IN WHAT HE DUBBED HIS ‘ LAST MAJOR EVENT ,’ BEN KUROKI ( RIGHT ) WAS SALUTED AT THE HONORS IN 2010 . A FEW YEARS EARLIER , BEN ’ S STORY WAS THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY , MOST HONORABLE SON .
Ben Kuroki never wavered from his determination to serve his country . Not when some tried to block him from serving , nor when he was grounded from flying , or even when he was stabbed by a drunken service member enraged by his Japanese background .
The AVC recognized Ben Kuroki at its awards program – The Honors – in 2010 . I was particularly struck by his dignity and grace . It was largely Ben Kuroki ’ s story – his remarkable story of service in World War II , along with his humble dignity – that inspired us to turn The
Honors into the ‘ first awards show saluting our military heroes .’ Stories like Ben ’ s – like so many American heroes – should be known by ALL Americans , and it is our duty to share them as widely as possible .
“ I have the face of a Japanese but my heart is American ,” Ben Kuroki told The Omaha World-Herald when he learned he would be allowed to fly combat missions over Japan . Ben Kuroki ’ s American heart was as big as any in our country ’ s history , and we are all better for its having beat , strongly , for 98 years .
AVQ
YOU ’ VE READ THEIR STORIES ... NOW TELL US YOURS !
American Valor Quarterly is the only magazine dedicated to sharing veterans ’ personal accounts , in their own words .
But beyond just this magazine , The American Veterans Center & World War II Veterans Committee has thousands of veterans ’ personal and written histories , housed in our library and online at AmericanVeteransCenter . org .
If you are a veteran , and would like YOUR story preserved , there are three ways we can help !
1
Submit your story to be part of Home of the Brave , our Online Veterans Tribute . All stories are welcome , no matter how short or long . Family members of veterans are also invited to submit stories in their honor ! You can submit your story at :
Tribute @ americanveteranscenter . org
2
Mail us your story to be housed permanently in our library and archives . Mail to :
American Veterans Center Attn : Library Submission 1100 N . Glebe Rd . Suite 910 Arlington , VA 22201
Donald Mates , Marine veteran of Iwo Jima , shares his story during a recent interview at the AVC studios in Arlington , Virginia .
3
If you will be in the Washington , DC area , veterans are invited to have their personal stories filmed , for posterity , in our state of the art television and video studios . Your interview will be recorded on HD cameras and professionally lit , with DVDs provided to you and your family and submitted to the Library of Congress ’ Veterans History Project - all free of charge !
To schedule your interview , call 703-302-1012 ext . 214
As all who have served can attest , your service left an impact on your life during a very formative time . Our mission is to help you record your own story , so that future generations can learn from your own example . And to all veterans , THANK YOU for your service .
38 AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY