Unlikely Liberators: The Men of the 100th and 442nd [Hardcover]

Masayo Umezawa Duus (Author), Peter Duus (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Japanese (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press (February 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824810813
• ISBN-13: 978-0824810818
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #862,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference source, December 30, 2000

By 

Claude Chung (Culver City, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unlikely Liberators: The Men of the 100th and 442nd (Hardcover)

A very thorough and well-researched book on a heroic group of young Americans facing adversity at home and on the battlefield. The author skews the book more toward the Hawaiian Nisei in general, and the 100th Battalion in particular, than the mainland Nisei. Still, this is a must-have if you want to learn more about this chapter in our nation's history.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched, Well Told Story of the 100th & 422nd, May 23, 2007

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unlikely Liberators: The Men of the 100th and 442nd (Paperback)

First, a little background information. The 442 Regimental Combat Team was the most highly decorated unit of its size in the United States Army. The 442, when at maximum strength had about 5,000 men. During the two years 1943-45 they earned 9,486 Purple Hearts, the medal given when a soldier is wounded. After the war most Army units were de-activated as the army was reduced in size. Only the most famous unit names are retained. The 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry is still active.

This book is a carefully researched story of the men, boys in age but men full grown in deed, who made up first the 100th Battalion and later the 442nd RCT. The author is Japanese born and educated. It was first written as a series of articles for the leading Japanese monthly magazine. Now it has been expanded for an American aucience. Her interest, indeed her fascination comes from an interest in comparing the Japanese and American cultures.

Remember also that the Japanese-Americans from the West Coast were sent to concentration camps. In 1943, the War Department in need of manpower sent recruiters to the relocation camps asking for volunteers to form a new Japanese American combat unit the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Ms. Duus has done a supurb job telling their story.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference book to have, August 3, 2000

By 

"mfurukawa" (Fremont, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unlikely Liberators: The Men of the 100th and 442nd (Hardcover)

Found this book to be very easy to read and enjoy. The stories about the men involved with the 442nd show what group and individual courage is, and how important it is to remember what your relatives had to endure for our freendom.