Resource Center: Preserving WWII Artifacts
Hiroshi Sugiyama was a combat medic in the 442nd RCT, 3rd Battalion HQ. While attached to K Company, he was the last 442nd medic to be killed in action, April 22, 1945, only 10 days before the armistice. While rushing to the aid of a wounded soldier near Tendola, Italy during the Po Valley Campaign, he was hit in the head and died instantly.
The Go For Broke National Education Center's Resource Center staff is slowly unfolding the life of Hiroshi Sugiyama. A collection of his belongings were recently acquired – including meticulous notes and carefully captioned photographs – thanks to matching funds from an anonymous donor who enabled Go For Broke to purchase (and save) this rare collection of artifacts from an online auction site. There are more than 100 items in the collection including: Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medals, assorted badges and pins, knapsack, photographs, letters, and his handwritten journal.
How did Sugiyama's possessions end up on an online auction site? According to the seller, who is a militaria collector, the collection was purchased many years ago at an estate sale in San Francisco, Sugiyama's hometown. Alvin Yoshitomi, a member of the 442nd Club Sons and Daughters (in Hawaii), and himself an ardent militaria collector, said there are many different types of collectors: those interested only in its investment value for resale at a profit; those who collect not-for-profit but for interest; and those who collect because they appreciate the historical value and have an interest in researching the stories behind the artifacts.
Sadly many personal belongings and World War II artifacts are discarded or sold at garage or estate sales. It is important for all veterans to tell their children how they want their belongings preserved for future generations. Through Go For Broke's Resource Center, families can deposit photos, documents and other WWII memorabilia in an environmentally safe and family accessible archive dedicated to preserving the history of Japanese American World War II soldiers.
Consider the future of your scrapbooks, journals, photographs, papers and artifacts be preserved through Go For Broke's "safety deposit box" before they end up on an auction site or worse, in a landfill. Every story is important. For more information on Go For Broke's "safety deposit box" program for WWII Nisei veteran memorabilia, call Teri Kuwahara at 310-222-5703 or email at teri@goforbroke.org.
We must never forget.
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