American Grit
Honoring the Past by Educating the Future
American Grit - From a Japanese American Concentration Camp Rises an American War Hero, is the incredible true story about the dark chapter in our history when 122,000 innocent people including 50,000 American children were incarcerated in American concentration camps during World War II solely because of their race, and the thousands of brave young men who volunteered to fight for the United States Army while their families remained imprisoned in the camps by the United States Army.
In 2008 the author, John Suzuki, embarked on a poignant journey to Minidoka, one of the ten former U.S. concentration camps that housed over 13,000 inmates. Here, he encountered a remarkable testament of bravery — an Honor Roll listing the names of over 1,000 Japanese American men who volunteered to fight and die for the U.S. Army, the same Army who put them and their families in the camps to begin with.
Inspired by this unparalleled act of courage, John set out to tell the story of Shiro Kashino, an American who was incarcerated at Minidoka, volunteered to fight for the U.S. Army to prove his loyalty, and later emerged as one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War II. Despite learning of Kashino's death in 1997, the author remained undeterred and, with the help of Kashino’s beloved widow, Louise, weaved a tale of hardship, sacrifice, and love.
While American Grit tells the story of Shiro Kashino, it is also a stark reminder of ruinous hardships endured by over 122,000 victims of American concentration camps while celebrating their gallantry, heroism and grit during and after World War II as they stayed true to their dreams of a better life in America. As the author delves into this profound and transformative journey, he invites readers to reflect on the importance of learning from our history to shape a better future.
The book is a tribute to Shiro, Louise, and all the heroes of the era whose stories of courage and resilience inspire us to honor the past by educating the future.
Photos and Descriptions from the Book
The Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 thrust the United States into World War II.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Executive Order 9066 posted outside a building.
Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Members of a Japanese American family await an evacuation bus to transport them to a military detention center.
Photo courtesy of the Dorothea Lange Collection.
Aerial view of the Minidoka internment camp.
Photo courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Main entrance to Minidoka.
Photo courtesy of Densho.org.
Painting of “The 442nd Rescue of the Lost Battalion in Vosges, France” by Charles McBarrow.
Courtesy of the Army Art Collection, U.S. Center of Military History.
American Grit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
REVIEWED BY NATALIE SOINE FOR READERS’ FAVORITE
I commend John Suzuki for his dedication and commitment to completing this historical, educational story and including the most beautiful photos. John has fulfilled Kashino’s wish that the experience of Japanese Americans and the valor of the 442nd RCT during World War II never be forgotten.
Readers will appreciate the time and effort it must have taken John to complete his research, travel to various towns, and compile all the information he gathered along the way. John has also included original documents and references for further reading. American Grit is well-written, smooth flowing, and a pleasure to read. Highly recommended to people of all ages.
Minidoka
Minidoka Honor Roll.
Photo courtesy of Densho.
One of Minidoka's baseball teams. Shiro Kashino is in the middle row, second from the right.
Photo courtesy of the Kashino family and Densho.org.
Everybody did their part to transform their desert prison into more livable space including gardens, rock pathways, and play areas.
Photo courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
When Minidoka internees returned to Seattle, some came home to threatening graffiti and vandalized property. Despite Japanese Americans proving their loyalty during World War II, racism against Japanese Americans continued.
Photo courtesy of the Museum of History and Industry.
Additional Imagery from American Grit
