Oregon Nikkei Endowment begins its 20^th year in 2010 with a new exhibit of moving photographs by Oregonian photographer Motoya Nakamura. Images of the 442nd will open to the public January 31, 2010, at Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center and run through April 18, 2010. Through a grant funded by the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) and assistance from Oregon Nikkei Endowment, Motoya Nakamura has produced a new group of photographs documenting and honoring the veterans and families of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team.

The 442^nd was a unit consisting entirely of Japanese American men, segregated from the rest of the army during World War II. “The motto of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team was ‘go for broke.’ It’s a gambling term that means risking everything on one great effort to win big. The soldiers of the 442^nd needed to win big. They were Nisei — American-born sons of Japanese immigrants. They fought two wars: the Germans in Europe and the prejudice in America. The 442^nd Regimental Combat Team was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service, in the entire history of the U.S. Military… In total, about 14,000 men served, ultimately earning 9,486 Purple Hearts, 21 Medals of Honor and an unprecedented eight Presidential Unit Citations.” — Go For Broke National Education Center

The poignant photographs included in this exhibition have special significance to Motoya. He set out to document the saga of the local Oregon Japanese American WWII veterans while they were still living. What ultimately resulted was a deeply emotional connection to the project and the families, and a legacy to pass on to future generations. Motoya explains, “I do not want my children to experience what these veterans had to go through: war and racial prejudice. I feel destined to expand this project so that the body of work will become proof of human courage over hardship.”

Through these thought-provoking photographs and oral histories from the veterans themselves, the exhibit reveals the hardships, dedication and patriotism of this incredible group of men. Join us at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center as we celebrate this special and decorated group of Oregon veterans through the work of Motoya Nakamura. The exhibition will run January 31 – April 18, 2010.

Learn more at www.oregonnikkei.org .