Letters Collection

This collection brings together a powerful set of wartime letters connected to the 100th Infantry Battalion — personal writings that reveal the voices, experiences, and enduring spirit of the men who served. They also provide firsthand accounts of combat, as well as reflections written while recovering from wounds — offering an intimate glimpse into the realities of war.

Letters to Lt. Col. Farrant L. Turner. At the heart of this collection are 111 letters written to Lt. Col. Farrant L. Turner, the first commanding officer of the 100th Infantry Battalion. Born in Hilo, Hawaii, he was the Executive Officer of the 298th Infantry Regiment, Hawaii National Guard, at the time of the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Five months later, when the decision was made to create a battalion composed of Nisei soldiers, he was one of several officers who volunteered to command this new unit. Firmly believing in the loyalty of the Americans of Japanese ancestry to the United States and in their ability to be an outstanding combat unit, Colonel Turner did not hesitate to correct senior officers if disparaging remarks were made about “his boys.” He continually advocated for them to be treated in the same manner as any other American soldiers. As an indication of their respect and high regard for him, “the boys” affectionately called him the “Old Man.”

These letters reflect the deep respect, loyalty, and affection the 100th soldiers held for their commanding officer. For many families, these letters represent a long-lost connection. In most cases, this collection provides descendants with their first opportunity to see these writings. This was the case for one daughter of a 100th Infantry Battalion veteran who helped develop this website. When she first encountered a letter written by her father, she described the experience in Island slang as “a chicken skin moment” — a powerful and emotional reminder of the personal histories preserved within this collection.

The collection also includes several sets of letters from 100th Infantry Battalion soldiers to their families and friends:

Saburo Nishime Letters. The letters in this collection were written between late December 1941 and March 1946 by Saburo Nishime (D Co., 100th Inf. Bn.) to his brother Ralph on the mainland. Saburo Nishime was an original member of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) and wounded soon after the 100th arrived in Italy. After recuperating, he returned to the battalion and served until Germany surrendered in May 1945.

His correspondence spans the early days of the war through its conclusion, offering insight into both his military service and personal reflections. After the war, Nishime lived in Japan for many years before returning to Hawaiʻi in 1987. He later became a frequent contributor to the Club 100 bulletin, the “Puka Puka Parade.”

Hiromi Urabe Letters. This collection contains four letters from the family of Hiromi Urabe (D Co., 100th Inf. Bn.), who was an original member of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate). The letters are from his time training with the 100th at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, and Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

Stanley Izumigawa Letters. Also included are the letters of Stanley Izumigawa (A Co., 100th Inf. Bn.), written over a four-year period, to his family. He enlisted when he was 18 years old and was assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team which was training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. A year later, he and two friends from his squad were among the first group of replacements for the 100th Infantry Battalion, joining the 100th in March 1944 near Benevento, Italy.

His writings provide valuable detail about the grueling — and often monotonous — training at Camp Shelby, as well as observations on the social dynamics between African American and Caucasian communities in Mississippi at the time. Izumigawa also recounts the experiences of Japanese American soldiers from the U.S. mainland who, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, faced discrimination within the Army. Some were stripped of their weapons, publicly humiliated, called derogatory names, assigned menial tasks, and had their ranks reduced before being reassigned to units such as the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Hideo Akiyama Letters. Hideo Akiyama (C Co., 100th Inf. Bn.), took his induction physical in March 1943, and was subsequently sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for basic training with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In Italy, he was assigned to Charlie Company of the 100th Infantry Battalion. On July 9, 1944, Hideo was wounded on the right side of his abdomen and right thigh while his unit was in combat near the town of Casale, Italy. He died the following day at the field hospital. Eight of his letters to his niece and two nephews were preserved. All were written before he was shipped to Italy.

Letters to Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hendersin. Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hendersin of Sparta, Wisconsin befriended members of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) while they were stationed at Camp McCoy. These letters are from many of the veterans who visited their home while training for combat.

—

The 100th Infantry Battalion Letters Collection is a powerful and growing digital archive, preserving the voices, experiences, and personal histories of the men who served. Through their words, we gain a deeper understanding of their sacrifices, resilience, and unwavering commitment to one another and to their country.

As more letters become available, they will be carefully scanned, transcribed, and added to this collection. We welcome and encourage families and friends of 100th Infantry Battalion soldiers to contribute to this effort. If you have letters, photographs, or related materials, please consider sharing them so that these stories may continue to be preserved and passed on to future generations.

Please contact us for more information.