San Francisco writer and photographer Tom Graves spent a decade with the Nisei (Japanese American) soldiers of World War II and the Korean War, determined to share their unlikely story. That story is now being told in the book Twice Heroes: America's Nisei Veterans of WWII and Korea.

At first denigrated and mistrusted, Nisei veterans — now in their 80s and 90s — earned the praise of a nation and, ultimately, a Congressional Gold Medal. The most decorated U.S. military unit in history, these are the same men and women who fought while their families were interned in bleak American prison camps during World War II, a black mark on America's promises of equality and liberty.

Graves will autograph copies of his book following the program.

This event is presented by the Japan America Society of Houston in conjunction with "American Heroes: Japanese American World War II Nisei Soldiers and The Congressional Gold Medal" on view through Jan. 26, 2014.