Local Nisei veteran Sus Ito to appear in Rose Parade

Sus Ito and George Takei

The New England JACL told us a few days ago that one of our members, 95-year-old Sus Ito, will be appearing in the Rose Parade on a "Go For Broke" float sponsored by the City of Alhambra in collaboration with the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce and the Go For Broke National Education Center. He'll join Mayor Gary Yamauchi and his wife, Linda, and other 442nd and 100th Infantry Battalion veterans. The 442nd was the only all Japanese American regiment in the US army during WWII and the most decorated. "Go For Broke," Hawaiian Pidgin gambling slang for wagering it all, was their motto.

Sus has had a busy year. In February, he was among a group of seven 442nd veterans who met President Obama (video below) and in November, he met George Takei at the Somerville Theater.

Within the local Japanese American community, Sus is known for his special spam musubi! You can read about his long career and many accomplishments at his Wikipedia page and in this Harvard Crimson piece.



If you're in the Boston area, you can watch the Rose Parade on WCVB beginning at 11am. The JACL said the Go For Broke float will be third in the parade line up.

Happy New Year!

Photo credit: New England JACL