This collection contains primarily letters sent to Miriam (Stirberg) Kaufman, dating from 1944 to 1945. The contents are primarily letters and photos Kaufman received while corresponding with two World War II soldiers in the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team, as well as a few letters from Senator Daniel Inouye from 1989.

Miriam Stirberg began exchanging letters with Private Robert Miyazaki and Private Asaji Sato after meeting them on a trip to Coney Island, New York as a teenager in 1944. Private Robert Miyazaki was born on July 1, 1922 in Honolulu, Hawaii and passed away on December 21, 2017. Private Asaji Sato was born on March 12, 1925 in Pahela, Hawaii and passed away in 1969. Sometime after the war ended, Kaufman lost contact with both men. She reached out to Senator Inouye in 1989 to find the whereabouts of Sato and Miyazaki. Senator Inouye replied back informing her that the 442nd Veterans Club in Hawaii were unable to re-establish contact with them for her.

.21 linear feet (1 box)

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Collections Management and Access Unit at the Japanese American National Museum (collections@janm.org).

By appointment only. Please contact the Collections Management and Access Unit (collections@janm.org). Advanced notice is required.