George Nakamura Collection, 1938-1949, bulk 1941-1945

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Summary

Creators:
Nakamura, George
Abstract:
The collection contains photographs, three letters, a souvenir newspaper, and a combat rifleman pin related to George Nakamura's military service in the 100th Infantry Battalion during World War II. There are references to friendships made with the Fitting family in Wisconsin during military training, and recovery in military hospitals in 1944.
Extent:
6 folders, 1 panorama photograph, 1 pin
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George Nakamura Collection. 2018.22, Japanese American National Museum. Los Angeles, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains photographs, three letters, a souvenir newspaper, and a combat rifleman pin. Photographs include 65 prints and 1 panorama photograph, primarily of George Nakamura's service in the army from approximately 1940 to 1945. A number of the photos depict George's time visiting the Fitting family in Wisconsin, where he became a friend of the family during his military training. Two photos depict George at Kaneohe Territorial Hospital. The letters include one v-mail from George sent from Europe, one letter from a nurse to George's sister, and one letter from Beverly Fitting to George's sister.

Biographical / historical:

George Nakamura (1918-1949) was born and raised in Hawaii, one of nine children. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1940 (and may have been with the United States National Guard in 1941), and was later sent to La Crosse, Wisconsin for training. While there, he met the Fitting family, who took care of him and included him in family gatherings. He went overseas as a member of the 100th Battalion. While fighting in Europe, he suffered from shell shock and was returned to South Carolina to convalesce. A nurse sent a few pictures and letters covertly to another Nakamura sibling, Gladys. George eventually returned to Hawaii, but was sent to the Territorial Hospital in Kaneohe, Hawaii (a mental institution) where he stayed until his death after a bout of pneumonia in 1949.

Acquisition information:
Acquired in 2018 as a gift of the Nakamura family.
Processing information:

Items were initially processed by museum staff, and digitized and described by Tori Ishikawa.

Arrangement:

Items are grouped by material type; photographs are grouped roughly by theme.

Physical location:
Japanese American National Museum. 100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

Terms of access:

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).

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George Nakamura Collection. 2018.22, Japanese American National Museum. Los Angeles, CA.

Location of this collection:
Collections Management & Access Unit
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012, US
Contact:
213-625-0414
collections@janm.org
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