eleven.eleven.eleven

Today's date is pretty awesome!  Not only is it just a cool number, but it's Veteran's Day as well.  Tyson's school puts on an annual Veteran's Day program (by the 5th graders).  It was a really well done program, honoring our Veterans.  Toward the end of the program, they had all of the Veteran's who were in the audience stand and tell about when they served in the military.  It was really touching, especially, to see the ones who are still in the military.  You could tell the pride that they all have for our country.

Each 5th grader was assigned to write an essay and each teacher chose 2 kids from each class to read theirs for the program.  My dad helped Tyson to write an essay about his great-grandpa, Arthur Nishimoto (my grandpa).  It was chosen as one of the essays for the program.  Tyson was pretty nervous to read it in front of so many people, but he did a great job.  During the program, I don't think there was one person who didn't get choked up.  It was awesome.  I am so thankful for our Veteran's today...especially my grandpa.  They had to edit out a little of the essay when he read it for the school (because it was too long), but here is the essay Tyson wrote:

“Go For Broke”

An essay about my Great-Grandpa Arthur Nishimoto; A War Hero And Veteran Of The US Army

By Tyson Hofheins

My great-grandfather, Arthur Nishimoto, was a WWII veteran. He is from Honolulu, Hawaii and he went and joined the United States Army in Hawaii as a young man of 18 years of age.

He was in the 442nd combat infantry. Their motto was “Go for broke”. He was an infantryman or also known as a foot soldier. This regiment of soldiers was all of Japanese descent and they were not only from Hawaii but other parts of our country including Utah. Some soldiers were also from the internment camps, here in Utah, where Japanese-American citizens were forced to live during the War.

My great-grandfather’s unit trained on the East coast and then they were shipped out to Europe. The first battle that my great-grandfather fought in was on June 26, 1944 at the city of Belvedere. They won this very hard battle. The next battle was on July 4, 1944. He fought on the shores of Italy and France.

When he went to France, he and his outfit battled the German soldiers. Some of the American soldiers in another infantry unit were losing a battle and many soldiers were wounded and killed. This group of soldiers was known as “The lost battalion”. My great-grandfather and his men went to rescue them and were successful. However, there were many casualties and many of the Japanese-American soldiers were killed from the 442nd infantry. My great-grandfather’s unit was also credited for saving many citizens of a town in France called Bruyers which the German soldiers were occupying. As the Japanese soldiers came into this town to liberate it, the French people were grateful and relieved. Some said, “Who are these soldiers?” We thought they would be “Tall Texans”. And they were surprised to see all the Japanese soldiers. A while ago they had a 50 Year Reunion and celebration and memorial service for all the soldiers. This celebration in Bruyers also had a War monument built in their town in honor of the soldiers that saved them. This event lasted a week in France. My great-grandfather was able to go here with my great-uncle. It was a very emotional experience for him.

During a military Regimental Review, all of the soldiers in my great-grandfather’s company were given medals by a general. The general was a little upset because there weren’t a lot of soldiers who were there. The officer who served under the general , who was over the company, told the high ranking officers that this is all there was because most of the men had died in combat.

My great-grandfather is mentioned and has his story told in the book Saints At War written by Robert C. Freeman and Dennis A. Wright.

He now lives in Las Vegas. In his office at his home are many medals and commendations from the War, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and also of post War duty. The Purple Heart is given for battle wounds during combat. He remained in the US Army and retired as a Colonel. He spent most of his career in the military intelligence branch of the Army.

When I talked to my great-grandfather the other day, he also told me that he and his war buddies were being presented with the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington, DC. The article was in the Salt Lake Tribune on Nov. 1st of this year. The first person to receive this medal was George Washington. It’s a great honor to receive this medal. I am very proud of my great-grandpa and all of the many veterans, who selflessly served our country and fight for our freedom. I think it would have been extremely frightening to fight in the World War II. Many people were killed and I am so thankful to my great-grandfather for having the courage to do what was right for his country.



3 Nishimoto generations (plus Grayson's head, ha ha).  I wish grandpa could have been here for this, but he lives too far away and is getting too old to travel.