Post by 2nd Bat on Jan 10, 2008 23:40:56 GMT -5
This documentary which was narrated by Pat Norita from Happy Days and the Karate kid is about the relocation of Japanese Americans in WW2 and the formation and exploits of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat team. It has lots of interviews from survivors combined with great footage from the battles and the camps.
In addition the DVD contains actual Army film releases from the time covering the relocation and the development of the special unit that was the most highly decorated unti of its size in the war. It also contains a copy of the great black and white 1947 film GO FOR BROKE (One of my favorites) It actually has in it's cast many of the actual members of the 442nd.
My wife had two uncles who served with this unit and her entire family was interned during the war loosing their farms and businesses. Her uncles volunteered to serve literally from "behind barbed wire." They were bound and determined to prove they were loyal Americans. Both were highly decorated and seldom speak about their experiences. Tets has now passed away.
Such an amazing chapter in our history. If you were even 1/8th Japanese even though a full citizen of the US and living on the west coast (other then Hawaii) you were ordered relocated to one of several, dismal, shanty shack towns surrounded by guards. The excuse was it was war and the Japanese were our enemies. Had the same rules been applied to other nationalities Eisenhower and Frank Sinatra would have been interned as well and as far as I can tell there'd be a few irishmen, blacks and few native Americans left to hold off Hitler and Tojo.
The documnentary and films do a great job of telling the story, Some very poingent remarks from the survivors. A great film. I thought I knew this chapter from history well and learned a great deal from it.
In addition the DVD contains actual Army film releases from the time covering the relocation and the development of the special unit that was the most highly decorated unti of its size in the war. It also contains a copy of the great black and white 1947 film GO FOR BROKE (One of my favorites) It actually has in it's cast many of the actual members of the 442nd.
My wife had two uncles who served with this unit and her entire family was interned during the war loosing their farms and businesses. Her uncles volunteered to serve literally from "behind barbed wire." They were bound and determined to prove they were loyal Americans. Both were highly decorated and seldom speak about their experiences. Tets has now passed away.
Such an amazing chapter in our history. If you were even 1/8th Japanese even though a full citizen of the US and living on the west coast (other then Hawaii) you were ordered relocated to one of several, dismal, shanty shack towns surrounded by guards. The excuse was it was war and the Japanese were our enemies. Had the same rules been applied to other nationalities Eisenhower and Frank Sinatra would have been interned as well and as far as I can tell there'd be a few irishmen, blacks and few native Americans left to hold off Hitler and Tojo.
The documnentary and films do a great job of telling the story, Some very poingent remarks from the survivors. A great film. I thought I knew this chapter from history well and learned a great deal from it.