100th Infantry Battalion
50th Anniversary Celebration
1942 – 1992
“Remembrances” was published for the 50th anniversary celebration of the formation of the 100th Infantry Battalion. The five day event was held from June 24 – June 28 in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended by many who traveled from the mainland and other islands. Senator Daniel Inouye, a 442nd veteran, was the keynote speaker at the banquet. On the last day, Reverend Israel Yost, who had served as chaplain during the whole period the 100th was in combat and had traveled from his home in Pennsylvania, delivered a memorial message.
Chaired by veteran Dr. Kenneth Otakagi, the anniversary committee raised $100,000 to produce this book of the battalion’s history and post war Club 100 years. Veterans Ben Tamashiro, Sakae Takahashi, Naoji Yamagata, Mike Tokunaga and Dr. Otagaki wrote many of the articles. Other major contributors to the book included graphic artist Harlan Yuhara, authors Thelma Chang and John Tsukano and retired Honolulu Star-Bulletin reporter Shirei Hirozawa. Dr. Franklin Odo, director of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaii, also was a contributor.
This book is a valuable resource as many veterans were available to provide their memories of the battalion’s history and identify the men in the photographs.
BEGINNINGS
In the Eye of the Storm
Ben Tamashiro
One Puka Puka
John Tsukano
LEGACY
Who Was the Nisei Soldier
Thelma Chang
GETTING READY
Camp McCoy
Dr. Kenneth Otagaki
Shelby
Sakae Takahashi
The 100th Goes Overseas
Shurei Hirozawa
SIGHTS & SOUNDS OF BATTLE
Shurei Hirozawa
The 100ths First Experience in Combat
The First and Second Crossings of the Volturno
Third Crossing of the Volturno and Battle for the Hills
Cassino, the 100th’s Toughest Battle
Battle of Belvedere and on the Arno
The 100th’s Triumph at Bruyeres and Biffontaine
A Letter from Mrs. Spark Matsunaga
Helen H. Matsunaga
A Place to Shoot the Bull
Naoji Yamagata
Public Service, Politics and John Burns
Mike Tokunaga
Of Special Missions and POWs
Ben Tamashiro
Remembering “Turtle”
Thelma Chang
Remembering Friends”
Thelma Chang
Remembering Brother
Thelma Chang
Step Off the Road, and Let the Dead Pass By
Chaplain Israel A. S. Yost
EPILOGUE
The Legacy of the 100th
Dr. Franklin Odo
APPENDIX
Truman & Makabe
KGMB-TV & Bob Jones: The Real Story
With Deep Gratitude
References
50th Anniversary Celebration
Index
Post-Korean Campaign Decendents