Dec 24, 2009

No-No Boy | Biography

John Okada was born in Seattle, Washington, in September 1923, of Japanese American parents. He attended Broadway High School, but his college education at the University of Washington was interrupted by World War II, during which Okada’s family was interned in Idaho because they were Japanese American. Okada volunteered for service in the U.S. Air Force. He served in army intelligence, translating Japanese radio transmissions and dropping propaganda leaflets over Japanese-held islands in the South Pacific. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of sergeant.

Okada completed his...