Thomas Kawaguchi
Thomas Kawaguchi was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1921. After finishing school, he worked for Mitsubishi, a Japanese firm, and later for the Japanese American Citizens League. He recalls many racist incidents after Pearl Harbor and was eager to prove his loyalty to the United States through military service. Eventually, his family was evicted and imprisoned in Topaz WRA Concentration Camp in Utah. He joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in France where he remembers the cramped conditions, and ethical dilemmas he and his fellow soldiers faced. Near the end of the war, his platoon was attacked by Germans, and he, along with many other soldiers, suffered mortar injuries. He eventually recovered and became a chaplain bugler for the rest of his deployment. Kawaguchi discusses his belief that there is an ongoing fight against racial prejudice in the US and it is the fault of individuals.
