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| Japanese-American WWII Veteran Honored | |
| 2005-08-12 | |
| LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The only Japanese-American believed to have flown over Japan during World War II is receiving the Distinguished Service Medal, the third highest of the U.S. Army's decorations. After several years of providing documentation and filling out forms, the award has been approved by the military, said W. Don Nelson, the Nebraska director for U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson. The son of Japanese immigrants who was raised on a Nebraska farm, Kuroki became a gunner and flew on 58 bomber missions over Europe, North Africa and Japan. Kuroki, 88, who now lives in Camarillo, Calif., said he feels humbled by the efforts of so many Nebraskans who have worked to see him awarded with the medal. ``I feel that it gives credence to the word 'democracy,' and it's Americanism at its very best,'' he said. ``I feel that more so than any personal glory it gives to me.'' After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Kuroki's father urged him and his brother to volunteer for service. After being turned down by recruiting officials in North Platte, the brothers were able to enlist in Grand Island, 150 miles to the east. Kuroki earned his way onto a bomber crew and flew missions that took him all over the world, including Japan. Because of his Japanese ancestry, he was initially rejected when he asked to serve on a B-29 bomber that was to be used in the Pacific. But after repeated requests and a review of Kuroki's stellar service record, Secretary of War Harry Stimson granted an exception. After the war, Kuroki enrolled at the University of Nebraska, where he studied journalism. In 1984, he retired as the news editor of the paper in Ventura, Calif.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 Thank you, Mr. Kuroki for your service! I was born long after the Great War was done, so I don't have much personal "insight" into the rights/wrongs of how we treated the Japanese back then who lived here. But, to me, this is America at it's finest...the difference between us and other forms of gov't. You see that in the Sec. of War's determination that as an INDIVIDUAL, Mr. Kuroki deserved to be where he wanted to be. Pretty much any other gov't (after being attacked by the Japanese), would've rounded 'em up and deported/internment camp'd 'em, and none of them would've been allowed to fight for that country's army, that's for sure. |
| Posted by: BA 2005-08-12 07:49 |
| #4 Towards the end of the war, some Nisei effectively saw action against the Japanese and in at least one occasion Japanese troops were lured in an ambush by Japanese-Americans. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-08-12 06:30 |
| #3 Frank G, my feelings are mixed - or rather, I feel as both you and JFM do. (My parents are Chinese-born but I'm an American. I'd love to see the PRC go down, and I do not consider myself "overseas Chinese.") Thank God though that Kuroki didn't lose heart, that the Secretary of War realized he was fit to serve his country and that he has finally been (does it usually take this long for everyone?) recognized for his honorable service. :) |
| Posted by: Edward Yee 2005-08-12 04:38 |
| #2 America could not take the risk, even of a minority of Japanses-Americans acting as five-columnists. Think in what would have happened at Midway if the position of the outnumbered (and with outclassed planes) American carriers had been known to the Japanese. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-08-12 02:06 |
| #1 Sad that the sneak attack caused suspicion on so many patriotic Japanese-heritage Americans (why is that phrase so hard to adopt instead of Japanese-Americans?). My hat's off to this patriot and American |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-08-12 00:25 |