Hi Trish - Really enjoyed reading this excerpt so many details new to me. It was also news to me that you’d written a book! Before heading out for 80th anniversary events in the Vosges, i went looking for some info and saw that Dad had placed a post-it on the photo from the Natl Archives identifying the soldier on his right as Tomo Kanzaki. The copy in your excerpt is much sharper; were you able to get a copy from the Archives? Best to you and your sister.
While I've found it in your article and one from a skating journal, I just want to be clear that references to Kristi's grandfather's unit are not mistaking the 100th Infantry DIVISION for the 100th Infantry BATTALION? It would not be the first time I've seen these two units confused.
Yes, ever since 2009, I've dealt with the confusion because I went to annual Friends and Family of the Nisei Veterans and an additional battlefield tour. Since we were there as Friends and it wasn't about us, I usually referred to Dad as being with the 45th Division, because, in fact, he was in the short time their positions were close, and it avoided confusion. It was a member of FFNV who tracks all the Japanese-American experience in the war who let me know after he read my first post and I clarified Dad's home division. This is Kristi Yamaguchi's maternal grandfather, George Akira Doi. He was in the Quartermaster Company. When he was awarded the Bronze Star, his captain said he was unquestionably the best soldier in the unit and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
Hi Trish - Really enjoyed reading this excerpt so many details new to me. It was also news to me that you’d written a book! Before heading out for 80th anniversary events in the Vosges, i went looking for some info and saw that Dad had placed a post-it on the photo from the Natl Archives identifying the soldier on his right as Tomo Kanzaki. The copy in your excerpt is much sharper; were you able to get a copy from the Archives? Best to you and your sister.
While I've found it in your article and one from a skating journal, I just want to be clear that references to Kristi's grandfather's unit are not mistaking the 100th Infantry DIVISION for the 100th Infantry BATTALION? It would not be the first time I've seen these two units confused.
Great work! Looking forward...
Yes, ever since 2009, I've dealt with the confusion because I went to annual Friends and Family of the Nisei Veterans and an additional battlefield tour. Since we were there as Friends and it wasn't about us, I usually referred to Dad as being with the 45th Division, because, in fact, he was in the short time their positions were close, and it avoided confusion. It was a member of FFNV who tracks all the Japanese-American experience in the war who let me know after he read my first post and I clarified Dad's home division. This is Kristi Yamaguchi's maternal grandfather, George Akira Doi. He was in the Quartermaster Company. When he was awarded the Bronze Star, his captain said he was unquestionably the best soldier in the unit and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
A biography of Lt. Doi https://cgm.smithsonianapa.org/stories/george-doi.html