Letters from the 442nd: The World War II Correspondence of a Japanese American Medic (Scott and Laurie Oki Series in Asian American Studies) [Paperback]

Minoru Masuda (Author), Dianne Bridgman (Editor), Hana Masuda (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Scott and Laurie Oki Series in Asian American Studies | Publication Date: June 2008

This is the first collection of letters by a member of the legendary 442nd Combat Team, which served in Italy and France during World War II. Written to his wife by a medic serving with the segregated Japanese American unit, the letters describe a soldier's daily life. Minoru Masuda was born and raised in Seattle. In 1939 he earned a master's degree in pharmacology and married Hana Koriyama. Two years later the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, and Min and Hana were imprisoned along with thousands of other Japanese Americans. When the Army recruited in the relocation camp, Masuda chose to serve in the 442nd. In April 1944 the unit was shipped overseas. They fought in Italy and in France, where they liberated Bruyeres and rescued a 'lost battalion' that had been cut off by the Germans.After the German surrender on May 3, 1945, Masuda was among the last of the original volunteers to leave Europe; he arrived home on New Year's Eve 1945. Masuda's vivid and lively letters portray his surroundings, his daily activities, and the people he encountered. He describes Italian farmhouses, olive groves, and avenues of cypress trees; he writes of learning to play the ukulele with his 'big, clumsy' fingers, and the nightly singing and bull sessions which continued throughout the war; and, he relates the plight of the Italians who scavenged the 442nd's garbage for food, and the mischief of French children who pelted the medics with snowballs. Excerpts from the 442nd daily medical log provide context for the letters, and Hana interposes brief recollections of her experiences. The letters are accompanied by snapshots, a drawing made in the field, and three maps drawn by Masuda.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most powerful and affecting historical works I have encountered. The beauty, charm, and pervasive intelligence of Minoru Masuda's letters are nicely anchored by historical material provided by the editors." Arthur A. Hansen, Director, Center for Oral and Public History, California State University-Fullerton

From the Publisher

"One of the most powerful and affecting historical works I have encountered. The beauty, charm, and pervasive intelligence of Minoru Masuda's letters are nicely anchored by historical material provided by the editors." - Arthur A. Hansen, Director, Center for Oral and Public History, California State University-Fullerton

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: University of Washington Press (June 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0295987456
• ISBN-13: 978-0295987453
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and Remarkable, September 22, 2008

By 

S. Bell "sbell147" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Letters from the 442nd: The World War II Correspondence of a Japanese American Medic (Scott and Laurie Oki Series in Asian American Studies) (Paperback)

Masuda, his family and friends suffer the humiliation and shame of being forced into camps. Then Masuda decides to fight for the country that put them in the camps. His remarkable choice is never questioned in years of letters, no matter how painful his combat experience. His correspondence reflects not only what is happening on the Europe front, but, insofar as it responds to correspondence from his wife and other Japanese-Americans, it reflects the human toll from the internment program. What makes this book so good is that Masuda is a gifted letter writer (a nearly lost art). The editor also did an outstanding job of providing historical context for Masuda's letters, as well as helping with abreviations and the occasional Japanese word. For anyone whose life was touched (no matter how remotely) by Japanese internment, this book is a must-read!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read., March 10, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Letters from the 442nd: The World War II Correspondence of a Japanese American Medic (Scott and Laurie Oki Series in Asian American Studies) (Paperback)

This is a classic. Everyone should read this book. It is stark and real with a little love and humor. It shows the love the Japanese Americans had for their people and the US.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hawaiiboy, November 28, 2009

By 

Hawaiiboy "Mike" (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Letters from the 442nd: The World War II Correspondence of a Japanese American Medic (Scott and Laurie Oki Series in Asian American Studies) (Paperback)

Great reading - as a previous review mentioned - "Min" is an excellent letter writer. The power is putting down mundane every day tasks and events as they happen - these are things that most histories are missing. Being grubby and dirty, basically living without a home, fear, longing for loved ones and hopes for the future - all this makes this a powerful record of war from a ordinary soldier's personal perspective.

Including the medical unit log entries is genius. My uncle was in the 2nd Battalion. The addition of the places and movements makes the book even more alive. After 65 years I hear about places such as "Hill 140" when some movie or news story about war starts my uncle talking. Hill 140 [...]