Ben Kuroki, Japanese-American WWII war hero who flew over Japan, dies at age 98

Foxnews ^ | 09/06/2015 | AP

[DFG]

Ben Kuroki, who overcame the American military's discriminatory policies to become the only Japanese American to fly over Japan during World War II, has died. He was 98.

Kuroki died Tuesday at his Camarillo, California, home, where he was under hospice care, his daughter Julie Kuroki told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday.

The son of Japanese immigrants who was raised on a Hershey, Nebraska, farm, Kuroki and his brother, Fred, volunteered for service after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.

They were initially rejected by recruiters who questioned the loyalty of the children of Japanese immigrants. Undeterred, the brothers drove 150 miles to another recruiter, who allowed them to sign up.

[fso301]

Same policies existed for the children of German immigrants

[skeeter]

Well God bless Mr Kuroki for his service.

But I sure get tired of stories reminding us of what a bunch of small minded a-holes Americans are/were. Things always look different in the rear view mirror.

[odawg]

“...who overcame the American military’s discriminatory policies...”

Will there ever come a time when the label “American discriminatory policies” will be laid to rest, as if it is exclusively American? This man was in fact allowed into the service, and his parents were allowed into the United States. Every nation on earth since the dawn of time has had discriminatory policies, and most much more severe than the United States. Americans are so pure in this matter that they are willing to give away their country to prove they are not discriminatory. When they are homeless, maybe that will comfort them.

[Bobalu]

There was a concern at the time that some members of the public might attack Japanese Americans... I wonder if that would have happened if they were not placed in camps?

[skeeter]

As post 4 points out, Mr Kuroki's family was allowed to immigrate here, along with tens of thousands of other non Europeans, prior to WWII.

Isn't that at direct odds with the 'White Americans are racist jerks' narrative?

[Bobalu]

Yup, I doubt much retaliation against Japanese Americans would have occurred.

WW2 did end the popular “Mr Moto” series of films...Moto was supposed to be Japanese but was played by Peter Lorre.

There was little demand for films starring a super-smart Japanese detective after Pear Harbor.

http://www.imdb.com/find?ref_=nv_sr_fn&q=Mr+Moto&s=all

[Timber Rattler]

The fact of the matter is that these Japanese-Americans were second and third generation citizens of this country, and the FDR (Democrat!) government came in, trampled all over their constitutional rights, seized their homes and personal property (which they never got back), and shipped them off to internment camps, usually out in the desert and/or on Indian reservations.

So yeah, in this particular case, America treated them extremely poorly, and should be held accountable for it.

[Vermont Lt]

They were held accountable for it.

I think we learned our lesson. But, I wonder how many Muslims would beg to disagree.

[g.orwell]

“...who overcame the American military’s discriminatory policies...”

...They talk as if discriminating is a bad thing. Without it we would surely die from something we ate, decided to do or generally making bad choices.

[MikeSteelBe]

My grandfather was the child of German immigrants, and he served with the 7th ID in WWI. Times changed.

[skeeter]

In terms of how they were treated by their fellow soldiers, I believe Nisei who served in the imperial military faired less well than Japanese Americans did over here.

[Thud]

Kuroki flew the first Ploesti raid in B-24. Look him up on Wikipedia and check the reference. He had stones. RIP.

[roadcat]

The fact of the matter is that these Japanese-Americans were second and third generation citizens of this country, and the FDR (Democrat!) government came in, trampled all over their constitutional rights, seized their homes and personal property (which they never got back), and shipped them off to internment camps, usually out in the desert and/or on Indian reservations.

I believe as little as 1/8th Japanese blood served to make an American suspect, and they were placed in internment (concentration) camps. There were mixed race marriages, and many (white) spouses were interned as well with their Japanese-American spouse. Clearly a loss of constitutional rights, as there was no attempt to differentiate between loyal Americans and those who were suspected to have ties to Japan. Japanese-Americans assimilated into American culture. Contrast that to all the Mexican-Americans today who embrace Mexican culture and are trying to tear down our government, which is enabled by liberals.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.