Headquarters Company
Kenneth Otagaki was drafted in March 1941 and assigned to the 65th Combat Engineers. He was later transferred to the Hawaiian Provisional Battalion and was an original member of the 100th Infantry Battalion.
A litter bearer, he was severely wounded before the battle of Cassino in Italy. After recovering from his injuries and learning to live with his disabilities, he went on to receive advanced degrees in animal sciences. Otagaki had a distinguished career as a professor at the University of Hawaii and in the State Department of Agriculture. He was an active member of Club 100.
Click here to read a story about him by Hawaii author Thelma Chang.
Click here to read his autobiography which includes a detailed description of growing up and working in a plantation camp.
![Kenneth Otagaki, 1940s. [Courtesy of Robin Otagaki]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/otagaki-kenneth_1/otagaki_kenneth_006x.jpg "Kenneth Otagaki, 1940s. [Courtesy of Robin Otagaki]")
![Kenneth Otagaki with fellow 100th Battalion veterans pay respects to their fallen friends. [Courtesy of Robin Otagaki]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/otagaki-kenneth_1/otagaki_kenneth_007x.jpg "Kenneth Otagaki with fellow 100th Battalion veterans pay respects to their fallen friends. [Courtesy of Robin Otagaki]")
![Kenneth Otagaki and other wounded veterans receive information about benefits. [Courtesy of Robin Otagaki]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/otagaki-kenneth_1/otagaki_kenneth_008x.jpg "Kenneth Otagaki and other wounded veterans receive information about benefits. [Courtesy of Robin Otagaki]")