"Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero's Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II"

About the Book:
Ben Kuroki was a 24-year-old Japanese American farm boy whose heritage was never a problem in remote Nebraska—until Pearl Harbor. Among the millions of Americans who flocked to military stations to enlist, Ben wanted to avenge the attack, reclaim his family honor, and prove his patriotism. But as anti-Japanese sentiment soared, Ben had to fight to be allowed to fight for America. And fight he did. As a gunner on Army Air Forces bombers, Ben flew 58 missions spanning three combat theaters: Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific, including the climactic B-29 firebombing campaign against Japan that culminated with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He flew some of the war’s boldest and bloodiest air missions and lived to tell about it. In between his tours in Europe and the Pacific, he challenged Franklin D. Roosevelt’s shameful incarceration of more than 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry in America, and he would be credited by some with setting in motion the debate that reversed a grave national dishonor.
In the euphoric wake of America’s victory, the decorated war hero used his national platform to carry out what he called his “59th mission,” urging his fellow Americans to do more to eliminate bigotry and racism at home. Told in full for the first time, and long overdue, Ben’s extraordinary story is a quintessentially American one of patriotism, principle, perseverance, and courage. It’s about being in the vanguard of history, the bonding of a band of brothers united in a just cause, a timeless and unflinching account of racial bigotry, and one man’s transcendent sense of belonging—in war, in peace, abroad, and at home.
Join us as the Rejebian book review series celebrates its 70th season this summer. Rejebian welcomes authors and book reviewers to discuss a new literary work each week.
The speaking portion of the event remains free to the public, but with space limitations due to construction, registration is now required. The event will begin at 7 pm in the historic HPUMC Sanctuary, where the doors will open at 6 pm.
Learn more and register here: www.hpumc.org/events/rejebian-series-presents-gregg-jones-most-honorable-son-a-forgotten-heros-fight-against-fascism-and-hate-during-world-war-ii?date=2026-06-24