The NISEI Soldier Congressional Gold Medal
Honoring the Japanese American World War II soldiers who fought in the service of the United States
Patriotism. Citizenship. Courage. Compassion. Perseverance. Humility.
This exhibition presents the extraordinary life stories of 12 Nisei soldiers who served in the US Armed Forces in World War II. While some had families in America’s concentration camps, all served with a highly uncommon and commendable sense of patriotism and honor. This is their American story.
Explore Stories
The Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is awarded to persons or groups whose achievements have impacted American history and culture and is recognized as a major achievement in their fields. Learn more about its history and how the Nisei Soldiers attained this recognition.
The Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor awarded to an individual for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. It is presented by the President of the United States in the name of Congress. Originally, only one Japanese American received the Medal of Honor for service in World War II. Fifty years later, twenty more Nisei soldiers were upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
Legacy of Loyalty
Nearly 18,000 served in the segregated unit of the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service, and Occupation of Japan. Although loyalty of all Japanese Americans was questioned, all of the soldiers who made up these units sacrificed and proved their loyalty in service to their country, the United States.
Life in American Concentration Camps
Executive Order 9066 forced the removal of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast during World War II. Incarcerated behind barbed wire, families and young men were challenged to make difficult choices as a result of a loyalty questionnaire imposed by the US government. Explore the different choices made by these young men that changed the course of their lives.
From Exclusion to Representing America
The journey of Japanese Americans in America began in the late 1890s when the first generation of Japanese arrived in Hawaii and the mainland United States. Learn about their struggles and achievements, from being one of the most hated races to their successes today.
Resources
For in depth information about the Japanese American World War II experience, explore the rich resources developed by organizations nationwide.
Densho
Densho’s mission is to preserve the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II before their memories are extinguished. Densho offers irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images and teacher resources, to explore principles of democracy and promote equal justice for all.
More ›Smithsonian: A More Perfect Union
A More Perfect Union explores a period in US history when racial prejudice and fear upset the delicate balance between the rights of a citizen and the power of the state. Focused on the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II, this online exhibit is a case study in decision-making and citizen action under the US Constitution. Search more than 800 artifacts in the Smithsonian collection based upon the 1987 exhibition.
More ›Go for Broke National Education Center
The Go for Broke National Education Center's mission is to educate and inspire character and equality through the virtue and valor of our World War II American veterans of Japanese ancestry. It offers more than 700 online interviews, lesson plans, and historical resources. The public can visit the Defining Courage exhibition and Go for Broke Monument in Los Angeles, California.
More ›National Japanese American Historical Society
The National Japanese American Historical Society is dedicated to the collection, preservation, authentic interpretation, and sharing of historical information of the Japanese American experience. It operates the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center in the Presidio of San Francisco, California, that features exhibits, a mock-up language school classroom, and displays from its collection of over 10,000 artifacts, documents, and objects.
More ›Honorable Journey
Honorable Journey: The Untold Story of Japanese Americans During World War II is a 16-minute film that charts the 70-year struggle of Japanese Americans who came of age during the war. Narrated by George Takei, the film features conflicts of loyalty to tradition, family, and country, played out against the backdrop of World War II.
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