Episode 131: Tales from Punchbowl, Part V

Ken Otagaki had no plans whatsoever to join the military. Leaving his family on a sugar cane plantation on Hawaii's Big Island and becoming what we would call an emancipated minor today, he worked his way though high school and the University of Hawaii and created a life he had always dreamed of. His draft notice and Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor put those plans on hold. Without warning, this Nisei found himself persona non grata in his own country and an infantry private in the 100th Infantry Battalion. His life changed again one cold night on a mountain top in Italy while he served as a stretcher bearer, but you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out exactly how.

 

Episode 130: Tales from Punchbowl, Part IV

 

We recently lost another pioneer of the Space Race, US Ambassador and Air Force Major General William Anders, who died on June 7, 2024 at age 90 when the small airplane we was piloting crashed into Puget Sound in Washington State. He was the only one on board. Funeral Arrangements are still being made.

As a crewmember of the Apollo 8 mission, Anders was one of the first three humans to orbit - and as such - see the far side of the moon. Right after the crew's 3rd of 10 orbits, he asked for a roll of color film and the above photo - eventually titled Earthrise - the first color photograph of Earth taken from space and one of the most iconic photos of all time. 

Technician Fourth Grade Isaac Akinaka was arguably the most respected medic in the 100th Infantry Battalion. Based on stories, if you were injured, you wanted Akinaka to be the one near by to help you. While other medics admitted when they were called pause for a brief moment to take a deep breath or close their eyes or do something else to mentally prepare to run headlong into a firefight, Akinaka seemed to always be prepared and never hesitated. Many thought it had to do with his devout faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Isaac Fukuo Akinaka died unexpectedly after complications from a surgery when he was 73 years old. He was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Section 3, Grave 133-A. His wife Gwen was laid to rest by his side when she passed away in 2001 at age 83.

Episode 129: Tales from Punchbowl, Part III

Though he was a Korean American, the US Army didn't quite know what to do with Young Oak Kim after he became a second lieutenant so it put him in the 100th Infantry Battalion as a platoon leader of Nisei troops. While in Italy, Kim became an ardent advocate for his soldiers and vocally opposed actions that would put them at risk needlessly - but he had no problem volunteering to sneak behind enemy lines to capture a few prisoners for intelligence reasons. 5th Army commander General Mark Clark personally awarded him the distinguished service cross for that mission.

He stayed in the Army for 30 years, and during the Korean war, became the first minority officer to lead a battalion in combat.

Colonel Young Oak Kim died in 2005 at the age of 86. His ashes are at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Columbarium Section CT9, Wall G, Site 458.

Episode 128: Nisei Linguist, Part II

 

Much of what Nisei linguists did during World War II remained classified for decades after the war. Eventually their stories came out and as more people learned of their many efforts to defeat the Axis powers, monuments, memorials, and a Congressional Gold Medal (front pictured above, reverse pictured below) sprang up honoring their service.

Episode 127: Nisei Linguists, Part I

Recognizing the importance of trained and competent linguists, during World War II, the US Army's Military Intelligence Service trained foreign language speakers to help with the war effort. Many were Japanese speakers and most of those were Nisei. These Nisei were the only Japanese Americans to fight in the Pacific, and according to Douglas MacArthur's chief intelligence officer, their service was so valuable that it shortened the war by at least two years.