Sandra Vea

Sandra Vea is a graduate of the University of Washington and Western Washington University. She was worked as a public educator for 25 years. Masao Abe was the father of her partner, Alan Abe. She coaxed Masao’s story out of him through years of interviews and corroborating research. Her book, Rising Son – A US Soldier’s Secret and Heroic Role in World War II was released in February 2019 from Sasquatch Books.

Updated September 2017

war en

What the Nisei Generation from World War II Can Teach Us

By Sandra Vea
12 Mar 2019

The Thirty-Year Secret

Sometimes, stories of heroism reveal themselves in the most unusual and humble ways. That was the case with Masao Abe, a second generation Japanese-American, or Nisei. Masao served in World War II as an interpreter with the Military Intelligence Service, an operation credited for shortening the war in the South Pacific by two years. Masao recalled memories from World War II with clarity, as though events had taken place the week before. At the age of 91, Masao began to share his story until he passed away in 2013 at the age of 96.

Revealing his WWII ...

war en

An American Treasure

By Sandra Vea
10 Nov 2017

Whether Californians know it or not, they have a national treasure living among them. He just turned 102. He lives a quiet life in the bay area now, but served in the U.S. Army during two wars: World War II and the Korean War. I have never met him but have gotten to know him through letters, the old-fashioned kind that you get in the mail. His name is Hiro, very fitting—because he is, after all, a hero.

The first letter from Hiro arrived within weeks of Masao Abe’s passing in August, 2013, it was a condolence ...

war en

We Should Listen

By Sandra Vea
26 Sep 2017

I had the extraordinary experience of getting to know a Nisei solider before he died in 2013. His name was Masao Abe and he was born in 1916. I met Masao when he was in his late 80s and, after his precious wife of 63 years died, spent two days a week with him during the last three years of his life. I came to love Masao, he was like a father to me. He was kind, generous, and had the most wonderful sense of humor. I miss him still.

What I appreciated about Masao more than anything was what ...

Submit an article

Discover Nikkei

Japanese migrants and their descendants

Sandra Vea

What the Nisei Generation from World War II Can Teach Us

An American Treasure

We Should Listen

Featured Articles

Japanese Grocery Stores: An Appreciation

The 150th Anniversary of Wakamatsu Colony, the First Japanese American Settlement on the North American Frontier

Part 1: Pioneers Who Brought Their Hopes and Dreams

Nikkei Chronicles #5 — Nikkei-go: The Language of Family, Community, and Culture

Gaijin

Immigration—Missing Link in Japanese History: Why Are There So Many Okinawan Immigrants? – Part 1

Recent Articles en

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather's Life in Seattle

Part 5 – Barbershop business in its heyday

The Redundancy of Idiots — Part 1

“A Pacific Ocean For The Entire World”—The Panama Canal and Its Nikkei Ties to the Pacific Northwest

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry # $45 on Average for a Get-up: "Costuming..."

Edison Uno - Redress Hero, a Minority of One

Recent Articles JA ES PT

Técnica e arte japonesas dão formas e beleza à argila em Cunha

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

私のルーツ ～大藤松五郎の足跡～

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

Mi oba, ¡qué mejor inspiración!

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

Heróis: sonho, trabalho e transformação

孤独な望郷 ～ フロリダ日系移民森上助次の手紙から

第18回 京都へ帰ったときには……

Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

Get updates

Support this project

A project of the

Major support by

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather's Life in Seattle

Part 5 – Barbershop business in its heyday

The Redundancy of Idiots — Part 1

“A Pacific Ocean For The Entire World”—The Panama Canal and Its Nikkei Ties to the Pacific Northwest

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry # $45 on Average for a Get-up: "Costuming..."

Edison Uno - Redress Hero, a Minority of One

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

What spirits whisper...

Counteracting 'Invisibility' Within the JA Community

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

The Family of Shinjiro Dote and Pre-WWII Japanese of El Dorado County, CA.

Kikou Yamata: Rediscovering the First Nisei Writer

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #4 Horsemen of the Holidays: "Stress Time..."

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

My Hero: Shinya Honda

The Summer of the Gun

Japan, not so close anymore

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

My Father Was A Tule Lake Resister

Canadian Nikkei Artist

David Hayashida on his first visit to BC, euphemisms and life on "The Rock" - Part 1

Akashi-Kama

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

A Moment in Time

Her Personal Spark of Joy — UCLA’s Katelyn Ohashi is ready to take her success as a Bruin into a life after gymnastics

Killer Roll

Chapter Twelve — Family Ties

Power of Our Stories

50 Objects, 50 Stories: The Untold Stories of Incarcerated Japanese Americans during WWII

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

Hakujin Heroes

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather's Life in Seattle

Part 3 – Marriage and family

Giotta Fuyo Tajiri — An Artist's Voyage

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #2 Arms, 2 Legs, 1 Tail: "Octopus Arms Next?..."

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

2 Presidents, 2 Senators, 2 Moms…and 2 Dads, too

Tule Lake History Passed on from Father to Son: Iwao and Hiroshi Shimizu

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #Only 7 Sins? Hardly: "Inhumane Humanity..."

Shinkichi Tajiri and the Paradoxes of Japanese American Identity

私のルーツ～大藤松五郎の足跡～

孤独な望郷～フロリダ日系移民森上助次の手紙から

第18回京都へ帰ったときには……