Photo -- See Caption Below
Photo -- See Caption Below
Photo -- See Caption Below
Photo -- See Caption Below

Jack Wakamatsu was one of the few Japanese Americans to be drafted before the war. On June 10, 1941 he was promoted to First Sergeant assigned to Company F, 53rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Ord, California. Jack joined Company F, of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team which was activated on February 1, 1943 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. With the 442nd, Jack fought in Italy and France, including the mission to rescue the "Lost Texas Battalion." These medals honor First Sergeant Wakamatsu for his bravery and dedication.

Purple Heart medal and Ribbon

The Purple Heart is awarded for "being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of any such enemy or opposing armed forces." Japanese American soldiers fighting in Italy were called the "Purple Heart Battalion." The combined 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team suffered 9,486 casualties and won 18,143 individual decorations for valor in battle, including a Medal of Honor and almost 10,000 Purple Hearts. On June 21, 2000, President Clinton awarded 21 additional Medal of Honor to Japanese American World War II veterans."The Nisei bought an awful big hunk of America with their blood. You're damn right those Nisei boys have a place in the American heart, now and forever." General "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell, 1945

Metal, fabric. L 3.5, W 1 cm
Manzanar National Historic Site, MANZ 5184

Army Good Conduct, American Defense, Europiean/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Attached Ribbon

The Go For Broke EducationalFoundation (www.goforbroke.org), which commemorates and educates about the experiences of the Japanese American soldiers of World War II, credits members of the 100th/442nd and MIS with being awarded 18,143 individual citations. In campaign after campaign, from North Africa through Italy, France, and Germany, and across the Islands of the Pacific, Nisei soldiers’ performances earned them the respect of their fellow soldiers and of their superiors.

Metal, fabric. L 7, W 1 cm
Manzanar National Historic Site, MANZ 5185

Purple Heart Medal and Ribbon

"The Purple Heart is awarded for “being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of any such enemy or opposing armed forces.” Japanese American soldiers fighting in Italy were called the “Purple Heart Battalion.” The combined 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team suffered 9,486 casualties and won 18,143 individual decorations for valor in battle, including a Medal of Honor and almost 10,000 Purple Hearts. On June 21, 2000, President Clinton awarded 21 additional Medal of Honor to Japanese American World War II veterans.“The Nisei bought an awful big hunk of America with their blood. You’re damn right those Nisei boys have a place in the American heart, now and forever.” General “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell, 1945

Velvet, silk, fabric, leather, wood, metal. Box: L 16.0, W, 8.0 T 3.5 cm; medal: L 4.0, W 3.5 cm; ribbon: L 3.5, W 3.5 cm
Manzanar National Historic Site, MANZ 5179