"When this unfinished business is taken care of, we should all be able to live together as good Americans. My fervent hope is that the slant of the heart will determine a man's loyalty."
- Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi, 442nd RCT, 2nd Bn., Co. G, killed in action near Castellina, Italy
From the time he was a young man, Kei Tanahashi displayed keen leadership skills and strove for excellence in everything he did.
Born in Los Angeles, Tanahashi was a scout with the nationally-recognized Boy Scout Troop 379 of the Koyasan Buddhist Temple. In 1935, he began studying economics at UCLA, participated in the ROTC and continued his involvement with Troop 379 as an Eagle Scout and scout leader. Jun Yamamoto, 442nd RCT veteran and former boy scout, shared, "Kei's character trait was to see that everyone was secure and any work order that he gave was one that he would do himself. It was a mutual trust among us."
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Tanahashi and his family were forcibly removed to the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. Soon after, Tanahashi obtained clearance to enroll in the master's program at University of Nebraska; his education was interrupted the following year when he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army.
By the time Tanahashi arrived at Camp Shelby, MS, the enlisted men of the 442nd RCT had already been training for several months. As one of the new officers and platoon leaders of Co. G, Tanahashi worked hard to gain the trust of the men. Yamamoto said of his friend, "He was a natural leader of men with talent, discipline, compassion and instilled into the men, trust and faith in him and to themselves."
Once overseas in the European Theater, the 442nd joined the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy and entered combat on June 26, 1944. One week later, on July 4, 1944, Co. G was assigned to take Hill 140, a heavily-defended, German-held hill near the town of Castellina, Italy. During the assault, Co. G was hit hard by German mortars, artillery and gunfire.
While under attack, Tanahashi was severely wounded by gunfire. He refused to be evacuated by medics, continuing to direct his platoon until the enemy was driven out of their positions and his platoon secure in its position. Tanahashi died later at a field hospital.
Jim Makino, a veteran of Co. G, was in Tanahashi's platoon. Makino recalls Tanahashi repeatedly saying, "Take care of the guys, take care of the guys." Another Co. G veteran, Kazuichi Hamasaki, said that unlike some other lieutenants, Tanahashi "was the first man to go out" instead of sending others before him.
Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his leadership, courage, and selfless actions on the field of battle.
"I hope his death will help the public realize that we are Americans fighting for America, too. I have lived in this country for over 30 years and it is my country just as it was Kei's, and I feel just the way he felt – that he wanted to do all he could for his country in her hour of need."
- Kin Tanahashi, Kei Tanahashi's mother
To learn more about American WWII soldiers of Japanese ancestry, please visit us at www.nationalveteransnetwork.com.
#NiseiSoldiersNVN #Nisei #JapaneseAmerican #WWII #Veteran #USArmy #AsianAmerican #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #StopAsianHate #representationmatters #aapi Heart Mountain Interpretive Center #UCLA #uclaalumni #heartmountain
- Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi, 442nd RCT, 2nd Bn., Co. G, killed in action near Castellina, Italy
From the time he was a young man, Kei Tanahashi displayed keen leadership skills and strove for excellence in everything he did.
Born in Los Angeles, Tanahashi was a scout with the nationally-recognized Boy Scout Troop 379 of the Koyasan Buddhist Temple. In 1935, he began studying economics at UCLA, participated in the ROTC and continued his involvement with Troop 379 as an Eagle Scout and scout leader. Jun Yamamoto, 442nd RCT veteran and former boy scout, shared, "Kei's character trait was to see that everyone was secure and any work order that he gave was one that he would do himself. It was a mutual trust among us."
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Tanahashi and his family were forcibly removed to the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. Soon after, Tanahashi obtained clearance to enroll in the master's program at University of Nebraska; his education was interrupted the following year when he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army.
By the time Tanahashi arrived at Camp Shelby, MS, the enlisted men of the 442nd RCT had already been training for several months. As one of the new officers and platoon leaders of Co. G, Tanahashi worked hard to gain the trust of the men. Yamamoto said of his friend, "He was a natural leader of men with talent, discipline, compassion and instilled into the men, trust and faith in him and to themselves."
Once overseas in the European Theater, the 442nd joined the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy and entered combat on June 26, 1944. One week later, on July 4, 1944, Co. G was assigned to take Hill 140, a heavily-defended, German-held hill near the town of Castellina, Italy. During the assault, Co. G was hit hard by German mortars, artillery and gunfire.
While under attack, Tanahashi was severely wounded by gunfire. He refused to be evacuated by medics, continuing to direct his platoon until the enemy was driven out of their positions and his platoon secure in its position. Tanahashi died later at a field hospital.
Jim Makino, a veteran of Co. G, was in Tanahashi's platoon. Makino recalls Tanahashi repeatedly saying, "Take care of the guys, take care of the guys." Another Co. G veteran, Kazuichi Hamasaki, said that unlike some other lieutenants, Tanahashi "was the first man to go out" instead of sending others before him.
Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his leadership, courage, and selfless actions on the field of battle.
"I hope his death will help the public realize that we are Americans fighting for America, too. I have lived in this country for over 30 years and it is my country just as it was Kei's, and I feel just the way he felt – that he wanted to do all he could for his country in her hour of need."
- Kin Tanahashi, Kei Tanahashi's mother
To learn more about American WWII soldiers of Japanese ancestry, please visit us at www.nationalveteransnetwork.com.
#NiseiSoldiersNVN #Nisei #JapaneseAmerican #WWII #Veteran #USArmy #AsianAmerican #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #StopAsianHate #representationmatters #aapi Heart Mountain Interpretive Center #UCLA #uclaalumni #heartmountain
"When this unfinished business is taken care of, we should all be able to live together as good Americans. My fervent hope is that the slant of the heart will determine a man's loyalty."
- Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi, 442nd RCT, 2nd Bn., Co. G, killed in action near Castellina, Italy
From the time he was a young man, Kei Tanahashi displayed keen leadership skills and strove for excellence in everything he did.
Born in Los Angeles, Tanahashi was a scout with the nationally-recognized Boy Scout Troop 379 of the Koyasan Buddhist Temple. In 1935, he began studying economics at UCLA, participated in the ROTC and continued his involvement with Troop 379 as an Eagle Scout and scout leader. Jun Yamamoto, 442nd RCT veteran and former boy scout, shared, "Kei's character trait was to see that everyone was secure and any work order that he gave was one that he would do himself. It was a mutual trust among us."
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Tanahashi and his family were forcibly removed to the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. Soon after, Tanahashi obtained clearance to enroll in the master's program at University of Nebraska; his education was interrupted the following year when he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army.
By the time Tanahashi arrived at Camp Shelby, MS, the enlisted men of the 442nd RCT had already been training for several months. As one of the new officers and platoon leaders of Co. G, Tanahashi worked hard to gain the trust of the men. Yamamoto said of his friend, "He was a natural leader of men with talent, discipline, compassion and instilled into the men, trust and faith in him and to themselves."
Once overseas in the European Theater, the 442nd joined the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy and entered combat on June 26, 1944. One week later, on July 4, 1944, Co. G was assigned to take Hill 140, a heavily-defended, German-held hill near the town of Castellina, Italy. During the assault, Co. G was hit hard by German mortars, artillery and gunfire.
While under attack, Tanahashi was severely wounded by gunfire. He refused to be evacuated by medics, continuing to direct his platoon until the enemy was driven out of their positions and his platoon secure in its position. Tanahashi died later at a field hospital.
Jim Makino, a veteran of Co. G, was in Tanahashi's platoon. Makino recalls Tanahashi repeatedly saying, "Take care of the guys, take care of the guys." Another Co. G veteran, Kazuichi Hamasaki, said that unlike some other lieutenants, Tanahashi "was the first man to go out" instead of sending others before him.
Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his leadership, courage, and selfless actions on the field of battle.
"I hope his death will help the public realize that we are Americans fighting for America, too. I have lived in this country for over 30 years and it is my country just as it was Kei's, and I feel just the way he felt – that he wanted to do all he could for his country in her hour of need."
- Kin Tanahashi, Kei Tanahashi's mother
To learn more about American WWII soldiers of Japanese ancestry, please visit us at www.nationalveteransnetwork.com.
#NiseiSoldiersNVN #Nisei #JapaneseAmerican #WWII #Veteran #USArmy #AsianAmerican #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #StopAsianHate #representationmatters #aapi Heart Mountain Interpretive Center #UCLA #uclaalumni #heartmountain
- Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi, 442nd RCT, 2nd Bn., Co. G, killed in action near Castellina, Italy
From the time he was a young man, Kei Tanahashi displayed keen leadership skills and strove for excellence in everything he did.
Born in Los Angeles, Tanahashi was a scout with the nationally-recognized Boy Scout Troop 379 of the Koyasan Buddhist Temple. In 1935, he began studying economics at UCLA, participated in the ROTC and continued his involvement with Troop 379 as an Eagle Scout and scout leader. Jun Yamamoto, 442nd RCT veteran and former boy scout, shared, "Kei's character trait was to see that everyone was secure and any work order that he gave was one that he would do himself. It was a mutual trust among us."
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Tanahashi and his family were forcibly removed to the Heart Mountain incarceration camp in Wyoming. Soon after, Tanahashi obtained clearance to enroll in the master's program at University of Nebraska; his education was interrupted the following year when he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army.
By the time Tanahashi arrived at Camp Shelby, MS, the enlisted men of the 442nd RCT had already been training for several months. As one of the new officers and platoon leaders of Co. G, Tanahashi worked hard to gain the trust of the men. Yamamoto said of his friend, "He was a natural leader of men with talent, discipline, compassion and instilled into the men, trust and faith in him and to themselves."
Once overseas in the European Theater, the 442nd joined the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy and entered combat on June 26, 1944. One week later, on July 4, 1944, Co. G was assigned to take Hill 140, a heavily-defended, German-held hill near the town of Castellina, Italy. During the assault, Co. G was hit hard by German mortars, artillery and gunfire.
While under attack, Tanahashi was severely wounded by gunfire. He refused to be evacuated by medics, continuing to direct his platoon until the enemy was driven out of their positions and his platoon secure in its position. Tanahashi died later at a field hospital.
Jim Makino, a veteran of Co. G, was in Tanahashi's platoon. Makino recalls Tanahashi repeatedly saying, "Take care of the guys, take care of the guys." Another Co. G veteran, Kazuichi Hamasaki, said that unlike some other lieutenants, Tanahashi "was the first man to go out" instead of sending others before him.
Second Lt. Kei Tanahashi was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his leadership, courage, and selfless actions on the field of battle.
"I hope his death will help the public realize that we are Americans fighting for America, too. I have lived in this country for over 30 years and it is my country just as it was Kei's, and I feel just the way he felt – that he wanted to do all he could for his country in her hour of need."
- Kin Tanahashi, Kei Tanahashi's mother
To learn more about American WWII soldiers of Japanese ancestry, please visit us at www.nationalveteransnetwork.com.
#NiseiSoldiersNVN #Nisei #JapaneseAmerican #WWII #Veteran #USArmy #AsianAmerican #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #StopAsianHate #representationmatters #aapi Heart Mountain Interpretive Center #UCLA #uclaalumni #heartmountain
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