Comfortable in combat

Basic Training A visit to Jerome after OCS Resisting transfer from Jerome Appearance vs. Combat Effectiveness Fully aware of discrimination in America They had to succeed Do it for all Asians People with talent in the 100th infantry battalion “Agreement of silence” Horrible pictures of war Near-death experience General Ryder’s faith in the 100th infantry battalion 442nd’s contribution to redress Comfortable in combat “Equal as a human being” Commitments for a better life

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Until World War II and until actual combat, I don’t think anybody really knows how they’re going to respond. I know all the time we were sailing from New York City to Africa, I had my qualms about how I was gonna perform and how I was gonna do. It wasn’t until I actually got in combat that that was answered, and suddenly I felt comfortable. I felt like this is where I belong, I know what to do, I know the answers, I know everything. It’s sort of like, if I ever come close to believing in reincarnation, it was that moment, first day in combat. And so, what combat did for me it gave me tremendous, tremendous self-confidence.

Date: August 28, 1995
Location: California, US
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

100th 442nd army combat military veterans war World War II