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asked him if he had a shirt on and he answered that he didn't. That's when I knew I hit that first
German we encountered the day before. My squad was safe. But Co. K had losses. Joe Hayashi died
at Tendola. We lost James Okamoto about this time, also.
We didn't know it at the time, but Tendola, for us, would be the last day of real fighting. The
Germans were retreating and we met no resistance as we moved toward Genoa. Genoa was now
under partisan control and we spent the night there in a nice cathedral. By May 2nd, we had advanced
a few villages past Genoa, when war was declared over in Italy. On May 9, 1945, war was officially
over in Europe. Between May and November, our regiment processed and guarded German
prisoners. On passes, I was also able to visit Milan, Florence, and other smaller towns in northern
Italy. I remember being in Pistoria when'we heard that the A-bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima
(Aug. 6th). (It is interesting to note that Hiroshima was the birthplace of my parents.) When Japan
finally surrendered, we were all relieved because there were rumors that we would be going to the
Pacific. On Oct. 30*', I left Naples on a liberty ship and cruised home to the States. We landed in
Boston on Nov. 14th and I was formally discharged on Nov. 19, 1945, at Camp Grant, IL.
Bob Yatabe and I had left on the same ship for Europe and we returned together. We traveled back to
Battle Creek to reunite with our wives. Mimi and Mary had been staying together while we were
overseas. We all spent Thanksgiving in Detroit with Bob's brother. Then it was back to Battle Creek
to pack-up the Yatabe's car and leave for home via Route 66. The four of us had a great time
traveling cross-country, stopping to see the Grand Canyon and other sites. We reached home before
Christmas 1945. Bob and Mimi went on to the Bay Area where their families were waiting for them.
My family had already returned to the farm from camp. Unlike many families that lost everything
due to relocation, we were able to retain our farm and we struggled to start again.
Many books and speeches have been written about the accomplishments ofthe 100th/442nd. But in the
middle of battle, you really don't know the significance of your actions. It's only later that you learn
that your regiment broke the Gothic Line or rescued the Lost Battalion—the now familiar phrases
from military experts and historians. The average soldier just carries out orders—keep advancing,
take the hill, or protect a flank. Our guys did everything we were asked to do and we did things that
others had tried, but failed. I have always felt good about my service because I did my part—
everything I was supposed to do. I tell my story because I will always be proud to be a member ofthe
100 /442nd and, most of all, to pay tribute to my friends who paid the ultimate price.
Tom (Tann) Kawano q d*^f^L^
Co. K 100th/442nd RCT. ^—^- Uuy
Completed on January 12, 2000 jLu* J^f^L #~^
Tom Kawano ~~ Military History /^~% j>.*~*+h^xm
'J -ryta^L
Object Description
| Title | Tom Kawano's History |
| Description | In the pursuit of redress for Japanese Americans, Tom Kawano shares his own experience in the 100th/442nd battalion. |
| Subjects | Redress and reparations |
| Type | image |
| Genre | Autobiography |
| Language | eng |
| Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
| Collection Description | 5 items |
| Project Name | California State University Japanese American Digitization Project |
| Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Description
| Local ID | csufr_hfp_1440 |
| Project ID | csufr_hfp_1440 |
| Title | Page 5 |
| Creator | Kawano, Tom: author |
| Date Created | Unknown |
| Subjects | Redress and reparations |
| Type | image |
| Genre | Autobiography |
| Language | eng |
| Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
| Collection Description | 8.37 x 10.93in |
| Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
| Transcript | asked him if he had a shirt on and he answered that he didn't. That's when I knew I hit that first German we encountered the day before. My squad was safe. But Co. K had losses. Joe Hayashi died at Tendola. We lost James Okamoto about this time, also. We didn't know it at the time, but Tendola, for us, would be the last day of real fighting. The Germans were retreating and we met no resistance as we moved toward Genoa. Genoa was now under partisan control and we spent the night there in a nice cathedral. By May 2nd, we had advanced a few villages past Genoa, when war was declared over in Italy. On May 9, 1945, war was officially over in Europe. Between May and November, our regiment processed and guarded German prisoners. On passes, I was also able to visit Milan, Florence, and other smaller towns in northern Italy. I remember being in Pistoria when'we heard that the A-bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima (Aug. 6th). (It is interesting to note that Hiroshima was the birthplace of my parents.) When Japan finally surrendered, we were all relieved because there were rumors that we would be going to the Pacific. On Oct. 30*', I left Naples on a liberty ship and cruised home to the States. We landed in Boston on Nov. 14th and I was formally discharged on Nov. 19, 1945, at Camp Grant, IL. Bob Yatabe and I had left on the same ship for Europe and we returned together. We traveled back to Battle Creek to reunite with our wives. Mimi and Mary had been staying together while we were overseas. We all spent Thanksgiving in Detroit with Bob's brother. Then it was back to Battle Creek to pack-up the Yatabe's car and leave for home via Route 66. The four of us had a great time traveling cross-country, stopping to see the Grand Canyon and other sites. We reached home before Christmas 1945. Bob and Mimi went on to the Bay Area where their families were waiting for them. My family had already returned to the farm from camp. Unlike many families that lost everything due to relocation, we were able to retain our farm and we struggled to start again. Many books and speeches have been written about the accomplishments ofthe 100th/442nd. But in the middle of battle, you really don't know the significance of your actions. It's only later that you learn that your regiment broke the Gothic Line or rescued the Lost Battalion—the now familiar phrases from military experts and historians. The average soldier just carries out orders—keep advancing, take the hill, or protect a flank. Our guys did everything we were asked to do and we did things that others had tried, but failed. I have always felt good about my service because I did my part— everything I was supposed to do. I tell my story because I will always be proud to be a member ofthe 100 /442nd and, most of all, to pay tribute to my friends who paid the ultimate price. Tom (Tann) Kawano q d*^f^L^ Co. K 100th/442nd RCT. ^—^- Uuy Completed on January 12, 2000 jLu* J^f^L #~^ Tom Kawano ~~ Military History /^~% j>.*~*+h^xm 'J -ryta^L |
