Wayne Tamashiro: "When I was little I was a cry baby, and my Dad would always say don't cry suck it up. So one day I was crying and he through me out the window of our house, I can say I hardly cried after that.
Historically, the unit is referred to as the "Purple Heart Battalion", with the motto "Go For Broke". The 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)—known as the "One-Puka-Puka" (Puka means "hole" in Hawaiian) -- was activated on June 12, 1942, a force of over 1,400 predominantly Nisei (Second Generation Americans of Japanese Ancestry), led by a handful of "haole" (Caucasian) officers. The troops were from the Territory ofHawaii, which led to many pidgin phrases becoming common in the Battalion. Currently serving Nisei had been removed from service in Hawaiian territorial and police units following the Pearl Harbor attack, but the Hawaiian Military Governor Lieutenant General Delos C. Emmons chose not to use his option of deporting those of Japanese descent for internment on the mainland. Soon, he had been petitioned by the Nisei eager to return to military service to defend their homeland. This eventually resulted in the formation of the 100th Battalion. The battalion commander and some of the company-grade officers were Caucasian; most of its officers and enlisted men were Nisei, but the unit included men of Korean descent as well.
3 comments:
Hi Kristy,
Good start on your research! I especially like the fact that you have a direct quote from your grandpa.
Now that you have some background about the war and the 100th Battalion's role in it, I would recommend you interview him specifically on those memories.
One way to do it is to have him go over photo albums with you so that the photos can "jog" his memories and so that you have some images or video to accomapny your text (whatever you decide on for your product or performance).
You can also check with your grandparents and other relatives to see if they have any letters from your grandpa during those war years.
If you have ever seen "Journey of Honor" it was a beautiful documentary about these soldiers, done by the son of one of the men.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
mrs s
Hey Mrs. S
By the way...Wayne Tamashiro is my dad, sorry for the misunderstanding. My Grandpa is no longer with us, he passed many years ago, I've never got to meet him before that's why I'm doing my Icarus project about him. I plan on going over albums with my grandma, and she still has his medals that I will be taking pictures of and putting in my book. But thanks for your ideas I plan on interviewing each of my uncles and aunties, and getting direct quotes from them about my grandpa.
Wow Kristy! Your presentation plans are truly "chicken skin." And your plan to make DVD copies of the video is excellent. That shows me you truly know who your audience is and that your Icarus Project will truly have an impact on your family!
mrs s
Post a Comment