Honor Bound: A Personal Journey is the story of Wendy Hanamura, a news reporter who chronicles the history of her father, Sgt. Howard Hanamura, and his military unit, Company L, First Platoon, who fought for the highly decorated yet controversial 442nd Regiment of the U.S. Army. These Japanese-American soldiers fought with legendary courage during World War II, while their families were forced into internment camps at home.
This award-winning documentary follows daughter and father throughout Europe, where they retrace the steps of the 442nd along their barnstorming tour. Sgt. Hanamura and his fellow soldiers detail their battles, the hardships of wartime travel as well as life as a Japanese American during World War II. Their stories flesh out a harrowing time for Japanese Americans, which was during a highly anti-Japanese era in the United States.
Veterans also recount the 442nd's rescue of the "Lost Battalion," an operation the Army calls one of the top 10 battles of all time.
Tommie Okabayashi and Mari Okabayashi will lead a post-film discussion. Tsutomu "Tommie" Okabayashi, a native Texan, joined the 442nd regiment in the Spring of 1943 at the age of 18. He trained at Camp Shelby, MS, and fought in Italy and France with the Cannon Company. His unit rescued a battalion in France made up of Texans, now known as the "Lost Battalion."
This event is presented in conjunction with "American Heroes: Japanese American World War II Nisei Soldiers and The Congressional Gold Medal," on view through Jan. 26, 2014.