100th Infantry Battalion Veterans - Club 100

The following article announces that Club 100 donated the WWII letters written to LTC Farrant Turner from his American soldiers of Japanese ancestry, to the Hawaiʻi State Archives. The Colonel’s grandsons, Jay O. “Jot” Turner and Rev. David Turner, were present at the rite of passage ceremony.

Archivist Dr. Adam Jansen was so appreciative and will blow the pū (conch) to share the aloha of the 100th across the world. We pray the letters will show the path to peace and understanding across our human race. The sea-change will start from our islands.

Mahalo to Honolulu Star-Advertiser for this article, and Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services for the support. 🙏🏻✨

100th Battalion correspondence from WWII era to be digitized | Honolulu Star-Advertiser The Hawaii State Archives is starting a new initiative to preserve history related to the legendary 100th Infantry Battalion after receiving a trove of letters that belonged to the unit’s first commander.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Hawaiʻi State Archives for accepting the historic letters written by soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion to their first commanding officer, LTC Farrant L. Turner. We deeply appreciate their partnership in preserving and sharing the significance of the Turner letters and the enduring legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion. These letters were donated by the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100), and a formal ceremony marking the transfer of ownership was held on March 20, 2026, at the Hawaiʻi State Archives.

Speakers included Club 100 President Kathi Hayashi, State Archivist Dr. Adam Jansen, and Jay O. "Jot" Turner and Rev. David Baumgart Turner, grandsons of Lt. Colonel Farrant L. Turner. Also in attendance were members of the Club 100 Board of Directors and Hawaiʻi State Archives staff.

Jot Turner, grandson of LTC Turner, expressed his support for the donation, stating, “Today, these letters become a treasure for the State of Hawaiʻi. They are primary sources written from tents on the ground in Italy and France, sharing day-to-day experiences of the 100th Battalion soldiers. They reflect aspirations, dreams, and a deep pride in serving as Americans defending our nation. They remind us that we are all Americans, regardless of our ethnicity.”

State Archivist Dr. Adam Jansen emphasized the historical importance of the collection and thanked Club 100 for entrusting the State Archives with its care.

Dr. Jansen surprised attendees at the ceremony with his announcement that he is allowed ONE submission for America250 and the Turner letters will be his one submission. He said he cannot think of a better example of what America stands for. He said, “THIS is our contribution. Honor. Duty. Sacrifice. Patriotism. THIS is what it means to be an American.”

We felt that these letters to LTC Farrant Turner should be housed with the Hawaiʻi State Archives, under the careful watch of Dr. Jansen, to ensure their long-term preservation in a secure, climate-controlled environment, where irreplaceable records of Hawaiʻi’s history are protected and accessible to future generations.

By entrusting the Archives, we hope these letters will reach a wider audience and share their profound “mana” — the spiritual energy carried through each handwritten word. They will feel the love and trust between a Caucasian commanding officer and his soldiers of Japanese ancestry, and how the 100th fought against tyranny and proved loyal Americans come in all colors and deserve equal rights.

For more about the Turner Letters, please visit our website: https://www.100thibv.org/post/turner-letters

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📷: Turner Letters ceremony at the Hawai‘i State Archives, held on March 20. [Photo courtesy: DAGS / Hawai’i State Archives]

#第100歩兵大隊 Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services

Sharing this post in memory of 100th Infantry Battalion Medal of Honor recipient, Shinyei Nakamine (Baker Co.)

Please join us at Waiʻanae District Park for "The Shinyei Nakamine and 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Park Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Waiʻanae District Park
85-601 Farrington Highway
Waiʻanae, HI 96792

Please join us in honoring the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of these remarkable soldiers.

Shinyei Nakamine was the eldest of four, born in 1920 to Kame and Ushi Nakamine. He grew up in Waianae, Oahu, and was inducted into the U.S. Army in November 1941. His youngest sister, Anita Korenaga recalls, “he came in his motorcycle to bid me farewell at the elementary school. Did I ever shine! That is the last time I saw my brother.”

In 1942, Shinyei Nakamine became a member of the original 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), Company B. Anita heard that a train carrying her brother and other soldiers would be passing through Waianae, on its way to the harbor. She ran to Pokai Bay train station, arriving just in time to wave with a smile “to the blur of men’s faces” as the train passed by. She recalls crying the whole way home and wondered whether her brother had caught glimpse of her. A few months later, she received a photograph from her brother in the mail, of his view of her from the train, waving goodbye.

Anita recalls writing a letter for her mother while her brother was training at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, asking the General to buy a cake for him on his 22nd birthday. They enclosed money for the cake, and received a photo of him holding the huge birthday cake.

Shinyei Nakamine trained and fought with the 100th Infantry Battalion until he was killed in action near La Torreta, Italy on June 2, 1944, at the age of 24. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously, which was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2000. Anita was the beneficiary of his war bonds, which financed her education, giving her “a wonderful career and life.” #第100歩兵大隊

Read more about Shinyei Nakamine here.
https://www.100thbattalion.org/archives/photos/n-s/shinyei-nakamine/

[Photo courtesy of: 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Education Center; Shinyei Nakamine (B) Collection, courtesy Anita Korenaga]

***Please note that this event, previously scheduled for April 11, has been RESCHEDULED to April 23 (THU), at 10 a.m.

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We extend our sincere mahalo to Mayor Rick Blangiardi, the Honolulu City Council, Councilmember Andria Tupola, and all those involved in naming Waiʻanae District Park the “Shinyei Nakamine and 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Park.”

Honolulu City Council Resolution 25-149, FD1 approved June 4, 2025, states in part:

“WHEREAS, Shinyei Nakamine was born and raised in Wai’anae and exemplified extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving in the United States Army during World War II, ultimately sacrificing his life in battle on June 2, 1944, near La Torreto, Italy; and

WHEREAS, Private Nakamine posthumously received the Medal of Honor from the United States Armed Forces for his courage, which included eliminating multiple enemy positions and capturing several enemy soldiers while leading his platoon under heavy machine gunfire; and

WHEREAS, the 100th Infantry Battalion, known as the “Purple Heart Battalion,” was a segregated unit of second-generation Japanese Americans who served with unparalleled distinction despite facing racial discrimination and whose legacy reflects the triumph of patriotism over prejudice; and

WHEREAS, renaming the Wai’anae District Park after Shinyei Nakamine and the 100th Infantry Battalion would create a lasting tribute to both a local hero and a historic military unit that embodied sacrifice, loyalty, and courage; and

WHEREAS, the renaming would also provide educational opportunities for visitors and foster a sense of pride within the Wai’anae community by honoring one of the community’s own members who displayed the highest ideals of service…”

First honored in 2004 with the naming of the Shinyei Nakamine Gymnasium Complex, Waiʻanae now continues that legacy with the dedication of the Shinyei Nakamine and 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Park. The 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) deeply appreciates the recognition of the sacrifices of Shinyei Nakamine (Baker Co.) and his “One Puka Puka” unit from Hawaiʻi (“puka” means hole in Hawaiian, symbolizing the zero in 100).

This is the first known municipal park named in honor of the 100th Infantry Battalion.

In this year marking the 250th birthday of America, it is fitting to remember that loyal Americans come in all colors. The 100th Infantry Battalion led to the formation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and together they would become one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history.

Thank you for honoring the 100th — the Hawaiʻi-born vanguard composed of the first Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJA) with “boots on the ground” in European combat and the first AJA unit to receive a Presidential Unit Citation. We remember and honor the many sacrifices they made for us.

Please join us at the dedication ceremony:

The Shinyei Nakamine and 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Park Dedication Ceremony
April 23, 2026, Thursday, at 10 a.m.
Waiʻanae District Park
85-601 Farrington Highway, Waiʻanae, HI 96792

Please join us as we honor the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of these remarkable soldiers.

#第100歩兵大隊

Mahalo to Pacific Historic Parks for this video and for helping us to share the story of the 100th and 442nd soldiers with new audiences worldwide.

The Nisei Soldiers of the 100th and 442nd This film shares the powerful story of the Nisei (second generation) soldiers from Hawai‘i. Young men of Japanese ancestry who chose to serve their country e...

Club 100 requested a Hawaiʻi legislative bill introduced by Senator Carol Fukunaga (SB 2687) and Representative Adrian Tam (HB 1942) titled the “Hawaii 100th Infantry Battalion Curriculum and Heritage Act.”

The intent is not to boast about the 100th — our 100th patriarchs would not have wanted that. They were humble men. The purpose is for students to understand what happened in Hawaiʻi when it was attacked on December 7, 1941, by the Imperial Japanese Navy at Pearl Harbor and other sites on Oʻahu. More than 2,400 Americans were killed. In the aftermath of the attack, fear and suspicion spread across the United States.

The 1,432 soldiers of the 100th were already serving in the U.S. Army and remained in uniform at a time when Japanese American men were labeled “enemy aliens” and barred from military service. They stood among a population of about 280,000 people of Japanese ancestry living in the United States — approximately 160,000 in Hawaiʻi and about 120,000 on the U.S. mainland.

The 100th was a small group, composing only about 0.5% of the Japanese-ancestry population in the United States at the time. While residents in Hawaiʻi were living under martial law and persons of Japanese ancestry on the U.S. mainland were incarcerated under Executive Order 9066, these soldiers bore a tremendous responsibility. As the first segregated combat unit composed of Americans of Japanese ancestry, the 100th sought to demonstrate their loyalty and to help build a positive legacy for people of Japanese descent and for all people of color in America.

Students will learn the high-performance values demonstrated by the 100th, which, together with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, became one of the most highly decorated units in United States military history. Their story is of resilience, loyalty, humility, and service — values that continue to inspire. Through their actions, the 100th and 442nd helped restore pride and affirm the principles of citizenship, while also opening doors toward greater equal opportunity and contributing to the eventual desegregation of the United States Armed Forces.

We thank all who submitted testimony, and Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi and his staff, with whom Club 100 is working to develop accurate curriculum. The bill has passed the Education Committee, the Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. We remain hopeful as it proceeds through the legislative process.

Mahalo to KITV4 Island News for this story about the bill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmLvCAP2DDA

To learn more about the bill, please visit SB2687 SD1: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2687&year=2026
Or HB1942: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1942&year=2026

#第100歩兵大隊

100th Battalion history could soon be taught in Hawaii schools A new bill could bring the history of Hawaii's 100th Battalion into public school classrooms. The Senate Ways and Means committee will review this initiative...

Representatives of 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans - Club 100 attended the National Opening Weekend of the “I Am An American - Nisei Soldier Experience Traveling Exhibit” in San Francisco. As a $25,000 Honor Circle Sponsor, we support the objective of this exhibit to showcase the legacy of the highly decorated American units of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service. These Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJA) proved their loyalty to their country beyond doubt.

Beyond the well-designed panel displays and artifacts, the speeches, panel discussions and soldiers’ tributes reminded the audience of the racial tension faced by those of Japanese ethnicity following the attack on Pearl Harbor and other military bases on Oahu. It was inspiring to see how the AJA soldiers regained their pride and proved their loyalty through action.

Club 100 member and former president Jan Sakoda and her family donated her father’s satchel to the exhibit. Sgt. Gary Uchida artfully penned graphics and words on the satchel to remember the places he trained and saw battle and the emotions he experienced. During a panel discussion, Jan said she thought her father was homesick for Hawai‘i, as he drew a Hawaiian fish — the “humuhumunukunukuāpua‘a” — along with other Hawaiian words and symbols. The satchel was one of the favorites among the 40 artifacts displayed.

Best wishes to the “I Am An American” Exhibit for success in honoring this extraordinary legacy.

For more on the traveling exhibit, see: https://nvnvets.org/nisei-soldier-traveling-exhibit/

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📷: [Top left photo] Satchel belonging to Sgt. Gary Uchida. [Top right photo] Club 100 member Major General Jason Kamiya (Ret.) and his wife, Carmen. General Kamiya delivered an outstanding keynote address, inspiring all in attendance. [Bottom photo] Club 100 members and friends enjoying a weekend of events, camaraderie, and shared pride in the accomplishments of AJA soldiers. [Photo courtesy: Kathi Hayashi, President, 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100)]

#第100歩兵大隊 National Veterans Network National Museum of the United States Army Army Historical Foundation

Club 100 is proud to partner with Mānoa Valley Theatre to present “Voices to Courage: Hawaiʻi’s One Puka Puka Heroes,” a summer theater program dedicated to honoring the legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion — the first segregated unit of Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJA) to serve in World War II.

Running June 15 through July 12, 2026, this innovative educational and artistic program invites middle and high school students to step into history through performance, storytelling, and civic engagement. Together, the Club 100 and Mānoa Valley Theatre aim to empower Hawaiʻi’s youth to engage deeply with themes of Belonging, Sacrifice, and Voice — the struggles and triumphs of the soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the families who supported them.

The program will culminate in two public performances on July 11 and 12, 2026, offering students the opportunity to share their work with the broader community.

To participate in this program or for more information, please visit our website at https://www.100thibv.org/post/one-puka-puka-youth-theatre

#第100歩兵大隊

Honoring the Legacy of Hawaiʻi’s One Puka Puka Heroes Through Youth and Theatre Honoring the legacy of Hawaiʻi’s One Puka Puka Heroes through youth and theatre with a meaningful new partnership with Mānoa Valley Theatre. "Voices to Courage: Hawaiʻi’s One Puka Puka Heroes," is a summer theater program in 2026 dedicated to honoring the legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalio...

The 5th Annual 100th Infantry Battalion Legacy2Action (L2A) initiative, created in partnership with 'Iolani School, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Aging and Central Pacific Bank, is open for registration. You do not need to live in Hawaii to participate. To register, please visit: https://www.100thibv.org/post/legacy2action-2026-application

All you need is a passion for resolving a social issue you’ve identified, a willingness to learn the high-performance values of the 100th that we will share, and the motivation to design a community service solution. You are not required to fully complete implementation of your plan, although it’s wonderful if you have taken steps toward making it happen.

Here is a testimonial from last year’s L2A participant, Kayla: “I am also happy to share that I have been accepted attend Harvard. I am still in shock! I know that this positive outcome is no small part because of the lessons that you all have imparted on me; your dedication to furthering your fathers' legacies is the foundation of my film. Because of your support, I did not just advance far in the National History Day program or college applications, but I have grown into a storyteller more passionate about preserving history and amplifying patriotism in my community. In fact, an admissions officer from Harvard reached out to me individually and shared: ‘I really enjoyed learning about your passion for impactful storytelling - you certainly have a gift (and I loved watching your "Most Loyal Traitors" film... so well done!).’ I will continue to seek and document impactful stories like the Nisei's for the rest of my life!”

Middle and High school students: Please join us by completing the registration form. Waivers are available for college students to participate also — please send note to [email protected]

#第100歩兵大隊

Legacy2Action 2026 - Application Join Legacy2Action 2026 to discover high-performance values and create solutions for Hawaiʻi's future. Apply now for Legacy2Action today!

Thank you to U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), in partnership with the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH), for honoring seven World War II UH Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets during a posthumous commissioning ceremony at Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial State Park on January 26, 2026. Much appreciation to U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll for approving the posthumous commissioning, and to America for striving toward a more perfect Union by correcting an error of the past.

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📷: 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) President Kathi Hayashi holds a photo of 100th Infantry Battalion Staff Sgt. Grover Nagaji, one of seven ROTC cadets who were posthumously commissioned on January 26, 2026. S/Sgt. Nagaji was killed during the Battle of Belvedere, where the 100th earned its first Presidential Unit Citation. Treasurer Dr. Eric Tsukamoto proudly unfurls the 100th colors. [Photo courtesy: Howard High, President of the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA), Washington, D.C.]

For more on the ceremony, see: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/01/27/hawaii-news/world-war-ii-nisei-soldiers-receive-posthumous-promotions/

#第100歩兵大隊