On February 19, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066: a controversial decree that resulted in the confinement of 120,000 civilians of Japanese descent. But from this dark chapter in our nation’s history emerged one of the little-known stories of World War II, that of the Japanese-American soldier.
In this thought-provoking episode of “War Stories with Oliver North,” you’ll learn about the men of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service who overcame racism and prejudice to prove their loyalty to America. This unit earned over 18,000 individual decorations during the course of the war.
You’ll meet MIS soldier Roy Matsumoto, who volunteered from a relocation camp to spy on the enemy in Burma. At the same time, his two brothers served in the Japanese Imperial Army.
We’ll also take you on an audio journey through the mountains of Europe as 442nd veterans Yuki Minaga and George Sakato brave enemy fire and risk life and limb to save their brothers in arms of “The Lost Battalion.”
And in a rare interview, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta talks about being a ten-year boy when he and his family were interned for over a year at Heart Mountain relocation center in Wyoming.
This is the story of some 20,000 Japanese Americans who were determined to serve with honor and distinction and earned the right to be called real “American heroes.”
