WWII nisei veterans sought for Rose Bowl parade honor

A Southern California Japanese-American veterans group is seeking nominations for World War II soldiers from the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service to ride on a Rose Bowl float on New Year’s Day.

Seven World War II nisei veterans will be chosen to ride on a 41-foot float honoring the Japanese-American soldiers of World War II who served in segregated units in Europe and the Pacific.

The inspiration for the float is the Go For Broke Monument in downtown Los Angeles with its semicircle design. Along the outside of the semicircles are images of the 21 nisei recipients of the Medal of Honor.

A large American flag with a bald eagle rises above the semi-circular design and the Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2011 to the Japanese-American units is featured prominently near the base of the American flag.

Alhambra Mayor Gary Yamauchi said, "We couldn’t think of a more inspiring American story to tell than that of the Japanese-American soldiers of World War II. Our city’s leadership and float committee are excited to bring international awareness to the legacy of these soldiers who fought with such courage, even as their country turned its back on their families and imprisoned them for the crime of being the ‘wrong’ ethnicity."

The Alhambra Rose Parade Committee is responsible for selecting the float riders, who will have to pay for their transportation and lodging.

Nominations and a 100- to 200-word profile of the veteran should be emailed to Peggy Renke at peggy@goforbroke.org, or mailed to Go For Broke National Education Center, 367 Van Ness Way, Suite 611, Torrance, CA 90501 by Oct. 27.