LITTLE TOKYO : Unity Among GIs in WW II Celebrated

An exhibit on the shared experiences among Japanese American and Jewish soldiers in World War II will open this month with a ceremony commemorating the liberation of the Dachau death camp in Germany by U.S. military troops, including one unit consisting of Japanese Americans.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii); Janina Cywinska, a Dachau survivor, and Edward Ichiyama, a former serviceman, are scheduled to speak at the opening of “Witness: Our Brothers’ Keepers--Japanese American and Jewish American GIs” at the Japanese American National Museum.

The exhibit, which includes photographs and written recollections, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Dachau on April 29, 1945, the first time many Americans learned of the existence of Nazi concentration camps.

Jewish American and Japanes American troops, assigned to the 552 Field Artillery Battalion, were among the liberators of the camps.

Some of the Japanese Americans in that battalion came from U.S. internment camps that held 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry.

The commemoration begins at 9:30 a.m. on April 30 at the museum, 369 E. 1st St. The exhibit runs through Aug. 27. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults; $3 for children, students and senior citizens. Information: (213) 625-0414.