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Located in Millard County, Utah, northwest of the town of Delta. Opened September 11, 1942, as the Central Utah War Relocation Center before being renamed Topaz. At its peak, Topaz was held around 8,130 incarcerees, mainly from the San Francisco Bay Area. Around 750 Nisei from Topaz would serve in the armed forces. Topaz would finally close on October 31, 1945.

Heroes Among Us: Stories of Courage, Patriotism & Sacrifice

Richard “Dick” Narasaki was born on January 13, 1926, in Santa Clara, California, one of three children. After his father and sisters passed away due to illness at a young age, he was raised by his grandparents. When the war broke out, he and his family were sent to Tanforan Temporary Detention Center before being moved to Topaz. Still incarcerated in Topaz, Dick was drafted into the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He would serve in the Apennines and Po Valley Campaigns.

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Topaz Utah Relocation Center

Richard Narasaki draft card

Richard Narasaki and Ken Nobe driving in a military jeep

Richard Narasaki sitting on roof of building with camera

Four guys near Cecina

Richard Narasaki, Frank Ichimoto, and Joe Nagata at Pen Beach

Topaz Soldier Roster

Research through the Valor in Confinement project enabled GFBNEC to build a list Japanese American soldiers who served from the ten War Relocation Authority confinement sites during WWII. These soldiers were recruited out of the concentration camp and/or had direct family incarcerated in the camp. List periodically updated.

Look through Soldier Roster

Topaz Concentration Camp

Heroes Among Us: Stories of Courage, Patriotism & Sacrifice

Topaz Soldier Roster