A Most Unlikely Hero Depicts Hidden Racism in Military

(SALEM) - A new documentary, “A Most Unlikely Hero,” will be shown Sunday, Feb. 18th, at 4:00 PM in the Hatfield Room in the Hatfield Library at Willamette University. This free event will include a conversation with filmmaker Steve Okino and with Bruce Yamashita, who battled injustice in one of America’s most powerful institutions.

Hawaiian native Yamashita never intended to be an activist, but was bewildered when he ran into a relentless barrage of racial slurs and attacks after signing up for the United States Marine Corps. Yamashita waged a lonely, five-year “fight to get my dignity back,” unexpectedly uncovering evidence of widespread discrimination. In a case that rocked the Corps and the nation, military officers eventually admitted to disparate treatment of minority Marines.

“Yamashita’s long battle for justice revealed a strong pattern of discrimination in America and transformed him from an everyday citizen to an unlikely hero,” said Gordy Toyama, director of Multicultural Affairs at Willamette University.

“The film should convince anyone who believes that America has become a color-blind society that race still remains the principal barrier of exclusion for non-whites, even highly accomplished ones like Bruce Yamashita,” said Toyama. “Okino has produced a powerful film that captures Yamashita’s determination and courage in defending people of color.”

The film has been shown on public television stations and campuses throughout the U.S. For more information see unlikelyhero.org or call (503) 370-6265.

The event is sponsored by Willamette’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Portland chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and Alpha Zeta Nu, a Willamette student organization.

Salem-News.com Top Stories

2025: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

Two Wars with No Way Out

No One Owns the Future

The Ugly Origins of Trump's America First Policy

A One-State Solution Could Transform the World

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

a woman February 12, 2007 8:49 pm (Pacific time)

I'm sorry to have offended you. Bad choice of words.

Albert Marnell February 12, 2007 1:30 am (Pacific time)

Mr. Yamashita has faced discrimination in a grey area where people can easily lie and cover-up what they have done. You do not have to go far in your memory to realize that we have a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", established in 1993, policy which in reality does not deserve the dignity of the term "Policy". More than 11,000 service members have been dismissed under this "policy". Many people were proficient in Arabic and then our military found itself in trouble because they could not find proper replacements. One case out of many is that of Mr. Bleu Copas, age 31 prox., that was outed by a stream of anonymous e-mails to his superiors in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. The army actually spent 8 months "investigating" (I have to laugh even at the term in this case even though I do not find this stuff funny). He received an honorable discharge Jan. 30, 2006-less than four years after he enlisted. He was a decorated sergeant and says he never told his superiors he was gay and his accuser was never identified. You can bet your bottom dollar that there are many, many strong patterns of discrimination in the military and everywhere else. Some discrimination is actually "policy". How on earth can anyone with half a brain and half an education actually rationalize this? People that are scared of gay people are only frightened of what "might" be part of their own inner sensations, desires and impulses. You do not need to have a doctorate in psychology to figure that out.

GI Janie February 11, 2007 10:08 pm (Pacific time)

Osotan, concur and understand your sacarism and possibly echo that opinion stated in different terms. Soldiers marine or army,, (dare I make that comparison?) and when say soldiers as a whole, do mean most who have honor and take their job with seriousness of the art of soldiering,, want to be acknowleged as soldiers 1st,, not sex symbols. personally I tend to forget my humanness or what gender I maybe until reminded when engage heavily in the battle of soldiering. I personally take offense if identified as female soldier,, mostly I am a soldier first , then female. calling a soldier sexy,,, its seducing him/her, insulting his/her bearing and disapline of self. kind of like saying.. "oh arent they cute",, can be taken as insulting in a way. correct me if this isnt the same thought pattern,, just IMO

and furthermore; February 11, 2007 6:51 pm (Pacific time)

The 51st Composite Coastal Defense batallion, USMC, Montford Point,1942-1945, participated in entire Pacific island campaign, including the Soloman's, Tinian, Ewok, Tarawa.,Okinawa and Iwo Jima, with distinction and valor, according to declassified documents, film footage and still photo's of that era. Sgt.Major Gilbert H. Johnson stood out as a hero among them. These were what the Corps refer to as "a few good men".,there were many but never enough. Thought you ought to know.

Osotan; February 11, 2007 6:37 pm (Pacific time)

Sarcasm?.,me?. PFC Yamashita.,Tim and Bonnie.,Henry.,I ask you all.,am I sarcastic? Is the USMC Sarcastic? Vishnu!.,Jesus!.,Allah!.,Shiva!.,Buddha!.,Sitah!.,Durgha!.,Hanomahn!.,Ram Dhas!., the Dalai Lama!.,and Bob Marley!.,Sarcasm?.,let it perish from conception! I would never stoop so low! But..,they have an entrance ritual into the Corps (both female and male Marines have to be subjected to this maturing.,character building process) called "the yellow footsteps". You maybe are familiar with said example? It is equivilant to every mistake you ever made in your entire life instantly visible before you as the gravity of the situation does a Mach 4 impression on ones logic and self esteem, while standing in concrete like precision attention, augmented by the Drill Instuctors cordial encouragement.(you can't call them D.I.'s to their face, and you can't even use the word "you" for an amazing rationale I can't get into now.) That it was self inflicted means nothing to the male psyche, nothing. So rather than a bus ride to high school.,it became a CH-46 into a "hot L-Z"., and if it wasn't for sarcasm I'd probably be a little "eccentric"., and remember I discovered that all this being self inflicted meant nothing to the male psyche. Unbelievable we survived this long! Uh..,chao!

a woman February 11, 2007 5:55 pm (Pacific time)

I'm not sure if your being sarcastic. Not everyone finds the same traits attractive.Both men and women tend to be attracted to simply the outside. To me a guy with soul like Mr. Hamashita is just damn sexy!

Osotan; February 11, 2007 5:19 pm (Pacific time)

Oh, I see, of course. I hadn't really thought of it that way, and I'm certain Sgt.Maj. Johnson didn't either. Thank you, as I'd wondered what that really meant for years now., most of my "adult" life actually.

a woman February 11, 2007 4:24 pm (Pacific time)

I used the word "sexy" because I find a man of values and courage extremely attractive.

GI Janie February 11, 2007 3:33 pm (Pacific time)

well said Osotan,, as usual

Osotan; February 11, 2007 3:34 am (Pacific time)

To; a woman., Marines are not allowed to be "sexy". Mr Yamashita's story has roots before WWII when they (the Marines) were actually a racially segregated department of the Navy, with up till then, non white military personnel only in the Army as combat troops, though segregated in individual black or Japanese units. In the Navy non white personnel were stationed aboard ships or mainland bases as "stewards", and other non-combat roles, kept from "mainside" base areas in out of the way locales till sent to war. This institutional racism continued till 1942 when F.D. Roosevelt, by presidential decree, desegregated the Marine Corps and the then Secretry of the Navy, Frank Knox, authorized the opening of Montford Point in North Carolina, to specifically serve as a recruit training depot or "boot camp" for black Marines, to augment MCRD Parris Island, S.C. and MCRD San Diego. The land designated for this was an 11 square mile tract bordered by the Atlantic on the east, and in or near the "swamp" called Camp Geiger and Camp Lejeune and the town of Jacksonville N.C.,to the west. The seperation of units, according to race, was maintained till 1947 in the Marine Corps and 1949 in the Army.,when black and white and Latino and multi cultural-ethnic personel were combined in housing, training and fighting the wars together, from that time on. I'm not making this up. I was in the Marines, and they,(the D.I.'s on up), Hated Everybody with equal disdain! It's just the way they are! It's one of the less than subtle differences of this branch of the military. I'm telling you this in memory of Sgt. Major Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson.,of Montford Point.,(later to be named Camp Johnson after him). His ghost was amused over the term "sexy". Look him up on the net and you'll see what I mean. And Mr. Yamashita.,Semper Fi Man.,I know they mess with us more than they should. I'd like to see the documentary but need to rely on word format for now. You lost no dignity with me Samurai.,none at all!

Osotan; February 11, 2007 12:02 am (Pacific time)

no comment.

a woman February 10, 2007 11:30 pm (Pacific time)

Now that is a truly sexy man. One who transforms the ugliness into reform and courage!

[Return to Top]