Photograph of Family Dinner
date: label: date made
content: circa 1940s
notes: label: Description
content: This photograph is of a family dinner, and Kazuo Masuda is pictured in the middle of his family members and family friends. Kazuo Masuda was killed in action in Italy and received a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross. The photographer was probably his brother, Masuo Masuda, who was an amateur photographer imprisoned in the prison camps with his family. Japanese Americans were relocated to these prison camps during WWII following Executive Order 9066.
label: Description
content: This photo was the last time Kazuo Masuda was pictured with his family before his death.
label: Description
content: Kazuo Masuda was a Nisei and American World War II hero who was killed in action in Italy on August 27, 1944. His heroic actions led to a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross medal award. Kazuo Masuda was born on November 30, 1918, and he was drafted into Selective Service in 1940. His family was among those rounded up for the prison camps, and they were sent to Jerome, Arkansas, and Gila River in Arizona.
label: Description
content: Because of the war, Masuda was barred from serving active duty until the 442nd Regimental Combat Team unit was formed. Masuda shipped off to Italy, assigned to the “F” Company, 2nd Battalion of the 442nd unit. Masuda would never return while he was alive. Masuda’s family received the news of his death by way of Western Union telegram in the Gila River Relocation Camp in Arizona. Masao saved the telegram.
label: Description
content: It was Masuda’s actions in Italy that earned him the posthumous medal—on July 6, 1944, his observation post came under heavy enemy fire. Masuda crawled two-hundred-yards to secure a mortar tube and ammunition, then returned to his post. For twelve continuous hours, Masuda fired on the enemy, successfully turning back two major counteroffensives and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. That August, on the 27th, Masuda sacrificed himself to save his men. He voluntarily led two men on a night patrol along the banks of the Arno River in Italy. Masuda heard noises, and ordered the two men to stay behind as he scouted ahead on his belly. Masuda swiftly realized he was trapped by the enemy, and he told the two men to withdraw while he courageously confronted two automatic weapons by himself. Masuda was killed by enemy fire, but his actions saved the lives of his comrades, and they were available to deliver valuable information that led to the successful crossing across the Arno River.
label: Description
content: Staff Sergeant Kazuo Masuda now has a middle school named after him in Fountain Valley, California. His story is featured in a book titled From the Battlefields to the Homefront: The Kazuo Masuda Legacy, written by Russell K. Shoho. Staff Sergeant Kazuo Masuda’s story was essential to the Redress Movement as well; his sister reminded then-President Ronald Reagan of Masuda’s story and his heroic actions, which influenced the President to sign the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
label: Description
content: In the 1980’s, the Redress Movement seeking reparations and a government apology for the exclusion and incarceration of Japanese Americans passed in the House in September, 1987. It was soon to pass in the Senate, and so Redress organizers turned their attention on President Ronald Reagan. Their goal was to convince him to sign the bill when it appeared on his desk, fighting attempts to convince him not to sign it. Governor Thomas Kean of New Jersey, and June Masuda Goto, Kazuo’s sister, convinced Reagan to sign the bill. June reminded President Reagan of her brother’s sacrifice and Reagan’s own speech in 1945 in Santa Ana, California supporting Kazuo Masuda and his family.
label: Description
content: President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and recalled his role in the Masuda legacy.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: World War II
label: related event
content: World War II
setName: label: See more items in
content: Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Japanese American
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Masao Masuda
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2015.0105.086
label: accession number
content: 2015.0105
label: catalog number
content: 2015.0105.086
objectType: label: Object Name
content: photograph
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 3 3/4 in x 6 1/2 in; 9.525 cm x 16.51 cm