KCET Airs 'Honor Bound: A Personal Journey' Documentary

By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze  

Highlights the Courageous 44nd Regimental Combat Team of the U.S. Army During World War II

Honor Bound: A Personal Journey, is the story of Wendy Hanamura, a news reporter, who chronicles the history of her father, Sgt[AA1] . Howard Hanamura, and his military unit: Company L, First Platoon, of the highly decorated yet controversial 442nd Regiment of the U.S. Army. These Japanese-American soldiers fought with legendary courage during World War II, while their families were forced into internment camps at home.

This award-winning documentary follows Wendy and Howard throughout Europe, where they retrace the steps of the 442nd along their barnstorming tour.

Sgt. Hanamura and his fellow soldiers detail their battles, the hardships of wartime travel as well as life as a Japanese American during WWII. Their stories flesh out a harrowing time for Japanese Americans, which was during a highly anti-Japanese era in the United States.

Veterans also recount the 442nd's rescue of the "Lost Battalion", an operation the Army calls one of the top ten battles of all time.

There are other special Veteran's Day programs on Sunday, Nov. 11:

Defending the Homeland: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces, airing from 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.: This documentary tells the stories of Native Americans who have participated in the US mili­tary, from the American Revolution to present day Iraq. It will showcase their emotional battles both overseas as warriors and at home as veterans.

California at War (2 p.m. - 3 p.m.): Discover how World War II impacted California more than any other state. This documentary connects California's past to its present and will reveal that many of the opportunities and challenges of today are rooted from WWII.

Note: I interviewed Judy Muller, Renowned Journalist on "California At War" and also Bret Marcus, KCET Vice President of Programming, on "California at War", in 2007.

Tragedy of Bataan (3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.): Narrated by Alec Baldwin, this program chronicles the fall of the Philippines and the Bataan Death March in the early months of World War II. It contains first-account interviews with over twenty former sur­vivors, several unpublished diaries, rare photos and drawings and never before seen Japanese propaganda film footage.

Angle of Attack (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.): Uncover the 100-year history of Naval aviation. The two-hour documentary deftly interweaves archival footage, interviews with historical and military experts, contemporary footage of cutting-edge aircraft and insights from today's Top Gun fighter pilots in the Marine Corps and Navy.

44nd: Live with Honor, Die with Dignity (10:30 p.m. - 12 a.m.): This film shares the unsung heroism of the 442 Regiment, formed in 1942 from "Nis­sei" (second-generation) Japanese in internment camps and officers discharged from the U.S. Army subsequent to Pearl Harbor. Sen. Daniel Inoue and actor/activist George Takei appear.

ABOUT KCET
On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. KCET currently produces the Emmy®, duPont-Columbia and Peabody Award-winning SoCal Connected, a hard-hitting prime-time nightly television news program that examines the issues and people of Southern California. Throughout its 48-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org.