Go For Broke National Education Center

Hiroshi Arisumi, member of the 232nd Combat Engineer Company, holds a champagne bottle during the "Champagne Campaign, which took place from November of 1944 to March of 1945. This was the 442nd’s first downtime (though not without its battles and casualties), since the rescue of the Lost Battalion. The men dubbed their time in southern France "Champagne Campaign," because of the nightclubs, music and dancing in nearby French resort towns, and some of the French villagers even invited the Nisei soldiers to their homes for dinner. : Photo courtesy of Hiroshi Arisumi

We want to end the year with a message to our supporters and friends from our President & CEO, Mitch Maki. Thank you for standing with us this year, and from all of us at GFBNEC, we wish you a new year filled with health and happiness. "A close friend of mine asked me what I missed most about life before COVID-19. We bantered back and forth going to the movies, eating at a restaurant, driving to Las Vegas! We laughed about the simple pleasures lost these past nine months.... We could joke about it because our expectation is that someday, we will be able to do these things again. Then a somber feeling crept into my heart. What I really miss is that I will no longer hear the voice, feel the touch, or embrace the warmth of dear friends and loved ones who have passed in the last nine months. Whether they died of COVID-19 or another reason, the pandemic has taken away our chance to be with loved ones in their last days or to mourn their passing with others. This is especially true of our Nisei our veterans, their spouses, and their families. Unlike going to a movie or restaurant, these moments will never come back. My losses are not unique. These are feelings shared around the world. During this holiday season, I am melancholy with the awareness that much has been lost. At the same time, I hear the laughter of my neighbor’s children. I engage in a heartwarming telephone call with Fernando. I read an uplifting email from Yosh. I take stock of the individuals who are still very much with us. On a Zoom call with veterans, I realized that I am blessed to have a community of heroes who nourish my soul. This year cannot be sugar coated. We have all experienced the disruption of the pandemic and many of us have lost dear friends. There is the unparalleled pain of those who lost a family member. Through it all, I cling to feelings of gratitude. I am grateful to those whose shoulders we stand on today, so that we can see the brighter horizon in the future. To the Nisei veterans, their spouses and families, thank you for getting us to 2020. May we all see, embrace, and truly enjoy one another again in 2021.

Give the gift of warm drinks and sustainable shopping this holiday season! For a limited time, save 25% on our favorite GFBNEC products in one Year End Bundle! Shop here: https://www.goforbroke.com/produ/gfbnec-year-end-bundle/244

Just THREE more days to donate to our Giving Tuesday fundraiser! Help us get closer to our end-of-year goals -- your support will go directly to next year's virtual and educational programming in preserving the Nisei veterans legacy. Donate here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/477372019900250

We are honored to share a recap of this weekend's live stream panel of "Segregated Troop Regiments of WWII" with our Senior Archivist, Gavin Do. This panel explores the existence of segregated troop regiments possess a complicated legacy that deserves further interrogation amid our country's current reckoning related to racial justice. Thank you to the Pacific Historic Parks - USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial and Rob Buscher for hosting this panel! Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqVr5AoLko&feature=youtu.be

Get your Go for Broke orders in time for a Christmas delivery! Tonight is the last day to purchase online for a guaranteed arrival by Christmas. Shop online here and thank you for supporting the legacy of the Nisei veterans! https://www.goforbroke.com/

Help us reach our Giving Tuesday goal! We have a unique opportunity to have 10% of our donations matched by Facebook, and 100% of every donation made will go directly to GFBNEC. Please share, and thank you for your generous support of the Nisei veterans legacy: https://www.facebook.com/donate/477372019900250/

Our Black Friday sale ends today at 11AM PST and our Cyber Monday sale has just kicked off! Support the preservation of the Nisei veterans' legacy and save on GFBNEC accessories and essentials. Every purchase directly supports our educational and virtual programming. Shop at https://www.goforbroke.com/

Our courageous veterans made incredible sacrifices so we could be where we are today. Many made the ultimate sacrifice. Help us honor their legacy with thousands of people across the country at this year's virtual Evening of Aloha on November 14. Submit your "Thank a Veteran" digital ad sponsorship, and we will honor your veterans' name and photo during our EOA pre-show, starting at 3:45 PM PST. Donate here and click on "Thank a Veteran Digital Ad Sponsor": https://goforbroke.org//annual_/eveningofaloha/sponsor.php Photo of Harry Matsumoto courtesy of Mi-chi Mats

On October 23, 1944, the Nisei of the 442nd received their first day of rest after finishing ten brutal days of fighting to liberate the French towns of Bruyères and Biffontaine. But their well-deserved respite would be cut short. Less than two days later, the Nisei were ordered back to the Vosges forest by General Dahlquist to attempt a rescue of the trapped 141st soldiers. Following their orders, the Nisei traversed over steep hills and through fields that were littered wit...h mines. By early afternoon on October 27, the soldiers were closing in on the narrow ridge that held the besieged soldiers. In this Hanashi clip, Barney Hajiro reflects on the dire situation that faced the unit and the decision he made alongside Goro Matsumoto to charge the hill and attack two German machine gun nests and two enemy snipers. For his valiant actions, Barney was awarded the Medal of Honor. Listen to Barney's story below.

We are excited to share a moving tribute of our 88 currently living Nisei veterans across the country, originally aired during our Evening of Aloha Virtual Gala. Please share with your friends and family!

Late October marks the 76th anniversary of the rescue of the Lost Battalion, one of the most storied and infamous battles of WWII. The 141st Regiment had been ordered by Major General John Dahlquist to advance four miles beyond friendly forces in eastern France near the German border and though the soldiers warned that they would get cut off, they pushed on as ordered. As they predicted, the German army surrounded the unit on three sides and more than 270 members of the 141st's 1st Battalion were stranded on a ridge near St. Dié. In this rare Hanashi clip, veteran Astro Tortolano recounts how his regiment became trapped and their hard-fought rescue by the Nisei soldiers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1S7nNfWHYY

SAVE THE DATE Our first virtual Evening of Aloha will air on November 14, 2020 from 4:00-5:00 PM, streaming live on our Facebook, YouTube and goforbroke.org. Join us for a special celebration and honoring of our amazing WWII veterans, including a Living Nisei Veterans Tribute featuring photos and profiles of currently living Nisei veterans. Please share and spread the word, and stay tuned for a sneak peek of our programming! https://goforbroke.org//annual_ev/eveningofaloha/index.php

The US Postal Service has announced a Forever stamp commemorating the soldiers of the 100th/442nd! This is an exciting honor for our brave Nisei veterans and a fitting American tribute that helps share the story of these exceptional heroes.

Our hearts are full once again with a recent visit to our Nisei veterans, families and volunteers! This time we were able to deliver delicious bento lunches from one of our Little Tokyo favorites, Azay, thanks to a generous grant from Keiro.

Is there a living Nisei WWII veteran you want to honor? Help us create the largest living veteran roll call for this year's Evening of Aloha virtual gala by submitting your living veteran's photo! See all details and submit by October 30: https://goforbroke.org//annual_/eveningofaloha/tribute.php

Though our exhibition space remains closed to the public, we've been busy behind the screens refreshing our online store! Here's a way to show your support and bring a little piece of GFBNEC right to your home shop at goforbroke.com or at the links below: Campfire Mug and Tumbler Keep your drinks hot for up to 8 hours or cold for up to 24 hours with these double-walled stainless steel campfire mugs and tumblers: ... Mugs: https://www.goforbroke.com/product/gfbnec-campfire-mug/223 Tumblers: https://www.goforbroke.com/product/gfbnec-tumbler/222 Cotton Canvas Tote Bags Made from durable, quality 10 oz cotton canvas, these totes are perfect for storing all your everyday necessities. And yes, there's a top zipper to keep them extra secure. Available in Black and Natural canvas: https://www.goforbroke.com//gfbnec-cotton-canvas-tote/224 Ballpoint Pens Take a break from your phone and jot down all your great ideas with a GFBNEC pen. Support the #USPS and write to your friends, or better yet, gift them a GFBNEC pen to keep the letters going: https://www.goforbroke.com//gfbnec-click-ballpoint-pen/225

GFBNEC extends its deepest sympathies and prayers to the family of Vincent H. Okamoto, who passed away yesterday at age 76. A decorated Vietnam War veteran and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, Okamoto was born in Poston in 1943 and followed in the Okamoto family footsteps of military service - all six of Okamoto’s older brothers served in the military (two with the 442nd RCT). For his service during the Vietnam War, Okamoto was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross, the military's second-highest decoration. By the end of the Vietnam War, he was the most highly decorated Japanese American veteran. His remarkable legacy will continue to serve as inspiration to us all. Photos courtesy of Rafu Shimpo

We are pleased to announce this year's virtual Evening of Aloha will be on Saturday November 14! We will miss seeing our veterans and supporters in person this year but in the interest of our community's health, we will be gathering from the safety of our homes to celebrate the spirit of aloha and honor our distinguished veterans. The virtual gala will be streamed on Facebook, YouTube and at goforbroke.org - stay tuned for details on sponsorship opportunities, the Thank A Veteran pre-show, and a Living Nisei Veteran Photo Tribute! https://goforbroke.org//annual_ev/eveningofaloha/index.php

During the war, they were nicknamed the Black Panthers. These were the Black American soldiers who made up the segregated 761st Tank Battalion, the first of the black armored units committed to combat. The motto of the 761st was Come Out Fighting," and that’s what they did for more than 183 consecutive days at the head of General Patton’s Third Army. Similar to the Japanese American soldiers of the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, the Black Panthers helped to liberate over 30 towns, including liberating Jewish prisoners from Gunskirchen, a subcamp of the Mauthausen concentration camp. This is the fourth installment in our limited series, "Heroes Among Us: Honoring Black Soldiers of WWII. You may also view on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4kAQpSiiio

We may never know whether the President of the United States actually used derogatory words to describe individuals who chose to defend our nation. What matters is our response as a society to the issue of respect for military service. As a nation, we honor American veterans of every generation and offer them our deepest respect and gratitude. As Americans, we may not always agree with the actions of our military. However, after the Vietnam War, our society rightfully reasses...sed our treatment of returning veterans. Americans of all social, political, racial, and cultural backgrounds have since found common ground in our respect for the individual sacrifices of our veterans. It stands as one of the few mores that unites us as Americans and as human beings. The nonprofit Go For Broke National Education Center preserves the legacy of the Americans of Japanese ancestry who fought in World War II to uphold America’s Promise in our nation, no one is to be judged by the color of their skin, the nation of their origin, or the God whom they choose to worship. In defending that promise, all American veterans demonstrate the sanctity of service to our nation. We honor their service and sacrifice.

How did our veterans keep up the fighting spirit? Receiving mail from loved ones back home was undoubtedly one of the crucial ways that kept morale high, even in the darkest days of the war in Europe. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black women's battalion in WWII, was tasked with the logistical nightmare that was 17 million pieces of undelivered mail and packages that had been stockpiled in warehouses in England. This is their remarkable story, as part three of our limited series, "Heroes Among Us: Honoring Black Soldiers of WWII."

Yesterday we made a series of meal and mask drop-offs across LA to our treasured veterans and GFBNEC volunteers. A huge thank you to the Keiro Foundation for making this possible with their generous funding, and to Carrie Lew and Team Mask-cots for making aloha and patriotic masks to keep our GFBNEC family safe through this pandemic.