Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II
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- Create Date：2021-05-12 18:30:57
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Daniel James Brown
- ISBN：B08N9MT6HJ
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Summary
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat， a gripping World War II saga of patriotism and courage: the special Japanese-American Army unit that overcame brutal odds in Europe; their families， incarcerated in camps back home; and a young man who refused to surrender his constitutional rights， even if it meant imprisonment。
They came from across the continent and Hawaii。 Their parents taught them to embrace both their Japanese heritage and the ways of their American homeland。 They faced bigotry， yet they believed in their bright futures as American citizens。 But within days of Pearl Harbor， the FBI was ransacking their houses and locking up their fathers。 Within months many would themselves be living in internment camps。
Facing the Mountain is an unforgettable chronicle of war-time America and the battlefields of Europe。 Based on Daniel James Brown's extensive interviews with the families of the protagonists as well as deep archival research， it portrays the kaleidoscopic journey of four Japanese-American families and their sons， who volunteered for 442nd Regimental Combat Team and were deployed to France， Germany， and Italy， where they were asked to do the near impossible。
But this is more than a war story。 Brown also tells the story of these soldiers' parents， immigrants who were forced to shutter the businesses， surrender their homes， and submit to life in concentration camps on U。S。 soil。 Woven throughout is the chronicle of a brave young man， one of a cadre of patriotic resisters who stood up against their government in defense of their own rights。 Whether fighting on battlefields or in courtrooms， these were Americans under unprecedented strain， doing what Americans do best--striving， resisting， pushing back， rising up， standing on principle， laying down their lives， and enduring。
They came from across the continent and Hawaii。 Their parents taught them to embrace both their Japanese heritage and the ways of their American homeland。 They faced bigotry， yet they believed in their bright futures as American citizens。 But within days of Pearl Harbor， the FBI was ransacking their houses and locking up their fathers。 Within months many would themselves be living in internment camps。
Facing the Mountain is an unforgettable chronicle of war-time America and the battlefields of Europe。 Based on Daniel James Brown's extensive interviews with the families of the protagonists as well as deep archival research， it portrays the kaleidoscopic journey of four Japanese-American families and their sons， who volunteered for 442nd Regimental Combat Team and were deployed to France， Germany， and Italy， where they were asked to do the near impossible。
But this is more than a war story。 Brown also tells the story of these soldiers' parents， immigrants who were forced to shutter the businesses， surrender their homes， and submit to life in concentration camps on U。S。 soil。 Woven throughout is the chronicle of a brave young man， one of a cadre of patriotic resisters who stood up against their government in defense of their own rights。 Whether fighting on battlefields or in courtrooms， these were Americans under unprecedented strain， doing what Americans do best--striving， resisting， pushing back， rising up， standing on principle， laying down their lives， and enduring。
Reviews
Barbara Burd
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Brown has written a heartening and heart-wrenching story of the Young Japanese Americans who enlisted and fought valiantly in WW II。 In spite of the fact that many of their families were being held in American concentration camps， once allowed， these young Men enlisted in record numbers and proved to be some of the most valiant soldiers in the war， their unit being one of the most decorated in the war。 Juxtaposing the experiences of the soldiers with the lives of their families， Brown provides i Brown has written a heartening and heart-wrenching story of the Young Japanese Americans who enlisted and fought valiantly in WW II。 In spite of the fact that many of their families were being held in American concentration camps， once allowed， these young Men enlisted in record numbers and proved to be some of the most valiant soldiers in the war， their unit being one of the most decorated in the war。 Juxtaposing the experiences of the soldiers with the lives of their families， Brown provides insight into their backgrounds and the values that led them to valiantly fight for the country that had judged the families so unfairly。 Brown is a thorough researcher and conducted interviews with some of the men and/or their families。 The book is rich in characterization and historical accuracy。This book is recommended for all interested in WW II history。 The Japanese American unit fought in some of the worst battles of the war with exceptional courage and determination。 The book is extremely well-written--one of the best books of the year。Exceptional--a must read！ 。。。more
Laura Hill
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Thank you to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review。 The book will be published on May 11th， 2021。The acclaimed author of The Boys in the Boat （which I loved） tackles Japanese Americans in WWII — both those interned in camps following FDRs Executive Order 9066 and those who served in the military’s single Japanese American unit （also the most highly decorated） — the 442nd Regimental Combat Team。 While dealing with — let’s fa Thank you to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review。 The book will be published on May 11th， 2021。The acclaimed author of The Boys in the Boat （which I loved） tackles Japanese Americans in WWII — both those interned in camps following FDRs Executive Order 9066 and those who served in the military’s single Japanese American unit （also the most highly decorated） — the 442nd Regimental Combat Team。 While dealing with — let’s face it — some deeply depressing and disturbing topics — Brown makes it clear from the start that this is the story of Victors， not Victims。 And that is how the story reads。 This is the story of how a diverse group of people （not everyone in a single ethnic group is the same， even as they are treated as the same！） faced adversity and made the best of it。 Through extensive research and first person interviews， Brown follows three primary characters who each ended up in the 442nd: Kats Miho from Hawaii， Rudy Tokiwa from Salinas （within California’s Exclusion Zone） and Fred Shiosaki from Hillyard， WA （outside Washington’s Exclusion Zone）。 An additional thread follows Gordon Hirabayashi as he makes his way through the courts protesting the unconstitutionality of interning American citizens based on their ethnicity。 The character set expands to include their families， friends， and comrades-at-arms while the story extends from Pearl Harbor to incarceration to military draft to battle to returns home to legislation （finally） apologizing to the community and paying （some） restitution to survivors。 It is a massive undertaking but Brown’s style makes it appear effortless （like Fred Astaire’s dancing）。 He gets to the essence of every thought and action。 Through personal interviews and letters， we gain access to the actual （not fictionalized） thoughts， discussions， and noticed details of those involved。 Often these brought tears to my eyes。 Reading first-person accounts is so very different than what I or a novelist imagines in any situation。 Facts and figures， as well as historical context， are inserted at just the right moments。I found the book fascinating from start to finish。 While I was aware of the broad strokes of the treatment of Japanese Americans during the war， I was not aware of the many， many， tiny strokes that comprised it。 I give this book a strong five star rating and highly recommend but if I were to point out a couple of negatives （which it appears I’m about to do） it would be that he does sometimes descend into hyperbole — for example when describing a situation， such as the conditions initial Japanese immigrants found in the late 1800s， from his own perspective rather an individual’s recollection and report。 He also inserts anecdotes — all but one negative — about the treatment of Japanese Americans by neighbors without including any positive anecdotes （there must be some） or giving any kind of statistics on how broad those negative behaviors actually were。 。。。more
Peter Kempenich
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"Facing The Mountain" is an exceptionally well-written history of America's cruel and inhuman treatment of Japanese Eisen （Legal Immigrants） and Nisen （American born Citizens） of Japanese ancestry following Japan's Pearl Harbor attack on December 7th， 1941。 In my opinion， far too many caucasian （White） Americans have a long-established historical tendency to attack people of color out of sheer ignorance， fear， and a tendency to view themselves as superior to other varieties of Homo Sapiens as is "Facing The Mountain" is an exceptionally well-written history of America's cruel and inhuman treatment of Japanese Eisen （Legal Immigrants） and Nisen （American born Citizens） of Japanese ancestry following Japan's Pearl Harbor attack on December 7th， 1941。 In my opinion， far too many caucasian （White） Americans have a long-established historical tendency to attack people of color out of sheer ignorance， fear， and a tendency to view themselves as superior to other varieties of Homo Sapiens as is all too evident in today's ultra-conservative， pseudo-Christian， American society。 Mr。 Brown's book should be read by all Americans and discussed freely and openly to inform those of our citizens who are sadly misinformed and/or brainwashed into blindly hating minority groups because they simply are unaware of the tremendous sacrifices and accomplishments of Japanese Americans have made for our country。 。。。more
Leo K。
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Facing the mountain is a much-needed publication documenting a darker period of United States history that our educational system somehow managed to overlook。 Reading about the internment of Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans helped me piece together the mixed stories I've heard over the years and also helped me to further my knowledge and appreciation for their culture。 This book presents an opportunity for the reader to further their understanding of what our country's Japanese citizen Facing the mountain is a much-needed publication documenting a darker period of United States history that our educational system somehow managed to overlook。 Reading about the internment of Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans helped me piece together the mixed stories I've heard over the years and also helped me to further my knowledge and appreciation for their culture。 This book presents an opportunity for the reader to further their understanding of what our country's Japanese citizens were forced to undergo and tolerate in the 1940s。 As quoted from the prolong "it's not a story of victims。 Rather， it's a story of victors， of people striving， resisting， rising up， standing on principle， laying down their lives， enduring and prevailing" this book walks you through the horror of thousands of innocent united states citizens being forced to leave their lives， homes and businesses behind in a federal attempt to control and "protect" the nation from its own citizens。 I had goosebumps while reading this book and while realizing how scary the era must have been for those who lived it， I'm also thankful that Daniel James Brown and Tom Ikeda were able to conduct their interviews and research when they did。 Now the heroes within will live on through their stories and experiences。 History like this is beyond important for a government and nation to avoid making the same mistakes twice。 Instead of letting fear drive us apart in times of crisis， we should allow it to bring us together。 。。。more
Stephen Chase
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 In memory of the people lost in World War 2！！！！！！！！！！
Read Ng
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This was a GoodReads giveaway of an uncorrected proof copy。 The official release is set for May 11， 2021。This was a Great Read。 For myself， it ran the gamut from disbelief to anger at the prejudice shown by Americans towards Americans。 I was both heart broken and heart lifted as I read from one chapter to the next。 At times during this read， I wanted to break something and then I just wanted to cry。 I previously had some sliver of knowledge of the "Go for Broke" war unit， but no idea just how gr This was a GoodReads giveaway of an uncorrected proof copy。 The official release is set for May 11， 2021。This was a Great Read。 For myself， it ran the gamut from disbelief to anger at the prejudice shown by Americans towards Americans。 I was both heart broken and heart lifted as I read from one chapter to the next。 At times during this read， I wanted to break something and then I just wanted to cry。 I previously had some sliver of knowledge of the "Go for Broke" war unit， but no idea just how great of an effort and influence they had on the outcome of WWII in Europe。 And the costs in human lives。I am disillusioned by how prejudice and racism continues to remain as such a powerful influence on our lives in present day America。 I read in the news and see political discussions that Americans continue to harbor deep racist prejudices。 I wonder if similar backlash at a group of peoples is just around the corner in our future。This was more than a GoodReads。 It was a GreatReads。 。。。more
Bruce
，
I just finished reading the ARC of this work。 The first half provides the background of several of the members of the 442nd RCT and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion。 The author writes about their families before Pearl Harbor and then after。 Most of them volunteered from the concentration camps in which they and their families were being held。 The Nisei troops proved their loyalty to the US in spite of the racism they faced both before， during， （and after） WW II。 They were among the most highl I just finished reading the ARC of this work。 The first half provides the background of several of the members of the 442nd RCT and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion。 The author writes about their families before Pearl Harbor and then after。 Most of them volunteered from the concentration camps in which they and their families were being held。 The Nisei troops proved their loyalty to the US in spite of the racism they faced both before， during， （and after） WW II。 They were among the most highly decorated units in US history， yet little has been heard about them。 The second 'half' of the book describes the actions they took part in。 Among those actions was their rescue of 211 men of the Texas Battalion （the lost battalion） during which the 442nd suffered 800 casualties （121 dead）。Though this book might be too much for high school reading the story of these men and this dark side of American History needs to be taught in all middle and high schools。 。。。more
Bryan
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Disclosure: I received an advance uncorrected proof version from publisher via a Goodreads giveaway; I did not pay for it， and was encouraged to write a review （without any guidance as to rating or opinions）。Wow。 Daniel James Brown wrote my favorite book， The Boys in the Boat， and in this the 2nd work of his I’ve read has established himself as my favorite author。 He paints a picture that many of us have perhaps survey understanding of but don’t fully know。 Heck， I have friends who are Sansei an Disclosure: I received an advance uncorrected proof version from publisher via a Goodreads giveaway; I did not pay for it， and was encouraged to write a review （without any guidance as to rating or opinions）。Wow。 Daniel James Brown wrote my favorite book， The Boys in the Boat， and in this the 2nd work of his I’ve read has established himself as my favorite author。 He paints a picture that many of us have perhaps survey understanding of but don’t fully know。 Heck， I have friends who are Sansei and their Nisei fathers fought in the 442nd and I knew almost nothing of these incredible Americans。The books covers ground from December 7， 1941 through the end of the war and the soldiers’ return home， concluding with an epilogue of their lives in the decades following their Facing the Mountain。Brown’s mastery of language and of painting a picture of how life/events really were many decades ago is unlike any author or historian I’ve ever encountered。 I can’t wait to read the rest of his prior catalog and am already sad thinking about a day there aren’t any DJB books I’ll be experiencing for the 1st time （until his next one comes out which I’ll immediately be purchasing）。Beyond a “review” of the work， there are 2 topics touched briefly on in the book that made me very curious， but weren’t detailed: letters sent from Japan to relatives in Hawaii， and the expatriation/repatriation of some Issei and Nisei men。 Both of these things are beyond my understand of “how” they happened during a time of war， and a couple searches revealed no detail。 If you have any information on how 2 nations at war across an ocean exchanged mail and/or citizens and wish to drop a Comment， I’d love to understand more！ 。。。more
Harris
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I won this ARC as a giveaway so first need to give thanks to Viking and Goodreads。 Daniel James Brown provides readers with an extremely detailed and comprehensive account of certain members of the 442nd RCT and 522nd Field Artillery Battalion who fought so bravely during WW2。 However， this is not just a war story because it also chronicles life in internment camps for many of the parents of these soldiers。 Imagine the emotional effort it must have taken someone who is born in the U。S。 and there I won this ARC as a giveaway so first need to give thanks to Viking and Goodreads。 Daniel James Brown provides readers with an extremely detailed and comprehensive account of certain members of the 442nd RCT and 522nd Field Artillery Battalion who fought so bravely during WW2。 However， this is not just a war story because it also chronicles life in internment camps for many of the parents of these soldiers。 Imagine the emotional effort it must have taken someone who is born in the U。S。 and therefore a citizen， but told because of their Japanese ancestry they need to be relocated from their homes， lose their businesses， and uprooted from their law-abiding lives to be placed on buses and put in prison settings。 Then， the government turns around and says we need your body to help with the war effort， and if you don't sign up you're going to deemed a disloyal traitor。 And then to top it off， when they get to the Camp Shelby， despite all the recruits being of the same heritage， there is rampant discord between those who grew up on the mainland and those from Hawai'i。The book primarily focuses of 3 specific soldiers （Kats Miho， Fred Shiosaki， and Rudy Tokiwa） and one conscientious objector （Gordon Hirabayashi） detailing their lives leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor， their lives in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor， and their roles played during the war。 The book started off slow introducing these men and their families， but once Kats， Fred， and Rudy got to Europe and the reader was able to see the war through their eyes things really picked up。 This book details the missions these men went on， the extreme number of casualties suffered， and incredible acts of heroism when looking up at nests of machine guns strafing them with bullets， crossing mine laden fields in the dark， and dodging bullets from tanks。 From an historical perspective， it is important to understand the hardships these soldiers and their families endured， how their achievements were overlooked for years， and the integral part they played in helping win the war。 。。。more
Shirley Freeman
，
Daniel James Brown， author of The Boys in the Boat， has written another amazing WWII era book。 In this case， Brown learned the stories of several Japanese American families from Hawaii and the west coast whose lives were altered so dramatically by the events initiated on December 7th， 1941。 Most of the families ended up incarcerated in internment camps losing most of their possessions and life-long businesses in the process。 Many of their young men chose to join the military once they were allow Daniel James Brown， author of The Boys in the Boat， has written another amazing WWII era book。 In this case， Brown learned the stories of several Japanese American families from Hawaii and the west coast whose lives were altered so dramatically by the events initiated on December 7th， 1941。 Most of the families ended up incarcerated in internment camps losing most of their possessions and life-long businesses in the process。 Many of their young men chose to join the military once they were allowed to。 The segregated fighting unit of Japanese American soldiers were some of the toughest， most heroic soldiers in the war。 They truly made a difference in the outcome of the war。 One of the young men he followed chose to fight the racist system （incarcerate the parents， send the sons to war in segregated units） by refusing to sign certain paperwork and therefore going to jail。 Through the words and actions of specific people， Brown tells the stories of Pearl Harbor， incarceration， army induction， war （some of that was really hard to read。。。 much less experience）， concentration camp， witnessing the atomic bomb， and reintegrating into society。 History comes alive， for better and worse， with Brown's well-researched， enthralling tale。 。。。more
Jennifer Schultz
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Read if you: Want a powerful account of Japanese-American soldiers pre and post Pearl Harbor and the end of World War II。Japanese-American soldiers risked their lives at the very same time their parents， grandparents， and siblings were forced into detention camps for no other reason than their Japanese heritage。 Not only does this follow an outstanding Japanese-American military unit who fought in Europe， but it also chronicles the brave protest of a Japanese-American conscientious objector。 Thi Read if you: Want a powerful account of Japanese-American soldiers pre and post Pearl Harbor and the end of World War II。Japanese-American soldiers risked their lives at the very same time their parents， grandparents， and siblings were forced into detention camps for no other reason than their Japanese heritage。 Not only does this follow an outstanding Japanese-American military unit who fought in Europe， but it also chronicles the brave protest of a Japanese-American conscientious objector。 This is magnificently told and very much needed at this moment， when Asian-Americans are once again facing prejudice and racism。 Librarians/booksellers: This adds a much needed perspective to World War II nonfiction tiles。 May is Asian-American & Pacific Islander Month， so this arrives just in time for that。 Many thanks to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Michael Lynch
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I just finished reading Daniel James Brown's Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II。 My pre-publication review is embargoed until publication， but I can say here that this is an excellent book and well worth the time to read this important story。 Brown writes beautiful narrative history; I will publish my review here after it appears in print。 Publication date for the book is May 11， 2021。 I just finished reading Daniel James Brown's Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II。 My pre-publication review is embargoed until publication， but I can say here that this is an excellent book and well worth the time to read this important story。 Brown writes beautiful narrative history; I will publish my review here after it appears in print。 Publication date for the book is May 11， 2021。 。。。more
Stephanie Crowe
，
Little has been written about the Japanese Americans who fought for America during WWII。 Brown has written an informative history of these brave young men who signed up to protect the U。S。 as they considered themselves Americans。 Although their relatives were incarcerated in camps and suffered greatly these young men proved themselves heroes。 Brown not only records the war stories but also shares the experiences of the parents and families in the internment camps。 Great story！
Martin
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