At first denigrated and mistrusted, America’s Nisei veterans, now in their 80s and 90s, earned the praise of a nation, and ultimately, a Congressional Gold Medal, America’s highest civilian honor. 

Author and photographer Tom Graves shares the stories of Japanese American veterans before, during, and after WWII. Graves spent a decade collecting the veterans' stories. During this period, he spent thousands of hours interviewing scores of veterans around the country and then translated the results into individual stories of the human spirit. In Twice Heroes, each black-and-white portrait (there are 98 in the oversize book) introduces us to a veteran. The corresponding interview reveals a story of growing up in a racist America, fighting for the same country against foreign enemies as young men at war, and looking back as old men with the wisdom of their years.

Tom Graves is a member of the JACL, the USMC Combat Correspondents Association, and the USS San Francisco CA-38 Memorial Foundation, as well as being on the board of directors of the 99th Infantry Battalion Educational Foundation. His book Twice Heroes is available at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (www.jamsj.org), and at www.TwiceHeroes.com. 

Cost: Free with admission to the museum (non-members, $5; students and seniors over age 65, $3; JAMsj members and children under 12, free)
Reserve your spot today by contacting PublicPrograms@jamsj.org or calling (408) 294-3138