Lane Nakano

Tsutomo Nakano (1925–2005), also known as Lane Nakano, was a former American combat soldier turned actor.[1]

World War II

US Army

Lane Nakano and his twin brother Lyle were members of a California family that "adopted" legendary Marine Corps combat interpreter Guy Gabaldon at age twelve. Gabaldon was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions on Saipan and Tinian islands during World War II which included saving the lives of many Japanese civilians on the two islands.[2] During World War II, Nakano was interned at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming.[3] While there, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army. Nakano and his brother were assigned to the legendary and much decorated, 442nd Regimental Combat Team.[1]

Actor

Nakano's opportunity to work as an actor began when he was discovered after the war by Hollywood director and writer Robert Pirosh. Pirosh cast Nakano as second billing after American actor Van Johnson in the 1951 war film about the history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II, Go for Broke.[4]

Career

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Lane Nakano, 80, a Soldier Turned Actor, Is Dead", The New York Times, May 11, 2005
  2. Varzally, Allison (2008). Making a Non-White America. Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp. 114–115. ISBN 978-0-520-25344-5.
  3. "National Archives: Lane Nakano". Retrieved 2011-06-26.
  4. 1 2 Yenne, Bill. (2007). Rising Sons: The Japanese American GIs Who Fought for the United States in World War II, 253., p. 253, at Google Books

References

External links


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