Written by Adele Arakawa
Nearly 70 years – is a long time.
That’s how long one group has waited for this day. They are soldiers – from World War Two – who were honored in Washington D.C. on November 2. They are all Japanese-Americans.
When many of their own families were put into internment camps, they volunteered to serve in the US military. Those units, the 442nd, 100th and military intelligence, were honored at a ceremony – where each UNIT was given the Congressional Gold Medal. Eight of the 317 veterans there were from Colorado.
And one of them is a recipient of the highest medal of valor that our country can award: the Medal of Honor. George Sakato is from Denver. He remembers very clearly the battle of the Lost Battalion.
“Tanamachi stood up and got shot,” George said. “I went over and he died in my arms. I said, ‘Oh, my God.’ I was so mad, I cried. I was gonna get the guys that shot him or die trying.”
George got up and began running up the hill toward the enemy.
The other men in his company followed his charge.
Historic accounts – say on that day: October 29, 1944 in France, George T. Sakato killed 12 Germans, wounded two and single-handedly captured four of the 34 his platoon took prisoner.
“Over a hill. Over 800 of us were killed or wounded – to rescue 200 men. But we rescued the Lost Battalion of Texas” Sakato recounted.
800 – killed or wounded. To rescue 200.
It was George’s heroic actions during that battle – that led to him receiving the Medal of Honor.
It was the impossible mission. High casualties: guaranteed. That’s why the 442nd Regimental Combat Team – was assigned to it.
“Cannon fodder,” is how George describes his company. “We were a segregated unit”, he said.
Sakato, Inouye, Muranaga, Nakamura, Okubo: they are the names of the men in his unit. Japanese-Americans. All members of one of the most highly decorated of World War II: the 442nd.
Their motto was “Go For Broke”, a gambling term meaning: risking everything on one opportunity to win big.
And they fought hard – to win two battles.
“We were fighting prejudice in the state – and fighting the Germans in Europe,” George said.
Like others in his unit, George would be humble and say: he was just doing his job as a soldier: a soldier who had been declared by his own country as: an “enemy alien”.
“I had to prove my loyalty,” George said. “I’m an American. To prove my loyalty, I had to fight. And I was able to be in a unit like this: the 442nd, to be able to get rid of prejudice.”
You can sense his patriotism – and his pride.
Not in himself, but for the battles *they won – overseas – and at home.
“So when we came back, President Truman said: ‘you’ve fought the Germans and you fought prejudice – and you won’.” George is overcome with emotion. “That was good,” he said.
Senator Mitch McConnell was among those who spoke at the Gold Medal Ceremony today.
“Congress honors you today with this medal but believe me, the honor is all ours”, McConnell said.
The veterans visited the World War II Memorial and the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism.
As a side note, I had the opportunity to visit the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism while in Washington, D.C.
It was very moving. I had seen the sketches of the memorial during its inception stages, and followed its journey to becoming reality.
It was dedicated in 2000. The peaceful reflecting pond, the cranes with one wing outstretched to the sky and the other entangled in barbed wire, the names of those killed in action, the slabs bearing the names of the camps and the number of Japanese Americans who were taken there, the bell, the moving inscriptions describing the fierce patriotism and sacrifice – all meld into a place to pause and reflect.
The week in Washington was a long time coming for these brave men, who finally receive the recognition, respect and gratitude of a country that was built on the kind of patriotism they embody.
We honor them today and always.
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