BUY RONALD OBA'S "THE MEN OF COMPANY F" AT THE GO FOR BROKE NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER

"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 F Company (known as "Fox" company) 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.

Oba, who was assigned as a cook, 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 is currently the president of the 442nd RCT Club of Hawaii. He and many volunteers especially in Hawaii helped to publish this book. Oba donated "The Men of Company F" to every public library in Hawaii.

To assist with distribution on the mainland, the Go For Broke National Educational 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 . 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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