NVC Foundation Japanese American Memorial Wall

John Kakehashi (1922-1977) was born in Seattle, Washington and was evacuated with his family to Minidoka Internment Camp. He lived in camp for 6 months when the United States Army decided to enlist second generation Japanese, John, at age 19, was one of the first to volunteer. He served in the 442nd regiment in Italy where he earned a bronze star, two presidential citations and a citation from the 34th Division for his part in the 40 mile patrol in the Po Valley, Italy. After the war, John returned to Yellow Springs, Ohio, attended college and worked at Vernay Laboratory as an engineer. He married Wilma Violet who had a son, Jim, from a previous marriage. John died of a heart attack at the age of 55.