The Go for Broke Monument reminds one of the undeterred efforts of the Japanese Americans, who rose against all prejudices after Pearl Harbor. Read on to know few interesting and fun facts about it.

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Facts About Go For Broke Monument

The Go for Broke Monument is located in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California, adjacent to the Japanese American National Museum and commemorates the valiance of the thousands of Japanese Americans, who served in the army of United States, during World War II. After the infamous Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941, the lives of Japanese Americans seemed to have changed forever. Due to sheer prejudice and war time hysteria, around 110,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned in incarceration camps. Once their draft status changed from the status of “enemy alien”, they were finally allowed to serve in the army again in various segregated military units like the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service. Not only did they prove their loyalty towards their owned nation, United States, through their military service, but it is also worth noting, that no case of espionage was proven against any of the Americans of Japanese origin. After 44 years, at the end of World War II, a group of veterans came forward to form a memorial foundation called the “Go for Broke Monument”, in order to preserve the Japanese American World War II experience. This article contains few facts about this monument which may be of interest to you.
Go For Broke Monument
 
Interesting & Fun Facts About Go For Broke Monument
  • Design and construction of the Go for Broke Monument began in 1991 and it was finally dedicated on June 5, 1999.
  • The monument commemorates heroic deeds of the segregated military units, namely, the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service, 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, 232nd Combat Engineer Company and the 1399th Engineering Construction Battalion.
  • The monument also commemorates the men and women who served overseas during the World War II. 
  • “Go for Broke!" was the unit motto of the 100th Infantry Battalion and was eventually adopted by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Later, it was adopted as a motto by all the Japanese American military units formed during World War II. 
  • The design for the Go for Broke Monument was selected by a jury panel from over 138 entries received from artists, architects, designers, students, internees and veterans spread throughout United States, Japan, Europe as well as Canada.  
  • The competition was won by a Los Angeles based architect, Roger M. Yanagita, on January 14, 1991.  
  • Roger Yanagita derived his inspiration for the monument’s circular design by reading the book “Go for Broke”, which contained a detailed account of the battles of 442nd Regimental Combat Team. 
  • The monument is surrounded by pillars, which represent the forests of Europe where several battles of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team were fought.
  • Names of more than 16,000 men, women, and officers who have served the United States armed forces during World War II have been engraved on the monument.

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