Lawson Sakai
442nd RCT

Lawson Sakai was born in Los Angeles on October 27, 1923. He tried to join the Navy on December 8, 1941 (the day after Pearl Harbor) and was rejected. His family evacuated to Colorado in 1942. In March 1943 Lawson volunteered for 442 nd . He left to go overseas in May 1944 and stayed overseas until November 1945. While overseas, he served in all of the 442 nd campaigns. During that time he was wounded four times, once seriously. In December 1945 he was discharged from the army. He married Mineko Hirasaki of Gilroy, California on April 8, 1946. They have four children, ranging in age from 49 to 58. After leaving the service, Lawson operated a travel agency in San Jose, California. He sold the business in 1990 to retire. Lawson has been very active in the 442 nd reunions. He recently led a group of 53 to Bruyeres, France for the 60 th Anniversary of the liberation of Bruyeres, France by the 442. He has lived in Gilroy, California since 1948.