Peek in the Park: Replica Military Honor Roll

During the 2023 Pilgrimage, Lead Ranger Emily Teraoka unveiled Minidoka National Historic Site’s updated Honor Roll, listing an additional 140 names since the National Park Service started seeking additional names to add to the board. These names include women who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps along with individuals who served in the Military Intelligence Language School. 

While incarcerated at Minidoka, 300 men initially volunteered for the 442nd, the segregated Japanese American combat unit. Their motto, “Go For Broke” rang true as the 442nd became the most decorated unit in military history for length and time of service. 

On October 14, 1943, Issei artists Kamekichi Tokita and Kenjiro Nomura unveiled the Minidoka Honor Roll, listing initially the names of those who volunteered for military service. After the reinstatement of the draft for nisei in 1944, incarcerated Japanese Americans added two additional boards to include the names of those drafted.

Thank you to Ranger Emily Teraoka for her year-long work on this project!