisements for the Bank of Hawaii.[6] According to his 2004 obituary in the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
After a nationwide search failed to elicit an appropriate inscription, his former commanding officer — Col. Young Oak Kim, who was in charge of the project — wrote to Tamashiro, according to his daughter. The words Tamashiro sent back were the ones chosen — with a single change. Instead of "internment camps" as he had written, the inscription was changed to "concentration camps."[6]
Interpretive information is available from the Japanese American National Museum and a kiosk beside the monument. Also, the monument is often attended by veterans of the nisei units, who explain the monument and the events of World War II, and answer questions.
Main inscriptionEdit
GO FOR BROKE – An American Story
Rising to the defense of their country, by the thousands they came – these young Japanese American soldiers from Hawaii, the states, America's concentration camps – to fight in Europe and the Pacific during World War II. Looked upon with suspicion, set apart and deprived of their constitutional rights, they nevertheless remained steadfast and served with indomitable spirit and uncommon valor, for theirs was a fight to prove loyalty. This legacy will serve as a sobering reminder that never again shall any group be denied liberty and the rights of citizenship. – Ben H. Tamashiro[7]
Quotations below the main inscriptionEdit
"You not only fought the enemy . . . you fought prejudice and won." – President Harry S. Truman as he welcomed the 100/442 RCT home
"Never in military history did an army know as much about the enemy prior to actual engagement" – General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander, Pacific Theater, referring to the MIS
"The Nisei saved countless lives and shortened the war by two years" – Charles A. Willoughby, General MacArthur's Intelligence Officer, referring to the MIS
^ ab"Ben Tamashiro, 'Harry' in Bankoh ads, dead at 86 - The Honolulu Advertiser - Hawaii's Newspaper". the.honoluluadvertiser.com.
^. Go For Broke National Education Center. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
External linksEdit
Go For Broke National Education Center
Ben Tamashiro Obituary
August 28, 2023
broke, monument, japanese, 日系人部隊記念碑, nikkeijinbutai, kinenhi, little, tokyo, angeles, california, commemorates, japanese, americans, served, united, states, army, during, world, created, angeles, architect, roger, yanagita, whose, winning, design, selected, ov. The Go for Broke Monument Japanese 日系人部隊記念碑 1 2 Nikkeijinbutai Kinenhi in Little Tokyo Los Angeles California commemorates Japanese Americans who served in the United States Army during World War II It was created by Los Angeles architect Roger M Yanagita whose winning design was selected over 138 other submissions from around the world Go for Broke Monument34 03 04 N 118 14 20 W 34 051181 N 118 239019 W 34 051181 118 239019Location355 E 1st Street Los Angeles California 90012DesignerRoger M YanagitaBeginning date1991Dedicated dateJune 5 1999Websitehttp www goforbroke org Design and construction of the monument commenced in 1991 with the dedication occurring on June 5 1999 3 It is located at the end of North Central Street adjacent to the Japanese American National Museum and is surrounded on three sides by a pay parking lot serving East Temple Street The monument is accessible by the public at no cost Contents 1 Monument 2 Main inscription 3 Quotations below the main inscription 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMonument Edit Detail of some of the names listed on the back of the monumentThe monument has a large semicircular face of polished black stone set at an angle facing the Sun as it is perceived as traveling across the southern sky and embracing a pole upon which the American flag flies The monument s curved back wall lists the names of 16 126 nisei soldiers At the foot of the flag is the shoulder flash of the all Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team Across the top of the face is the motto Go For Broke and below that are the insignia of the segregated all Nisei Army units the famed 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team as well as lesser known nisei units the Military Intelligence Service MIS 522nd Field Artillery Battalion 232nd Combat Engineer Company and the 1399th Engineering Construction Battalion Remember Pearl Harbor was the unit motto of the 100th Battalion 4 while Go for Broke was that of the 442nd RCT 5 It has since been adopted as a motto for all of the Japanese American units formed during World War II The monument s main feature a large inscription on the face describes how they served even as they were being deprived of their constitutional rights during the period of forced removal and incarceration This inscription uses the term concentration camps to describe the facilities then officially called relocation centers The inscription is attributed to 100th Infantry Battalion veteran Ben Tamashiro best known for his more than 60 appearances in television advertisements for the Bank of Hawaii 6 According to his 2004 obituary in the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star Bulletin After a nationwide search failed to elicit an appropriate inscription his former commanding officer Col Young Oak Kim who was in charge of the project wrote to Tamashiro according to his daughter The words Tamashiro sent back were the ones chosen with a single change Instead of internment camps as he had written the inscription was changed to concentration camps 6 Interpretive information is available from the Japanese American National Museum and a kiosk beside the monument Also the monument is often attended by veterans of the nisei units who explain the monument and the events of World War II and answer questions Main inscription EditGO FOR BROKE An American StoryRising to the defense of their country by the thousands they came these young Japanese American soldiers from Hawaii the states America s concentration camps to fight in Europe and the Pacific during World War II Looked upon with suspicion set apart and deprived of their constitutional rights they nevertheless remained steadfast and served with indomitable spirit and uncommon valor for theirs was a fight to prove loyalty This legacy will serve as a sobering reminder that never again shall any group be denied liberty and the rights of citizenship Ben H Tamashiro 7 Quotations below the main inscription Edit You not only fought the enemy you fought prejudice and won President Harry S Truman as he welcomed the 100 442 RCT home Never in military history did an army know as much about the enemy prior to actual engagement General Douglas MacArthur Supreme Commander Pacific Theater referring to the MIS My fellow Americans we gather here today to right a grave wrong now let me sign H R 442 President Ronald Reagan Civil Liberties Act of 1988 The Nisei saved countless lives and shortened the war by two years Charles A Willoughby General MacArthur s Intelligence Officer referring to the MISSee also EditGo for Broke 1951 film Japanese American service in World War II Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Day of Remembrance Japanese Americans Densho The Japanese American Legacy Project Empty Chair Memorial Fred Korematsu Day Harada House Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II National Japanese American Veterans Memorial Court Nisei VFW Post 8985 Sakura Square Sadao Munemori Young Oak KimReferences Edit 安倍首相が小東京訪問 日本と日系人の絆を確認 Rafu Shimpo 安倍総理大臣の米国訪問 結果 外務省 Go for Broke National Education Center Preserving the Legacy of the Japanese American Veterans of World War II Archived from the original on 2010 01 29 Retrieved 2010 01 06 100th Infantry Battalion Densho Encyclopedia Archived from the original on 2013 05 11 442nd Regimental Combat Team Densho Encyclopedia Archived from the original on 2014 04 25 a b Ben Tamashiro Harry in Bankoh ads dead at 86 The Honolulu Advertiser Hawaii s Newspaper the honoluluadvertiser com About Us The Monument Inscription Go For Broke National Education Center 2008 Archived from the original on 2008 08 30 Retrieved 2008 08 22 External links EditGo For Broke National Education Center Ben Tamashiro Obituary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Go for Broke Monument amp oldid 1166813911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
