Seeking some help from M1 Garand Owners

[hsmchoi]

Calgunners, my neighbors host a regular meeting of WW2 veterans but of those of japanese descent who fought for the US even as the US at the time was locking their families up in internment camps. The groups is a few veterans and their family. Even for my neighbor who is in her 70s, it was her deceased father who served. But they meet as they have been forever. Every months or so my neighborhood fills up with very elderly folks.

One idea I had that I thought would be neat is if one of you who has all the WW2 gear like an M1 Garand, etc might come to one of their meetings and let the veterans see and touch and remember. I would guess for some, it may be decades since holding an M1.

If anyone is open to doing this, please message me and I will try to arrange it. I am Torrance, suburb of Los Angeles.

Ironically I am Korean and those who know their history know the Japanese and Koreans have bad blood but that is all the past and my neighbors are great. Help some veterans and a roof top Korean out. (Joke since I was 11 during the riots) But I do know calgunners are a generous people because I have experienced it over and over.

[toro1]

OP, I hope you can pull this off. If I didn't live 400 miles away, I would be happy to help make this happen.

Many years ago I took a friend of my Dad out shooting with my Garand. He was a Ranger in Korea and carried a Garand while there. He had not touched a Garand since he came back, and was thrilled to be able shoot one again. It was truly a special day for him and I hope you can get someone close by to support you.

[DaveInOroValley]

Wish I was closer too. Have a ton of WWII stuff as well as what’s asked for.

[echo1]

I too would contribute but I also in NorKal. I have a few Japanese weapons as well my family was in the 1st Filipino Regiment, a couple were Alamo Rangers. PAX

[Ned Ryerson]

I’m another Northern Californian who would be happy to help out with M1 Garands and ammo if there was event like this up here.

[stevie]

I am local, no accessories but have couple rifles.

[Alan Block]

I am in south OC. I have a Garand, bayonet, m1 helmet, USMC cartridge belt. You are welcome to these for loan or if the timing works for me, I could bring them to Torrance.

[19K]

Make sure they are all cool with it first!

[vor503sm]

My mother in-law got one finger shot off by a M1 Garand during a firefight in her village. US re took the village from the north successfully! She visited and noticed I had a Garand and told me her story. She was about 10 years old at the time.

[hambam105]

San Jose had/has a Pearl Harbor Survivors Group that meets on a regular basis.

The members thought it 'Not too Funny' to invite one particular survivor.

He was a deckhand on the Imperial Japanese Aircraft Carrier Akagi. On 12-07-41 this guy was probably a 17 year old conscript.
Anyhow, he survives the rest of the War and settles where else? San Jose.

Inviting a former Japanes Sailor for a visit didn't go over very well with the original members, and the Vietnam era USMC former
Drill Instructor who mentioned the idea had his affiliate membership badge under serious consideration for expulsion. Permanently.

Therefore, OP, I'd carefully consider any proposed changes to their annual festivities with extreme caution.

[Sully]

There is a GO For Broke National Education Center.

goforbroke.org

In '08 or so they had a table at a Japanese Festival in Downtown LA. A Japanese American Lawyer in the area brought a WW2 Jeep decked out with a mounted 50 cal. Ken Akune was in the Go For Broke group, in M.I.S. during the war and was an interesting chat, likely passed on.

So many are gone now...

There also used to be a pilgrimage to Manzanar by Japanese descendants. It was an interesting day well attended at the Camp, then a recently a curated National Park. That is another thread you might tug on at the Japanese American National Museum?

Wouldn't be surprised in one of the family members in your group had a rifle, etc., if you scratch the surface of the people there? I'm sure what they brought would have a story worth hearing...

Helpful?

[M1NM]

Sorry sold all my M1 rifles and carbines along with my Ariskas.

The rewrite of history from the Carter era - Please stop calling them internment camps. They were relocation camps where people were moved who refused to relocate from the coastal exclusion zone. Over 30,000 decided to move out of the camps to other inland areas. Tokyo Roses parents ran a grocery store in Chicago all through the war. https://www.theamericanconservative....nment-scandal/

[Mayor McRifle]

Originally Posted by hambam105

San Jose had/has a Pearl Harbor Survivors Group that meets on a regular basis.

The members thought it 'Not too Funny' to invite one particular survivor.

He was a deckhand on the Imperial Japanese Aircraft Carrier Akagi. On 12-07-41 this guy was probably a 17 year old conscript.
Anyhow, he survives the rest of the War and settles where else? San Jose.

Inviting a former Japanes Sailor for a visit didn't go over very well with the original members, and the Vietnam era USMC former
Drill Instructor who mentioned the idea had his affiliate membership badge under serious consideration for expulsion. Permanently.

Therefore, OP, I'd carefully consider any proposed changes to their annual festivities with extreme caution.

The OP is trying to do something for American WWII veterans of Japanese descent, not Japanese WWII veterans. Your “cautionary tale” is completely misplaced.

[Mayor McRifle]

The USS Hornet museum in Alameda has a 442nd Regimental Combat Team exhibit that is very worthwhile. I have been aboard the Hornet several times, and I always get something new out of it every time I go (not to mention all the memories and flashbacks I get just walking through the passageways of a Navy ship again). For those of you within reasonable driving distance from Alameda, I recommend a visit.


https://youtu.be/7GVawEbDjjI

Here’s some more information on the 442nd for anyone who is interested: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/wa...al-combat-team

[19K]

Originally Posted by M1NM

Sorry sold all my M1 rifles and carbines along with my Ariskas.

The rewrite of history from the Carter era - Please stop calling them internment camps. They were relocation camps where people were moved who refused to relocate from the coastal exclusion zone. Over 30,000 decided to move out of the camps to other inland areas. Tokyo Roses parents ran a grocery store in Chicago all through the war. https://www.theamericanconservative....nment-scandal/

Ah, concentration camps is what you mean.