Go For Broke

If you find yourself in the Los Angeles area, you’ll add to your sense of pride in our country by visiting the Go For Broke memorial in downtown L.A.

I was privileged to visit the memorial for the first time with my family last week. Sunshine poured down on the city as we navigated through the freeways and busy streets. The Japanese American visitors center was closed that day, but just beyond it was the memorial.

This is a beautiful tribute to the brave and tireless members of the 100/442nd/MIS Regimental Combat Team. The all-Japanese American (Nisei) unit served as United States soldiers in combat all over the world, beginning during World War II, from 1942 to 1946.

Their story is so unique to their time, and yet they exemplified what we would like to call an American response. I like this quote of Harry Truman on the left side of the monument:

“You fought not only the enemy…you fought prejudice, and won.”

The name, “Go For Broke”, comes from the RCT motto, which originated with the 100th Hawaiian members. Their favorite way to pass the long hours was gambling, and when they played, they would bet everything they had, and “go for broke.” This attitude of all-or-nothing bled over to the battlefield. This Unit bet everything they had on every task. Many died, but not before accomplishing above and beyond what was required of them.

The symbol on their regimental uniform patch is Lady Liberty’s hand holding the torch high, encased in a coffin.

Etched in the black granite stone from end to end on the back side are the names of each Nisei serviceman and servicewoman, more than 16,000. That’s sixteen thousand!

The website has a name locator, which we used to find Mr. Higashi.

Thank you, Mr. Higashi, and all of your fellow soldiers for your devotion to our country. We can’t thank you enough, and we shouldn’t stop trying.

If you know a member of the 100/442nd, comment about them below.

Visit www.goforbroke.org for more information about the 442nd, and also the memorial.