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261:, where their enlistment was processed without any questions — perhaps, as a humorous story suggests, the recruiters thought that Kuroki was a Polish name. In retelling the enlistment story, Ben Kuroki said the recruiter in North Platte told him that nationality was not a problem as he made $ 2 for every recruit. Later, two other brothers, Bill and Henry Kuroki also served in the military during the war.
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331:. Kuroki flew 30 combat missions in the European theater, when the regular enlistment only required 25. After a medical review, he was allowed to fly 5 more missions above the mandated enlistment. Kuroki said he did so for his brother Fred, who was still stationed stateside. On his 30th mission he was slightly wounded when his gun turret was hit by
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When asked about his battle to overcome prejudice which almost prevented him from being allowed to participate in overseas aerial combat missions, Kuroki stated, "I had to fight like hell for the right to fight for my own country".
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recalled in an editorial on
December 7, 1991, the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, how “Gen. George Marshall asked to meet ; so did Generals Bradley, Spaatz, Wainwright and Jimmy Doolittle.”
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and another for participation in the Ploiești raid. After another 28 missions in the
Pacific Theater, Kuroki was awarded a third Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the
288:, he was told that Japanese Americans would not be allowed to serve overseas. In 1942 Kuroki petitioned his commanding officer and was allowed to work as a clerk for the
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Kuroki is the only
Japanese American known to have participated in air combat missions in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the war. Kuroki was awarded one
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Technical
Sergeant Ben Kuroki shown wearing Distinguished Flying Cross (Ă—3), Air Medal with oak leaf clusters (Ă—5) and service medals for World War II service
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in 1950. He was a reporter and editor for a number of newspapers in several different states, retiring in 1984. On August 12, 2005, Kuroki was awarded the
427:. He engaged in a series of speaking tours discussing these issues, which he funded with his own savings and with minor donations, including proceeds from
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at a base in
England. The need for aerial gunners was high and after Kuroki volunteered, he was sent to gunnery school for two weeks and became a dorsal
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camps in order to encourage able-bodied males to enlist in the U.S. military. Kuroki was the subject of a number of news articles including one in
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immigrants, Shosuke and Naka (née
Yokoyama) Kuroki on May 16, 1917; they had 10 children. When Ben was a year old the Kuroki family relocated to
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300:, the most widely produced American heavy bomber to be used by Allied forces in World War II. Kuroki was in a B-24 that crash landed in
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for his impressive combat participation during the war and for overcoming numerous incidents of prejudice. He was awarded an honorary
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During rest and recovery back in the United States, Kuroki was directed by the Army to visit a number of
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Go for Broke: The Nisei
Warriors of World War II Who Conquered Germany, Japan, and American Bigotry,
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Go for Broke: The Nisei
Warriors of World War II Who Conquered Germany, Japan, and American Bigotry,
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after Kuroki) in the 484th
Squadron, 505th Bombardment Group, 20th U.S. Army Air Force, based on
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Fiercely patriotic, but understanding first-hand some of the racial and other inequalities
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Rising Sons: The
Japanese American GIs Who Fought for the United States in World War II.
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Rising Sons: The Japanese American GIs Who Fought for the United States in World War II
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authorities. His crew was released by the Spanish after three months. After the
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in January 1942, not much more than a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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from the University of Nebraska on August 13, 2005 and is the subject of the
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was that request granted. Kuroki was later permitted to join the crew of a
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1043:"Nebraska WWII Hero Ben Kuroki to be Honored at Premiere of NET Television"
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800:"Ben Kuroki Dies at 98; Japanese-American Overcame Bias to Fight for U.S."
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had to endure, after the war Kuroki continued to speak about the need for
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373:. Kuroki then participated in another 28 bombing missions over mainland
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secured his release, he returned to England and rejoined his squadron.
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Kuroki requested but was denied the opportunity to participate in the
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and was the Vice-President of his senior class, graduating in 1936.
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On August 1, 1943, he participated in the bombing mission known as
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843:. Nebraska Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics
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745:, a US Army unit that was captured by the Japanese during the
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to do so. After enlisting they were sent to basic training at
182:, May 16, 1917 – September 1, 2015) was the only American of
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Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
253:. The brothers were initially rejected by the recruiters in
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in 1942. He spent more than 3 years in Japanese captivity.
327:, an effort to destroy the major oil refinery located in
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Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
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United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
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Official website. Includes a recent photo of Kuroki.
475:". On September 1, 2015 he died in hospice care in
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1162:Most Honorable Son: Ben Kuroki's Amazing War Story
473:Most Honorable Son: Ben Kuroki's Amazing War Story
694:with one silver and three bronze campaign stars
238:town had a population of about 500. He attended
1245:American military personnel of Japanese descent
692:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
938:. Public Broadcasting Service. Archived from
234:, where they owned and operated a farm. The
194:. He flew a total of 58 combat missions over
8:
868:(1st ed.). Thomas Dunne Books. p.
1100:Boy from Nebraska: The Story of Ben Kuroki.
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1048:. NET Nebraska. 2007-06-28. Archived from
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433:Boy From Nebraska: The Story of Ben Kuroki
284:Assigned to the 93rd Bombardment Group at
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1119:Clearfield, Utah: American Legacy Media.
1074:"Proud to be Ben Kuroki's kind of people"
798:Goldstein, Richard (September 5, 2015).
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431:'s biography written about him entitled
353:theater. Only after the intervention of
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1250:United States Army Air Forces soldiers
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958:
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1220:University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni
190:to serve in combat operations in the
16:United States Army Air Forces soldier
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1230:People from Lincoln County, Nebraska
892:McGowan, Sam, "Most Honorable Son",
966:. Time. 1944-02-07. Archived from
770:", a World War II-era phrase; see
264:When Ben and Fred enlisted in the
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1225:People from Gothenburg, Nebraska
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936:Conscience and the Constitution
700:with two bronze campaign stars
247:Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
192:Pacific theater of World War II
1176:"Densho interview: Ben Kuroki"
914:; Sterner, Douglas C. (2007).
698:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
1:
1113:Sterner, C. Douglas. (2007).
862:Yenne, Bill (July 10, 2007).
214:Childhood and Army enlistment
188:United States Army Air Forces
112:United States Army Air Forces
823:Yuta NippĹŤ 1943.07.23:Page 3
668:with five oak leaf clusters
340:Japanese American internment
44:Most Honorable Son, Sad Saki
1215:Recipients of the Air Medal
662:with two oak leaf clusters
648:Distinguished Service Medal
469:Public Broadcasting Service
461:Distinguished Service Medal
150:Distinguished Service Medal
35:Ben Kuroki in flight jacket
1266:
1076:. Journal Star. 2007-08-02
747:Dutch East Indies Campaign
704:World War II Victory Medal
672:Presidential Unit Citation
660:Distinguished Flying Cross
447:Kuroki later attended the
382:Distinguished Flying Cross
268:they were among the first
154:Distinguished Flying Cross
1097:Martin, Ralph G. (1946).
646:
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257:, so they tried again at
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310:U.S. Department of State
896:, July 2011, pp. 40–47.
687:American Campaign Medal
384:for his 25 missions in
218:Ben Kuroki was born in
964:"Ben Kuroki, American"
449:University of Nebraska
320:
1132:Yenne, Bill. (2007).
1105:Harper & Brothers
942:on September 29, 2007
477:Camarillo, California
377:and other locations.
365:(who named its plane
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274:Sheppard Field, Texas
118:Years of service
78:Camarillo, California
970:on February 25, 2007
443:Post-military career
325:Operation Tidal Wave
304:and was captured by
220:Gothenburg, Nebraska
62:Gothenburg, Nebraska
1014:"The Hidden Heroes"
930:Frank, Abe (2000).
734:History of Nebraska
286:Fort Myers, Florida
240:Hershey High School
1055:on August 14, 2007
1020:. December 7, 1991
1018:The New York Times
839:Mitchell, Ronnie.
677:Good Conduct Medal
479:at the age of 98.
404:The New York Times
398:Technical Sergeant
363:B-29 Superfortress
321:
130:Technical Sergeant
1148:978-0-312-35464-0
1125:978-0-9796896-1-1
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453:Bachelor's degree
394:oak leaf clusters
329:Ploiești, Romania
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163:oak leaf clusters
71:September 1, 2015
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1180:. Retrieved
1178:. 1994-10-17
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1109:OCLC 1287006
1099:
1078:. Retrieved
1068:
1057:. Retrieved
1050:the original
1022:. Retrieved
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1008:
996:
983:
972:. Retrieved
968:the original
944:. Retrieved
940:the original
935:
932:"Ben Kuroki"
925:
916:
894:WWII History
893:
888:
864:
857:
845:. Retrieved
841:"Ben Kuroki"
818:
806:. Retrieved
802:
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739:Frank Fujita
472:
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432:
423:and against
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403:
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366:
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283:
263:
259:North Platte
255:Grand Island
244:
217:
208:World War II
200:North Africa
171:
170:
140:World War II
136:Battles/wars
73:(2015-09-01)
59:May 16, 1917
1240:2015 deaths
1235:1917 births
1170:Family tree
1024:October 20,
847:February 3,
808:January 22,
41:Nickname(s)
1194:Categories
1182:2021-06-13
1138:New York:
1103:New York:
1080:2007-08-06
1059:2007-08-07
974:2007-08-06
946:2007-08-06
782:References
766:A pun on "
457:journalism
392:with five
346:magazine.
245:After the
172:Ben Kuroki
84:Allegiance
55:1917-05-16
23:Ben Kuroki
1140:Macmillan
1092:Book list
666:Air Medal
465:Doctorate
390:Air Medal
266:U.S. Army
159:Air Medal
121:1941–1946
772:Sad Sack
768:sad sack
712:See also
683:3rd Row
656:2nd Row
642:1st Row
435:(1946).
367:Sad Saki
232:Nebraska
224:Japanese
176:Japanese
101:Service/
1002:p. 140.
1000:Yenne,
989:pp. 139
987:Yenne,
919:p. 124.
910:Yenne,
351:Pacific
306:Spanish
228:Hershey
206:during
186:in the
1146:
1123:
912:p. 138
876:
483:Awards
386:Europe
357:, the
202:, and
196:Europe
146:Awards
103:branch
1053:(PDF)
1046:(PDF)
991:-140.
754:Notes
375:Japan
296:on a
270:Nisei
204:Japan
161:with
1144:ISBN
1121:ISBN
1026:2016
874:ISBN
849:2018
810:2018
344:Time
333:flak
180:黒木 勉
165:(Ă—5)
156:(Ă—3)
126:Rank
68:Died
49:Born
870:137
455:in
222:to
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174:(
57:)
53:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
