Skip to main content

Casey H. Kunimura photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P1421

Scope and Contents

The Casey H. Kunimura photograph collection contains 2 color images of Kunimura in his home in Ogden, Utah, and 1 color laser print image of Casey Kunimura in his 442nd army hat and shirt. The images date from 2010.

Dates

  • 2010

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Casey H. Kunimura photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Casey Kunimura was born in California to Japanese American immigrant parents. In 1942, when he was around 16-years-old, Kunimura and his family were imprisoned by the United States government. The Kunimuras were first held in converted rodeo grounds in Salinas, California, before being transferred to a concentration camp in Arizona. After a year of imprisonment, Casey Kunimura was released in a supervised work program and sent to Chicago; while there, he tried to enlist in the army, but was rejected. However, with the creation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was made up primarily of Japanese Americans, Kunimura was drafted into the United States Army; he served as a machine gunner primarily in southern France and northern Italy. The 442nd helped to liberate France from Nazi control; they were also among the United States troops who liberated Dachau concentration camp in Poland. A member of Company M of the 442nd Regional Combat Team, Kunimara was awarded the Comb at Infantry Badge Bronze.

During Kunimura’s World War II service, his family remained imprisoned in the United States. After World War II, Kunimura remained in the military, serving in Korea and Vietnam and remaining an Air Force reservist. Kunimura’s wife, Dorothy, was also a veteran, having served in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps from 1950 to 1954. After leaving the military, Kunimura worked for the United States government civil service. In 2011, Kunimura and several other Utah veterans of the 442nd received Congressional Gold Medals for their military service. Casey and Dorothy Kunimara have also been honored locally in Ogden, Utah.

Extent

3 Items (1 box)

Abstract

Casey H. Kunimura was a Japanese American veteran who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. This collection contains three color laser printed images of Casey Kunimura, taken in September 2010.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Casey H. Kunimura in 2011..

Related Materials

This collection forms part of the Mitsugi M. Kasai Memorial Japanese American Archive.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.
Title
Guide to the Casey H. Kunimura photograph collection, 2010
Author
Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863