Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II

On May 2, 1945, following a two-week-long bloody battle, the Soviet Red Army took Berlin. Meanwhile, the 522nd, including Kats Miho and George Oiye, “found hundreds of survivors from the death march out of Dachau milling around aimlessly” (445). Many were in such poor shape that their bodies were unable to process solid food. Some “died from exposure or the effects of eating food their bodies could not handle” (445). On May 8 and 9, 1945, instruments of surrender were signed and ratified. Throughout the US, people celebrated. When Hiro Higuchi announced to the soldiers that the war was over, he “saw tears dribbling down cheeks” (447). Many were happy that it was over, grateful, but were exhausted and grim-faced: “Too much had happened. Too many friends were gone” (448). Europe was in a massive humanitarian crisis: displaced refugees, disease, and POWs. The first of the 442nd headed home in the summer.

Japanese Americans in concentration camps met the news “with relief but restraint” (449). They were “terrified by the prospect that they would never able to safely return to reclaim their remaining possessions and their way of life” (451). In some parts of the country, like Salinas, California, there was pushback against Japanese Americans returning.