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https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1029/

Commitments for a better life

And no matter how talented you are, nothing big or nothing tremendous in scope had ever [been] done by a single individual. Some individuals may believe that, but that’s not true, it’s a group effort. And I always felt I was a part of a larger group, and I always felt that…another thing too, when we were having these bull sessions before we went to combat, all of us made very serious commitments that we were going to make this a better place when we come out of the war, or when we come back to civilian life and so a lot of people ask me, why do I get involved in all these projects? - Cause I think it’ll make a better life, a better place.


100th Infantry Battalion 442nd Regimental Combat Team armed forces retired military personnel United States Army veterans

Date: Aug 28, 1995

Location: California, US

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Colonel Young Oak Kim (U.S. Army Ret.) was a decorated combat veteran as a member of the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II and a respected community leader. He was born in 1919 in Los Angeles, CA to Korean immigrants.

Following the outbreak of war, he was assigned to the “all-Nisei” 100th as a young officer, but was given a chance for reassignment because the common belief was that Koreans and Japanese did not get along. He rejected the offer stating that they were all Americans. A natural leader with keen instincts in the field, Colonel Kim’s battlefield exploits are near legendary.

Colonel Kim continued to serve his country in the Korean War where he became the first minority to command an Army combat battalion. He retired from the Army in 1972. He was awarded 19 medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts, and the French Croix de Guerre.

Later in life, Colonel Kim served the Asian American community by helping to found the Go For Broke Educational Foundation, the Japanese American National Museum, the Korean Health, Education, Information and Research Center and the Korean American Coalition among others. He died from cancer on December 29, 2005 at the age of 86. (August 8, 2008)

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Joining the army

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Generosity of the Italians

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Animosity between the Hawaiians and the mainlanders

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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On saving the Lost Battalion

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Coming home to his mother after the war

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Getting a PhD under the G.I. Bill

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Invited to teach at Harvard by his boss

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Feeling at peace with himself

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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