Able Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd RCT
![Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara (Co. A, 100th Bn.) [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/photos-ikuro-kawahara/Kawahara-Ikuro2-headshot.png "Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara (Co. A, 100th Bn.) [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]")
Like many young men of his generation, Mano answered the call to serve his country. When the U.S. Army first asked for volunteers to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, he eagerly attempted to enlist in the initial wave. However, so many men stepped forward that he was turned away.
Undeterred in his desire to serve, Mano was later drafted into the U.S. Army. After completing basic training, he was assigned to the 100th Battalion, where he joined fellow Nisei soldiers who would soon prove their loyalty and valor on the battlefield.
During the war, Mano fought alongside his comrades in some of the most demanding and dangerous campaigns of the European theater. The 100th became known for its perseverance in brutal mountain warfare, its fierce dedication to mission and country, and its unbreakable bond among soldiers. At the end of the war, he reenlisted and remained in Italy for an additional six months.
Life After the War
After being honorably discharged, Mano returned briefly to his beloved Hawaiʻi. Soon afterward, he moved to Chicago to attend college — a decision that would shape the course of his life. While in Chicago, he met the woman who would become his wife, and together they raised six children. All were born in Chicago, growing up as proud Cubs fans and becoming deeply rooted in the community their parents built.
Chicago remained the family’s home for many decades. In 1960, they moved to the suburb of Northlake, about fifteen minutes south of O’Hare Airport, where Mano lived until 2018. That year, the family made the thoughtful decision to relocate to Arizona so that he could live with his daughter in a climate gentler than Chicago’s long, harsh winters. Though leaving his longtime home was not easy, the move provided comfort, safety, and the closeness of family.
A Hawaiʻi Boy at Heart
Despite spending much of his life in Illinois, Mano often said he would “always be a Hawaiʻi boy at heart.” When the time came to sell his home and leave Chicago, he embraced his daughter and said, “I’ll be halfway to home.”
To help him feel truly at home in Arizona, his daughter replaced the desert landscaping with palm trees, plumeria, pikake, gardenias, and hibiscus — creating a small oasis reminiscent of Hawaiʻi. Surrounded by familiar sights and fragrances, Mano has thrived. He remains a joy to live with, and the family feels deeply blessed to share these years together. While Arizona summers can be intense, the fall, winter, and spring seasons warmly remind him of the islands.
Continuing Legacy
Today, Mano still enjoys his Hawaiian coffee in his “Go For Broke” mug — a quiet but powerful symbol of the unit he served with and the values he has carried throughout his life: courage, resilience, loyalty, and devotion to family.
His story, including his own words, is recorded in the “Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Courage” book by Shane Sato. With the family’s gracious permission, this biography is shared to honor Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara’s service, sacrifice, and enduring legacy.
![Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara (Co. A, 100th Bn.) [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/photos-ikuro-kawahara/Kawahara-Ikuro1-color.png "Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara (Co. A, 100th Bn.) [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]")
![Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara at the Nisei Soldiers of World War II Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/photos-ikuro-kawahara/Kawahara-Ikuro3-cgm.png "Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara at the Nisei Soldiers of World War II Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]")
![Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara enjoys his Hawaiian coffee in his “Go For Broke” mug. [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/photos-ikuro-kawahara/Kawahara-Ikuro4.png "Ikuro “Mano” Kawahara enjoys his Hawaiian coffee in his “Go For Broke” mug. [Courtesy of Gigi McPhee]")