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Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II
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About This Book
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 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. And within months many would themselves be living behind barbed wire. 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
"deep and richly detailed ..."
"Facing the Mountain is a propulsive and gripping read, in part because of Mr."
"Brown combines history with humanity in a tense, tender and well-researched study of the lives disrupted and disregarded by misperceptions and misinformation ..."
"This allows him to personalise and juxtapose both sides of this extraordinary story: the appalling wartime treatment of Japanese-Americans; and the heroism in combat of thousands of young Nisei as they strove to prove they were as patriotic and selfless as their fellow countrymen."
"Although this is familiar ground, the author delivers a superb description of the unit's training and unparalleled battlefield achievements ..."
"Most are gone now, but their stories will live on in this empathetic tribute to their courage."
"The result is an illuminating and spirited portrait of courage under fire."
"He provides ample (and heartbreaking) context around the times, painting a picture of an America choked with hatred, convinced of its own moral superiority while at the same time imprisoning its own citizens because of their heritage ..."
"Combining social and military history, Brown's latest book gives readers a heartbreaking picture of all that Japanese Americans sacrificed for their country during World War II."
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