Go for Broke: Japanese Americans Soldiers of WWII, a stamp that recognizes one of the Second World War’s most distinguished fighting units, will be released June 3.
The 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team — whose motto was “Go for Broke” — was composed primarily of second-generation Japanese Americans, also known as nisei.
After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, nisei were subjected to increased scrutiny and prejudice because of their Japanese heritage.
Initially, nisei were not allowed to fight in the war for fear their loyalty lay with the country of their parents rather than the nation in which they were born and raised.
However, the U.S. Army eventually turned to nisei to serve as translators, interpreters and interrogators in the Pacific theater for the Military Intelligence Service.
More than 33,000 Japanese American men and women served in the Army during the war.
Designed by Antonio Alcalá, the Go for Broke stamp is based on a photograph taken in France by a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team at a railroad station in 1944.
The Forever stamp, available at Post Offices and usps.com, is one of three Asian-themed releases this year, along with Year of the Ox, a Lunar New Year stamp; and Chien-Shiung Wu, honoring the Chinese American physicist.
