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books, films, curriculum guides, and articles
| Go For Broke: A Pictorial History of the Japanese American
100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team
by Chester Tanaka, 1982 |
| I Can Never Forget: Men of the 100th/442nd by Thema Chang, Sigi Productions, Inc., Honolulu, HI, 1991 |
| Unlikely Liberators: The Men of the 100th and 442nd
by Masayo U. Duus, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, HI, 1983 |
| When the Odds Were Even: The Vosges Mountains Campaign
by Keith E. Bonn, Presidio Press, Novato, CA, 1994 |
| Honor By Fire by Lyn Crost, Presidio Press, Novato, CA, 1994 |
| The Americans - The Story of the 442nd Combat Team
by Orville C. Shirley |
| Ambassadors in Arms: 100th Battalion Special Edition
by Thomas D. Murphy, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, HI, 1955 |
| Japanese Americans and World War II by Donald Teruo Hata, Jr. and Nadine Ishitani Hata |
| Nisei: the Quiet American by Bill Hosokawa |
| Yankee Samurai by Joseph D. Harrington |
| Puka Puka Parade by Donald Shearer |
| Dogfaces Who Smiled Through Tears: The 34th Red Bull Infantry
Division by Homber R. Ankrum, Graphic Publishing Company, Lake Mills, Iowa, 1987 |
| Lost Battalions: Going for Broke in the Vosges Autumn
1944 by Franz Steidl, 1997, Presidio Press ISBN: 0-89141-622-6 |
| Japanese Eyes...American Heart available from Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board |
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Narrated by Pat Morita (of "Karate Kid"), Beyond Barbed Wire features stories and memories recounted by WWII Japanese Americans who fought in a segregated unit to prove their loyalty to this country. As their civil liberties and rights were stripped away, these citizens bravely faced prejudice both in their own country and in the battlegrounds of Europe and the Pacific. These stories begin with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, continue through missions in Italy and France, and climax with the courageous rescue of the Texas "Lost Battalion" in northern France.
"Their service to this country is a reminder to all of us that being an American is not a matter of race or national origin, but a conviction of the heart." - General Colin Powell, Secretary of State "Riveting, heart-wrenching story of the heart and spiritFour-Star Review!" - Sacramento Bee "Inspiring!" - Daily Variety Executive Producer, Yukio Sumida, had a story to tell and had been holding it inside for more than 50 years. During WWII, he joined the 442nd Combat Team, to fight for his country - America; his country of birth, while his wife Mollie was locked behind a barbed wire stockade in Arizona. Every American citizen should see this film!
Audience: Every American citizen, especially the youth! Not Rated.
Synopsis: BEYOND BARBED WIRE is not another story about the internment camps. Nor is it just a story about WWII. BEYOND BARBED WIRE is about Americans of Japanese ancestry who fought in WWII while their families were imprisoned in stockades. Narrated by Pat Morita ("Karate Kid"), BEYOND BARBED WIRE, features stories recounted by WWII Japanese Americans who fought in a segregated unit, the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, to prove their loyalty to America and became one of the most highly decorated units in the entire U.S. military history. As their civil liberties and rights were stripped away, these citizens bravely faced prejudice in their own country as well as in the trenches of Europe and on the islands of the Pacific.
Their personal accounts begin with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, continue through Italy and France, and climax with the heroic rescue of the Texas "Lost Battalion" in northern France. Also included are the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) linguists (such as Merrill's Marauders) who served in the Pacific, interrogating Japanese prisoners, intercepting radio messages, and translating Japanese documents. BEYOND BARBED WIRE broke the silence that existed among these families for over 50 years.
Their stories are full of unnerving bravery, unbelievable devotion to principles, and patriotic emotion. The film also kindles emotional questions in the descendents of these soldiers: Why did their parents quietly go into the internment camps? What did they do with their belongings? Why haven't they shared their stories before? The answer comes late in the film the real war was to prove to the world that they and their families were loyal AMERICANS.
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