Ben Kuroki
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| Ben Kuroki | |
|---|---|
| Born May 16, 1917 | |
 Ben Kuroki in flight jacket |
|
| Place of birth | Gothenburg, Nebraska |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army Air Corps |
| Years of service | 1941-1946 |
| Rank | Technical Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal |
Ben Kuroki (b. May 16, 1917) flew a total of 58 combat missions during World War II, and is the only Japanese-American in the United States Army Air Forces to serve in combat operations in the Pacific theater of World War II.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Ben Kuroki was born in Gothenburg, Nebraska, United States to Japanese-American immigrants on May 16, 1917. When he was a year old his family relocated to Hershey, Nebraska, where they owned and operated a farm. He attended Hershey High School and was the Vice-President of his senior class, graduating in 1936. After the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Ben's father encouraged him as well as his brother Fred Kuroki to enlist in the U.S. Military. They enlisted in the U.S. Army, two of the very first Nisei to do so, and were sent to basic training at Sheppard Field, Texas in January, 1942.[1]
[edit] Military career
Assigned to the 93rd Bombardment Group at Fort Myers, Florida, he was told that Japanese-Americans would not be allowed to serve overseas. Kuroki petitioned his commanding officer and was allowed to work as a clerk for the Eighth Air Force at a base in England. The need for aerial gunners was high and after Kuroki volunteered, he was sent to gunnery school for two weeks and became a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator.[2] Kuroki was in a B-24 that crash landed in Spanish Morocco and was captured by Spanish authorities. His crew was released by the Spanish after three months. After the U.S. Department of State secured his release, he returned to England and rejoined his squadron. On August 1, 1943 he participated in the dangerous bombing mission known as Operation Tidal Wave, an effort to destroy the major oil refinery located in Ploesti, Romania. Kuroki flew 30 combat missions in the European theater, when the regular enlistment only required 25. After a medical review, he was allowed to fly 5 more missions above the mandated enlistment. Kuroki said he did so for his brother Fred, who was still stationed stateside. On his 30th mission he was slightly injured when his gun turret was hit by flak.[1][3] The tail gunner's position on B-24s was particularly dangerous since there wasn't enough room for gunners to be able to wear parachutes.
During rest and recovery back in the United States, Kuroki was directed by the Army to visit a number of Japanese American internment camps in order to encourage able-bodied males to enlist in the U.S. military. Kuroki was the subject of a number of news articles including one in Time magazine. He then requested but was denied the opportunity to participate in the Pacific theater. Petitioning from a number of prominent people to the Secretary of War and top level generals, Kuroki was later permitted to join the crew of a B-29 Superfortress in the 484th Squadron, 505th Bombardment Group, 20th U.S. Army Air Force, based on Tinian Island. Kuroki then participated in another 28 bombing missions over mainland Japan and other locations. He is the only Japanese American known to have participated in air combat missions in the Pacific theater of operations during the war.[1] Kuroki was awarded one Distinguished Flying Cross for his 25 missions in Europe and another for participation in the Ploesti raid.[3] By the end of the war, he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross a total of three times as well as the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.[1] By the end of the war, Ben Kuroki had completed 58 combat missions.
[edit] Advocacy efforts
Fiercely patriotic, but understanding first hand some of the racial and other inequalities minorities had to endure, Kuroki continued to speak about the need for racial equality and against prejudice. He engaged in a series of speaking tours discussing these issues, which he funded with his own savings and with minor donations, including proceeds from a biography written about him titled "Boy From Nebraska: The Story of Ben Kuroki".
When asked about his battle to overcome prejudice which almost prevented him from being allowed to participate in overseas aerial combat missions, Kuroki stated, "I had to fight like hell for the right to fight for my own country".[4]
[edit] Post-military career
Kuroki later attended the University of Nebraska, attaining a Bachelor's degree in journalism in 1950. He was a reporter and editor for a number of newspapers in several different states, retiring in 1984.[1] On August 12, 2005, Kuroki was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his impressive combat participation during the war and for overcoming numerous incidents of prejudice. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of Nebraska on August 13, 2005 and is the subject of the Public Broadcasting Service documentary "Most Honorable Son: Ben Kuroki's Amazing War Story".[5][4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Kral, E.A. (2006). Profile: Ben Kuroki. Nebraska State Education Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Frank, Abe (2000). Ben Kuroki. Conscience and the Constitution. Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ a b Ben Kuroki, American. Time. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ a b Nebraska WWII Hero Ben Kuroki to be Honored at Premiere of NET Television (pdf). NET Nebraska (June 28, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
- ^ "Proud to be Ben Kuroki's kind of people", Journal Star, August 2, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
[edit] External links
- "Most Honorable Son: Ben Kuroki's Amazing War Story" Official website. Includes a recent photo of Kuroki.
