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Contact: Diane Tanaka
310-328-0907

GO FOR BROKE NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER SELLING
"THE MEN OF COMPANY F" BOOK BY RONALD OBA

(TORRANCE, CALIF., June 27, 2006) – "The Men of Company F," a book written and published by Ronald Oba, encompasses recollections of Japanese American veterans, in their voices, with personal photos and historical background of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team with special emphasis on F Company's participation in the war effort. According to the book's forward, the goal is to preserve the story of the brave men of Company F, 442nd RCT and to ensure future generations understand the sacrifices they endured.

"The Men of Company F" discusses the conflict between the Hawaii-born and mainland recruits and how they overcame their differences. The usage of oral histories from Fox veterans in Hawaii and the mainland provides a "tell it like it was" approach, imperative to the understanding of how the "boys" worked as a cohesive unit during the war.

On author Oba's assignment as a cook of F Company, Danny Tanaka of Hawaii, recounted in the book, "At Camp Shelby I was placed in the 1st squad, 1st platoon. I was promoted to Sgt. of the first squad when Ron Oba was promoted for one day but Capt. Akins sent him to the mess hall as a cook, simply because he worked at Red Hill as a kitchen helper. I was wounded a total of three times before the war in Europe ended but each time I managed to make it back to Company F."

Oba also made it back. In his book, Oba describes being caught in battle between German and American tanks while trying to get rations to the front lines. When firing ceased, Oba learned that F Company was at the next hill. Oba and his detail, unaware of a mine-ridden vineyard between the two hills, set off to locate F Company. Upon returning to the first hill, the group was greeted with applause for not only delivering the rations, but for safely traversing the vineyard twice.

Oba, who resides in Hawaii, is currently the president of the 442nd RCT Club of Hawaii. He and many volunteers especially in Hawaii helped to publish this book. Oba unsparingly donated "The Men of Company F" to every public library in Hawaii and copies can also be purchased at the 442nd S Clubhouse in Hawaii.

To assist with distribution in the mainland, the Go For Broke National Education Center is selling "The Men of Company F" for $20 plus shipping and handling. For more information or to purchase "The Men of Company F," please contact Julia Tominaga at 310-222-5710 or Julia@goforbroke.org. Additionally, to hear Oba and other F Company veteran's life histories conducted by the Go For Broke National Education Center's Hanashi Oral History Program, go to www.goforbroke.org.

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