The members of the 442nd were admitted to the Legion of Honor, France’s highest honor. (Photo provided by the Seattle NVC)
Four Seattle-area Nisei World War II veterans received the rank of chevalier of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor on Sept. 1 at a ceremony hosted at the Nisei Veterans Committee Foundation Memorial Hall. The veterans, including Frank Matsuda, Frank Nishimura, Jimmy Yamaguchi, and William Yasutake received the honor for their service in the liberation of France as part of the U.S. Army’s 442nd Infantry Regiment, a regiment composed of Japanese American enlisted men under the command of mostly white officers. The ranks were awarded by Honorary Consul of France Jack Cowan and will add to the regiment’s position as the most highly-decorated army regiment in U.S. history.
At the event, Ben Matsumoto, also of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal by Major General James Collins. Matsumoto is currently in line to receive the rank of chevalier in the Legion of Honor. (end)
For more information about Seattle’s Nisei veterans, visit the Nisei Veterans Committee website at www.seattlenvc.org.