Wilson’s Veterans Day celebration honors Japanese American soldiers

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Retired World War II infantry veteran of the 442 RCT, L Company, U.S. Army, Don Seki, 96 of West L.A., was the guest speaker and received a plaque for his service from school officials during the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. Seki joined the exclusive Hawaiian Army unit in 1943 and was discharged in 1946. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Retired World War II veteran United States Marines PFC Sam Reiner, 94 of Sunland, left, received a plaque for his service from school principal Dr. Narek Kassabian, second from left, ASB president Olivia Shaverdian, second from right, and PTSA president Amelia Frinier, during the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. Reiner, a Jewish war veteran, was wounded twice in bsttle and received two Purple Hearts. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Retired World War II infantry veteran of the 442 RCT, L Company, U.S. Army, Don Seki, 96 of West L.A., was the guest speaker and received a plaque for his service from from school principal Dr. Narek Kassabian, second from left, ASB president Olivia Shaverdian, second from right, and PTSA president Amelia Frinier, during the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. Seki joined the exclusive Hawaiian Army unit in 1943 and was discharged in 1946. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Dr. Novarro Stafford, right, received a plaque for his service from PTSA president Amelia Frinier, left, school principal Dr. Narek Kassabian, second from left and ASB president Olivia Shaverdian, second from right, during the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. Stafford served in three branches of the military, U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force in Korea and Vietnam. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Medic AlvinJohnson received a plaque for his service from school principal Dr. Narek Kassabian, left, ASB president Olivia Shaverdian, second from right, and PTSA president Amelia Frinier, during the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. Johnson currently leads the Crescenta Valley High School Air Force Junior ROTC. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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School choir director Rebecca Southward leads the advanced choir during the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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World War II infantry veteran of the 442 RCT, L Company, U.S. Army, Don Seki, 96 of West L.A., was the guest speaker and received a plaque for his service from school officials during the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. Seki joined the exclusive Hawaiian Army unit in 1943 and was discharged in 1946. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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The Crescenta Valley High School Air Force Junior ROTC color guard presents the colors at the annual Woodrow Wilson Middle School Veterans Day Program, at the school in Glendale on Thursday, Nov, 8, 2018. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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By Lila Seidman

Nov. 9, 2018 5:35 PM PT

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, many Japanese Americans enlisted to help with the war effort, a topic highlighted Wednesday during the annual Veterans Day celebration at Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

One of those men who enlisted was Don Seki, who was living in Hawaii when the attack happened on Dec. 7. He subsequently signed up and joined a celebrated regiment comprised mostly of second-generation, Japanese American soldiers.

Not leaving the United States with his parents who asked him to come with them to Japan just prior to the attack “was the best decision of my life” because it allowed him to serve his country, Seki said during the event, which was attended by hundreds of students.

Seki and fellow members of the 442^nd Infantry Regiment became known for breaking through German troops in October 1944 and rescuing 211 men who had long been trapped by enemy forces.

“We had to get them out,” Seki said. While marching to recover the isolated battalion, Seki was struck by fire from a 3-foot machine gun. He ended up losing his arm.

This year’s program was a nod to the school’s Japanese dual-language students, according to Sue Jekarl, a board member of the Glendale Parks & Open Space Foundation.

The program “was pretty touching,” sixth-grader Nanar Tutunjian said. “Whoever signs up for war, they’re really brave and are giving up everything for it.”

“There’s a lack of knowledge of what happened, even modern history,” among students, said Peter Regli, a teacher at Wilson and producer of the assembly.

The goal of the program, which was launched after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, is to fill in those comprehension gaps, he said.

Honored alongside Seki and other veterans was Wilson’s own librarian, Anita McCarthy, who served for eight years in the U.S. Air Force, primarily shooting film and video used for congressional briefings and war games.

“I think everyone should join. It’s a very good cultural experience,” said McCarthy, who added that she was able to travel all over the world, including Peru, Argentina, Japan, Panama and the White House as part of her service that stretched from 1975 to 1983.

lila.seidman@latimes.com

Twitter: @lila_seidman