How a new Oregon marker highlights the courage of Japanese American WWII Soldiers
Update: Adding video
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The community of Hood River, in partnership with the Oregon Travel Information Council, unveiled a new historical marker on Highway 35, south of Hood River. This marker honors the Oregon Nisei Veterans WWII Memorial Highway, a designation to commemorate the second-generation Japanese American soldiers who served the United States during World War II, even while many of their families were held in incarceration camps on American soil.
This stretch of Highway 35, from Hood River to Government Camp, pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Oregon Nisei soldiers, many of whom served in segregated units like the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, while their families faced harsh discrimination and imprisonment during the war.
The dedication ceremony on Veterans Day was attended by more than 260 community members, including former Governor Ted Kulongoski, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and other senior legislative leaders. Descendants of Nisei veterans shared personal stories, highlighting the bravery and integrity of their ancestors who fought for freedom and faced exclusion at home.
The marker also sheds light on darker chapters, such as the 1944 incident in Hood River County where Nisei soldiers’ names were removed from an honor roll, exemplifying the discrimination they endured even after their military service.
The historical marker was sponsored by the Oregon Nisei Veterans and represents a collaborative effort involving descendants of Nisei veterans and community organizations such as the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, the Japanese American Citizens League, The History Museum of Hood River County, and American Legion Post 22.
By remembering the contributions and challenges of the Nisei veterans, this marker not only commemorates the past but also encourages awareness and understanding to help avoid repeating history’s mistakes.
