Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers - by Lawrence Matsuda (Paperback)

About the Book

"... tells the stories of six courageous Japanese American soldiers from the Pacific Northwest who volunteered to fight in the combined 442nd Regimental Combat Team with the 100th Infantry Battalion during World War II."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The last installment in a series of graphic novels that began with We Hereby Refuse (Washington State Book Award Finalist) and Those Who Helped Us:

This book tells the stories of six courageous Japanese American soldiers from the Pacific Northwest who volunteered to fight in the combined 442nd Regimental Combat Team with the 100th Infantry Battalion during World War II.

While their friends and family were incarcerated in American concentration camps, Nisei soldiers fought heroically in the most dangerous missions on the European front. Adapted from interviews by Lawrence Matsuda and brought to life by Matt Sasaki's dynamic illustrations, Fighting for America preserves and honors the stories of six veterans who made a significant mark on American history.

Shiro Kashino, Army Infantry Sergeant

Frank Nishimura, Army Infantry

Jimmie Kanaya, Army Medic

Roy Matsumoto, Military Intelligence in the Pacific

Tosh Yasutake, Army Medic

Teruyuki "Turk" Susuki, Army Infantry

Review Quotes

With engaging biographies, Matsuda and Sasaki succinctly relate the Japanese American experience during World War II. Sasaki's intense illustrations leap off the page!
-Ken Mochizuki, author of Those Who Helped Us

Matt Sasaki's illustrations are refreshingly original, beautifully expressive, and perfectly supplement the stories about the heroic achievements of six American patriots. Whether you favor reading or looking at graphic novels, this one is definitely worth your time.
-Roger Shimomura, artist

Praise for We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration

It leaves you simultaneously furious, questioning ideas of loyalty and citizenship ... and deeply moved. May all of us learn, and share, these stories.
-Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times

Highly recommended for high school and college classrooms.
-Terry Hong, Booklist

About the Author

Lawrence Matsuda was born in the Minidoka, Idaho Concentration Camp during World War II. An acclaimed writer, he has written three books of poetry, a fourth in collaboration with Tess Gallagher. Portions of Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers were the basis for animation by the Seattle Channel and won Regional Emmys. His novel based on his mother's life, My Name is Not Viola, was published by Endicott and Hugh Books.

Matt Sasaki is an artist on another volume in this series, We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration. He lives with his wife and an old dog north of Seattle. Samples of his other work are online at mattsasaki.com.