A devotion to country

I recently had the pleasure of presenting a well-deserved award to a longtime, dedicated Legionnaire for his continuous years with Utah Boys State and service to his country.

At the young age of 16 in 1942, Casey Kunimura, his mother and siblings were forced to leave their home in Gilroy, Calif., and relocate to an internment camp after an executive order was issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Though a native-born U.S. citizen, he was detained because of his Japanese ancestry.

But Kunimura’s story following life in camp is one of forgiveness and love for country. After once carrying around an “enemy alien” draft classification card, Kunimura went on to serve with one of the most highly decorated units of World War II – the 442nd Regimental Combat Team – and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He too has been an active American Legion member for 48 continuous years, serving as Department of Utah commander in 1994, and he’s a 30-year staff member of Utah Boys State.

Though he lived at the Poston internment camp in the hot Arizona desert for a year before the Selective Service reclassified and issued him a draft notice, Kunimura has always said, “America is my country. I’ve always said one thing, ‘My country … right or wrong, my country,’” said 92-year-old Kunimura, who resides in North Ogden, Utah, where he’s a member and past commander of Post 9.

Kunimura joined the U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team in 1944 as a machine gunner, fighting his way through France while his family and friends remained in Poston, “being held prisoners by the very country I was fighting for,” he said. “But my patriotism, devotion to my nation, and love of country could not be denied.”
Following the end of World War II, Kunimura served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, met his wife Dorothy – a Korean War veteran and a member of Post 9 – raised three children, and retired from the military and civil service.

Since his involvement with Utah Boys State began more than 30 years ago, he’s been a counselor, assisted with party elections, and now organizes and helps pass out awards. He’s remained involved in the program because of his “love of country, of the military, of veterans and of the young men to instill upon them the ideas of democracy,” Kunimura said. 

Kunimura credits his longstanding involvement with The American Legion as a way to “spend a little of my own time to make this country just a little bit better in the long run.” I encourage you to read more of his inspiring story here and let it be a reminder to all of us of our own service and sacrifice.