Go For Broke Monument

I love this monument although most aren’t aware of it. It resonates with me in many ways. «Go For Broke» is a Hawaiian Pidgin term. The US Government did good here by honoring the Japanese-​Americans who were forced into internment camps. This is in honor of Hawaii’s local boys who were a part of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team and the Japanese-​Americans who were forced into internment camps. The names and quotes are displayed here in a circular structure.
There’s a new musical play that began in San Diego to test prior to opening later this yr on Broadway with a stellar cast. It’s about the 442^nd team and the internment camps. It’s inspired by George Takei’s real life experience in those camps. Lea Salonga also stars in this production. If you come to the monument or see the musical bring tissue. It’s a heart wrenching experience. I was so proud to see this monument and a Hawaiian Pidgin phrase in big bold letters. That just made me smile. It’s an important part of history that seems to have been swept under the rug. So I’m happy to have stumbled upon this on a fluke. If you are dining in Hawaii you will see «442^nd» on menus. 442^nd ! GO FOR BROKE!

In order to comprehend the gravity of the phrase, «Go for Broke,» one must have his home, his rights, his possessions, his freedom, and everything else taken away and STILL be willing to fight the enemies of those who have imprisoned him and his family and friends to the best of his ability.
Thus was the motto of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, comprised of Japanese-​Americans whose families were regulated to internment camps, untrusted following the attacks on Pearl Harbor.
Their insignia appears on the Go For Broke monument along with those of the 100^th Infantry Battalion, Military Intelligence Service, the 522^nd Field Artillery Battalion, the 232^nd Combat Engineer Company, and the 1399^th Engineer Construction Battalion.
These men are real American heroes. The Fighting 442^nd went on to become the most decorated unit of its size in American history.
The monument has sort of a wedge shape with names etched along the back. When Brandon D. and I came to pay our respects last weekend, there were a few full bento boxes left around the base beneath the names.
Although the memorial is sort of in a parking lot by MOCA, it’s not far from the Japanese American National Museum and well worth visiting for a lesson in courage and humility.

My 500^th review for a special monument…
The Go For Broke National Monument honors the Japanese American soldiers of the 100^th Infantry, 442^nd Infantry, MIS, RCT and others who bravely served for their country during WWII… while 120,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast (over 2/​3rds who were American born citizens), including a vast number of soldier’s families, were incarcerated in «internment» camps.
My father only recently told me harrowing stories of the battles he was involved in. I didn’t find out until a few years back that his first battle as a green 19 year old soldier was the Ardennes Offensive, aka the Battle of the Bulge.
When he and his brother returned to the US after the end of the war, they got kicked off a bus on their way home to Washington because they were of Japanese descent. They were wearing their US Army uniforms. When they got to town, they couldn’t get a haircut — the barber came out with a sign which read «We don’t serve Japs»…they had their uniforms on.
I am glad there is a monument to the layered sacrifices these soldiers made, many with their lives, in hopes of making a better life for their families and descendants: Americans.
I do wish it was located closer to the Japanese American National Museum… I saw it quite by accident on leaving the Geffen.

This memorial does not deserve any less than five stars. For those who don’t know about the dedication, sacrifice, and service of the 442^nd regiment during WWII please visit wikipedia for some details (don’t you love wikipedia?)
After some extensive neck craning and a fight with the computer provided at the site I was able to locate my Uncle Yosh’s name etched on the wall. =)
But why is the location of this memorial (a reminder of such an important part of Japanese American history) way in the back? We walked under a bare metal foundation next to what looks like an abandoned building next to an empty parking lot with weeds growing everywhere. Very isolated. =/

Quoting from their brochure:
«The Go For Broke Monument is the first of its kind on the mainland U.S. that includes the names of soldiers of the 100^th, 442^nd, RCT, MIS and others who served overseas during WW II. Dedicate in 1999 and located in Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), it is a 40 foot wide granite circle reaching nine feet high, and engraved with 16,000 names. The Monument tells an „American Story“ and serves as a permanent reminder that never again shall any group be denied liberty and the rights of citizenship.»
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We had never even heard of this monument until we went to the Japanese American Museum and noticed a sign that said, «Go for Broke» monument with an arrow pointing the way. You can’t see the monument until you get close. It is hidden away about a block from the JA Museum. It is near the corner of Temple and Alameda, near the LAPD Parking lot.
There was a group of five 442^nd and 100^th Battalion vets seated at a table with brochures and information. We spoke to them about the memorial and their experiences. The city keeps discussing a plan to make a park out of some of the parking lot to provide a better setting for the monument.
The vets seemed so humble despite what they had gone through.
We thanked them for their service and they sort of just shrugged as if we were just thanking them for holding the door open for us.
The «Go for Broke» phrase was coined by the 442^nd RCT meaning give it your all. These segregated soldiers became the most highly decorated unit in military history. They suffered the highest casualties of any WW II unit. They rescued the «Lost Battalion» as well as helped to liberate Jewish survivors from a death march and sub-​camp of Dachau.
Their website is filled with lots of information plus interviews with hundreds of the veterans, who are now well into their 80’s.
Go for Broke National Education Center:
Little Tokyo Office
361 E. 1^st St
Los Angeles CA 90 012
213−625−0780