Ken Inouye recounts his father’s deep conviction that war should never be romanticized. Senator Daniel Inouye viewed his service not as a pursuit of glory, but as a sacrifice to protect future generations from suspicion and prejudice. He used his wartime experiences to teach his son—and all Americans—about the harsh realities of combat and
Ken Inouye shares his father’s vivid memories of the Pearl Harbor attack and the seismic shift it caused in their lives. As smoke rose in the distance, Daniel Inouye’s dream of becoming a surgeon gave way to a new reality—marked by suspicion, sacrifice, and service. His pre-med training led him to assist in aid
Ken Inouye reflects on how his father, Daniel Inouye, found confidence and purpose at McKinley High School. Inspired by a kind surgeon and a passionate teacher, young Daniel aimed to become a doctor and embrace American ideals—until the attack on Pearl Harbor shifted his path forever.
Jeff Hunt, Director of the Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry, recounts how soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment—mostly Texans—became trapped by Nazi forces deep in the Vosges forest. Cut off from supplies and reinforcements, they faced freezing conditions and constant attacks as hope began to dwindle.
Jeff Hunt continues the story with the dramatic rescue mission led by Nisei soldiers of the 100th/442nd RCT. Despite facing discrimination and having family members held in internment camps, these Japanese American troops fought through treacherous terrain and overwhelming odds to save the Texans—an act of valor that cost hundreds of lives.
Shirlee Blonder, widow of Erwin Blonder—one of the rescued radio operators—shares the powerful memories her husband carried from that harrowing time. Through her words, we glimpse the emotional weight of survival, and the deep gratitude Erwin felt toward the Nisei soldiers who risked everything to bring him home.
The fight for redress was decades in the making—a national campaign for justice that demanded an apology and compensation for the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans. This story reveals how grassroots activism, political strategy, and personal testimony came together to right a historic wrong.
Known for his battlefield heroism in the 100th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Miyashiro also showed unexpected compassion to enemy soldiers. As a wounded POW, that compassion was returned—saving his life in a German camp. His granddaughter Lindsay Horikoshi shares his remarkable story of courage and humanity.
In this powerful video, we accompany Bill and Anne Okubo to the forested hillside in France where their father, Army medic James K. Okubo, risked his life under relentless enemy fire to save dozens of wounded soldiers during World War II—acts that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. Standing on Banzai Hill,
