World War II Honoree

Seichi Hirai

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honored By

Fumio Serikawa

Relationship

Friend

SERVED FROM DECEMBER 8, 1941 TO JANUARY 21, 1942 AS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS. CADETS REPORTED FOR DUTY WITH THE HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD; ASSIGNED TO GUARD VARIOUS VITAL INSTALLATIONS UNTIL THE HAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD WAS INACTIVATED. FROM FEBRUARY 25, 1942 TO JANUARY 31, 1943, VOLUNTEERED FOR THE VARSITY VICTORY VOLUNTEERS, A GROUP OF JAPANESE-AMERICANS RECLASSIFIED AS '4C'; ALIENS INELIGIBLE TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. PLEDGED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REGAIN OUR RIGHT TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY. ASSEMBLED PREFAB HOUSES, CLEARED DRAINAGE DITCHES, BUILT ROADS, CRUSHED ROCKS FOR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND PARTICIPATED REGULARLY IN BLOOD DRIVES AND WAR BOND PURCHASES UNTIL THE VARSITY VICTORY VOLUNTEERS WAS DISBANDED TO ALLOW ITS MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE NEWLY CREATED, ALL NISEI, 442ND INFANTRY REGIMENT. ON MARCH 25, 1943, INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY. ASSIGNED TO 442ND ANTI-TANK COMPANY. TOOK BASIC AND ADVANCED TRAINING AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI. SHIPPED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. BECAME A PART OF THE 'GO FOR BROKE' 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES, PO VALLEY AND RHINELAND. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.