Ben Kuroki Ben Kuroki ( born May 16 , 1917 ) flew a total of 58 combat missions during World War II , and is the only Japanese - American in the United States Army Air Forces to serve in combat operations in the Pacific theater of World War II . Biography . Ben Kuroki was born in Gothenburg , Nebraska , United States to Japanese - American immigrants , Shosuke and Naka ( née Yokoyama ) Kuroki on May 16 , 1917 . They had 10 children . When he was a year old the Kuroki family relocated to Hershey , Nebraska , where they owned and operated a farm . The Lincoln County town had a population of about 500 . He attended Hershey High School and was the Vice - President of his senior class , graduating in 1936 . After the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 , Ben ' s father encouraged him as well as his brother Fred Kuroki to enlist in the U . S . Military . The brothers were rejected by the recruiters in Grand Island , so they tried again at North Platte , where their enlistment was processed without any questions — perhaps , as a humorous story suggests , the recruiters thought that Kuroki was a Polish name . Kuroki said this recruiter said nationality was not a problem as he made $ 2 for every recruit . His brothers Bill and Henry also served in the military during the war . The two Kuroki brothers enlisted in the U . S . Army , two of the very first Nisei to do so . In January 1942 , they were sent to basic training at Sheppard Field , Texas . Military career . Assigned to the 93rd Bombardment Group at Fort Myers , Florida , he was told that Japanese - Americans would not be allowed to serve overseas . In 1942 Kuroki petitioned his commanding officer and was allowed to work as a clerk for the Eighth Air Force at a base in England . The need for aerial gunners was high and after Kuroki volunteered , he was sent to gunnery school for two weeks and became a top turret gunner on a B - 24 Liberator , the most widely produced American heavy bomber to be used by Allied forces in World War II . Kuroki was in a B - 24 that crash landed in Spanish Morocco and was captured by Spanish authorities . His crew was released by the Spanish after three months . After the U . S . Department of State secured his release , he returned to England and rejoined his squadron . On August 1 , 1943 , he participated in the dangerous bombing mission known as Operation " Tidal Wave " , an effort to destroy the major oil refinery located in Ploesti , Romania . Kuroki flew 30 combat missions in the European theater , when the regular enlistment only required 25 . After a medical review , he was allowed to fly 5 more missions above the mandated enlistment . Kuroki said he did so for his brother Fred , who was still stationed stateside . On his 30th mission he was slightly injured when his gun turret was hit by flak . During rest and recovery back in the United States , Kuroki was directed by the Army to visit a number of Japanese American internment camps in order to encourage able - bodied males to enlist in the U . S . military . Kuroki was the subject of a number of news articles including one in Time $ 2agazine . Kuroki requested but was denied the opportunity to participate in the Pacific theater . Only after the intervention of Henry Stimson , the Secretary of War was that request granted . Kuroki was later permitted to join the crew of a B - 29 Superfortress ( who named its plane " Sad Saki " after Kuroki ) in the 484th Squadron , 505th Bombardment Group , 20th U . S . Army Air Force , based on Tinian Island . Kuroki then participated in another 28 bombing missions over mainland Japan and other locations . Kuroki is the only Japanese American known to have participated in air combat missions in the Pacific theater of operations during the war . Kuroki was awarded one Distinguished Flying Cross for his 25 missions in Europe and another for participation in the Ploesti raid . By the end of the war , he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross a total of three times as well as the Air Medal with five oak leaf cluster s . By the end of the war , Ben Kuroki had completed 58 combat missions . Advocacy efforts . Fiercely patriotic , but understanding first hand some of the racial and other inequalities minorities had to endure , Kuroki continued to speak about the need for racial equality and against prejudice . He engaged in a series of speaking tours discussing these issues , which he funded with his own savings and with minor donations , including proceeds from Ralph G . Martin ' s biography written about him entitled " " Boy From Nebraska : The Story of Ben Kuroki " " . When asked about his battle to overcome prejudice which almost prevented him from being allowed to participate in overseas aerial combat missions , Kuroki stated , " I had to fight like hell for the right to fight for my own country " . Post - military career . Kuroki later attended the University of Nebraska , attaining a Bachelor ' s degree in journalism in 1950 . He was a reporter and editor for a number of newspapers in several different states , retiring in 1984 . On August 12 , 2005 , Kuroki was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his impressive combat participation during the war and for overcoming numerous incidents of prejudice . He was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of Nebraska on August 13 , 2005 and is the subject of the Public Broadcasting Service documentary " " Most Honorable Son : Ben Kuroki ' s Amazing War Story " " .