World War II Honoree
Civilian on the Home Front
Melvin M. Nagasako
Hometown
Hawaii
Honored By
Fumio Serikawa
Relationship
Friend
DECEMBER 7, 1941 TO JANUARY 21, 1942. AS A MEMBER 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 TO ALLOW VOLUNTEERS TO ENLIST IN THE ALL NISEI 442ND INFANTRY REGIMENT. ONHAWAII TERRITORIAL GUARD WAS INACTIVATED. 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 THE RIGHT TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY TO DEFEND THEIR 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.