Purple Heart Warriors: 6. ‘Go for broke’

As the 442nd take on the Nazi enemy, they shout their unit’s anthem: “Go for broke”. Ken finally learns why he has been transported back into his grandfather’s life as a soldier. Then he finds himself travelling forwards in time to present-day Los Angeles.

This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.

Cast:

Narrator: Will Sharpe

Ken: Akie Kotabe

Lieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy Elletson

Grandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde Kusatsu

Emily: Samantha Dakin

Little Ken: Hudson Roberts.

Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn Tomita

Nui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron Ikeda

Barry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek Mio

Shorty: Raiko Gohara

Ohta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooey

Drill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougal

Colonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin Stinton

Sonny: Kurt Kanazawa

Boxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi

Written by Iris Yamashita

Sound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker Sound

Recording and mixing: Leon Chambers

Original music: Josh Sneesby

Consultant: L Stuart Hirai

Dramaturg: James Yeatman

Broadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski

Production co-ordinator: Kate Brook

Associate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa Crompton

Director: Jessica Dromgoole

Producer: Catherine Bailey.

Based on an idea by Simon Pitts

A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service

Audio for this episode was updated on 24th January 2025.