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Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II
The first comprehensive biography of unjustly forgotten war hero Ben Kuroki, a Japanese American farm boy from Nebraska who flew fifty-eight combat missions, fighting the Axis Powers during World War II and battled racism, injustice, and prejudice on the home front.
Ben Kuroki was a twenty-four-year-old Japanese American farm boy whose heritage was never a problem in remote Nebraska—until Pearl Harbor. Among the millions of Americans who flocked to military stations to enlist, Ben wanted to avenge the attack, reclaim his family honor, and prove his patriotism. But as anti-Japanese sentiment soared, Ben had to fight to be allowed to fight for America. And fight he did.
As a gunner on Army Air Corps bombers, Ben flew fifty-eight missions spanning three combat Europe, North America, and the Pacific, including the climactic B-29 firebombing campaign against Japan that culminated with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He flew some of the war’s boldest and bloodiest air missions and lived to tell about it. In between his tours in Europe and the Pacific, he challenged FDR’s shameful incarceration of more than one hundred thousand people of Japanese ancestry in America, and he would be credited by some with setting in motion the debate that reversed a grave national dishonor. In the euphoric wake of America’s victory, the decorated war hero used his national platform to carry out what he called his “fifty-ninth mission,” urging his fellow Americans to do more to eliminate bigotry and racism at home.
Told in full for the first time, and long overdue, Ben’s extraordinary story is a quintessentially American one of patriotism, principal, perseverance, and courage. It’s about being in the vanguard of history, the bonding of a band of brothers united in a just cause, a timeless and unflinching account of racial bigotry, and of one man’s transcendent sense of belonging—in war, in peace, abroad, and at home.
Pulitzer Prize-finalist foreign correspondent and investigative journalist Gregg Jones is the author of three acclaimed nonfiction books: 'Honor in the Dust: Theodore Roosevelt, War in the Philippines, and The Rise and Fall of America's Imperial Dream', an Editors' Choice of the New York Times Book Review; 'Last Stand at Khe Sanh,' winner of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's Gen. Wallace M. Greene Jr. Award for distinguished nonfiction; and 'Red Revolution.' Jones reported on the fall of the Taliban and the beginning of the U.S. war in Afghanistan in 2001-2002, and has covered civil wars, insurgencies, revolutions and other major news events on five continents. He has worked as a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times and Dallas Morning News, and has also written for the Washington Post, Boston Globe and The Guardian.
Ben Kuroki was a twenty-four-year-old Japanese American farm boy whose heritage was never a problem in remote Nebraska—until Pearl Harbor. Among the millions of Americans who flocked to military stations to enlist, Ben wanted to avenge the attack, reclaim his family honor, and prove his patriotism. But as anti-Japanese sentiment soared, Ben had to fight to be allowed to fight for America. And fight he did.
As a gunner on Army Air Corps bombers, Ben flew fifty-eight missions spanning three combat Europe, North America, and the Pacific, including the climactic B-29 firebombing campaign against Japan that culminated with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He flew some of the war’s boldest and bloodiest air missions and lived to tell about it. In between his tours in Europe and the Pacific, he challenged FDR’s shameful incarceration of more than one hundred thousand people of Japanese ancestry in America, and he would be credited by some with setting in motion the debate that reversed a grave national dishonor. In the euphoric wake of America’s victory, the decorated war hero used his national platform to carry out what he called his “fifty-ninth mission,” urging his fellow Americans to do more to eliminate bigotry and racism at home.
Told in full for the first time, and long overdue, Ben’s extraordinary story is a quintessentially American one of patriotism, principal, perseverance, and courage. It’s about being in the vanguard of history, the bonding of a band of brothers united in a just cause, a timeless and unflinching account of racial bigotry, and of one man’s transcendent sense of belonging—in war, in peace, abroad, and at home.
Pulitzer Prize-finalist foreign correspondent and investigative journalist Gregg Jones is the author of three acclaimed nonfiction books: 'Honor in the Dust: Theodore Roosevelt, War in the Philippines, and The Rise and Fall of America's Imperial Dream', an Editors' Choice of the New York Times Book Review; 'Last Stand at Khe Sanh,' winner of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's Gen. Wallace M. Greene Jr. Award for distinguished nonfiction; and 'Red Revolution.' Jones reported on the fall of the Taliban and the beginning of the U.S. war in Afghanistan in 2001-2002, and has covered civil wars, insurgencies, revolutions and other major news events on five continents. He has worked as a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times and Dallas Morning News, and has also written for the Washington Post, Boston Globe and The Guardian.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1989
28 people are currently reading
2283 people want to read
About the author
Gregg Jones
6 books35 followersGregg Jones is an award-winning author, historian, investigative journalist, and foreign correspondent. He has been a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a fellow at the Kluge Center and Black Mountain Institute, and a Botstiber Foundation grant recipient. His latest work is a biography of Ben Kuroki, the first Japanese American combat hero of World War II. MOST HONORABLE SON: A Forgotten Hero's Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II will be released by Kensington Publishing on July 23, 2024. Jones is also the author of three previous nonfiction books. HONOR IN THE DUST: Theodore Roosevelt, War in the Philippines, and The Rise and Fall of America's Imperial Dream (NAL/Penguin, 2012) was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. LAST STAND AT KHE SANH: The U.S. Marines' Finest Hour in Vietnam (Da Capo/Perseus, 2014) received the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's General Wallace M. Greene Jr. Award for Distinguished Nonfiction. His first book, RED REVOLUTION: Inside the Philippine Guerrilla Movement (Westview, 1989), was praised by James Fallows in The Atlantic as a work of "prodigious, often brave reporting" and "an engrossing and highly informative book."
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 18, 2024
I went into this read not knowing anything about Ben Kuroki from Nebraska. I've read hundreds of books on WWII. History books. Written by and within the communities who incarcerated Americans who carried Japanese dna and had attractive properties. All stuff I didn't catch onto for a number of years, being a teenager and all. . . .so of course Ben's story was not the one that floated to the top of my assigned school reading, and then library options, and then. . .anyway, choir members, here are my thoughts. . .
The five stars are for Ben Kuroki, his family, his sacrifice. His amazing determination to prove to Americans that he was as American as they were. His willingness to die to prove his nay-sayers had the right to nay-say. The five stars are for Gregg Jones determinedly making sure Ben's story was captured, interviews were had, publishers were negotiated with, and printers had presses pressing. Ben Kuroki's example of patriotism is one needed by the men he served with, our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. That example stands without bowing when all the "yeah-buts" come out. . .all the reasons for less than stellar behaviors on the part of others in places of power dot the landscape.
Huzzah for Ben Kuroki! Nearly a century of honor in one amazing American. Kudos to Gregg Jones for getting Ben's story on bookshelves for us to finally learn about it!
*A sincere thank you to Gregg Jones, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #MostHonorableSon #NetGalley
The five stars are for Ben Kuroki, his family, his sacrifice. His amazing determination to prove to Americans that he was as American as they were. His willingness to die to prove his nay-sayers had the right to nay-say. The five stars are for Gregg Jones determinedly making sure Ben's story was captured, interviews were had, publishers were negotiated with, and printers had presses pressing. Ben Kuroki's example of patriotism is one needed by the men he served with, our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. That example stands without bowing when all the "yeah-buts" come out. . .all the reasons for less than stellar behaviors on the part of others in places of power dot the landscape.
Huzzah for Ben Kuroki! Nearly a century of honor in one amazing American. Kudos to Gregg Jones for getting Ben's story on bookshelves for us to finally learn about it!
*A sincere thank you to Gregg Jones, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #MostHonorableSon #NetGalley
August 1, 2025
I have unexpectedly read three books about the Pacific Theater in WWII this year, and have had learned so much along the way- and Most Honorable Son is an incredibly well researched and complied account of one man's fight through the eyes of the war as a whole and the people he came into contact with. I read this book in just over a day for the Nebraska Book Awards, so my mind is buzzing with it.
Ben Kuroki, a second generation Japanese American grew up in Hershey, Nebraska, never thinking much about his family origin. After high school, right when he was starting to get idea of what the diaspora meant to him, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in the middle of a meeting about Japanese Citizenship rights. From there, Ben was thrust into a world of racism and prejudice against his people who he never was that connected to in the first place.
Like many young men, Ben felt the call to join the fight, but his intentions were different than his white compatriots. He felt a personal responsibility to prove his loyalty as an American citizen and to show the country that his ancestral home did not represent Japanese Americans. A hard battle to be won by a small town boy with a high school education.
As the only Japanese American solider in the pacific theater, in a desperate mission to prove himself against the bigotry of America, he flew an unprecedented Fifty-Eight missions far beyond his call of duty. Here's where Most Honorable Son really makes it mark, Gregg Jones doesn't only see Ben as the hero he is, but delves into the intense insecurity that pushed him to fight for his country to earn his countries respect. It's a sad state of affairs, and one that Jones feels that Ben never came to grips with in his life. During an extended shore leave, the Military Department sent Ben to Japanese Internment camps to try and get the young men there to join the war. It was never in Ben's mind that these people who were held poisoner by their government and stripped of their basic civil liberties wouldn't want to fight for that same government and prove the bigots wrong. That is the crux of his internal blind spot. Ben committed himself for racial equality, but his conservative approach has left him a controversial figure in these communities today.
By focusing on the larger picture of the United States' racist policies up to and following Pearl Harbor, Ben Kuroki's life and experiences are seen in a context that he might not have even fully realized. Jones does an excellent job of laying out the life in the Japanese Internment camps, and the turmoil the Americans held there faced. And on the other side of the coin, he discusses familial piety and the pursuit of self-worth and nationalism that would have led Ben to enlist, when those who had been literally put into camps by their government wouldn't have. One wouldn't expect such a focus on mental health and internal politics in a WWII book, but Jones approaches the topic with grace and the further contributions of Japanese American scholars make the book a deeper look into how the United States exploited and oppressed minorities under the false name of national security.
Ben Kuroki, a second generation Japanese American grew up in Hershey, Nebraska, never thinking much about his family origin. After high school, right when he was starting to get idea of what the diaspora meant to him, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in the middle of a meeting about Japanese Citizenship rights. From there, Ben was thrust into a world of racism and prejudice against his people who he never was that connected to in the first place.
Like many young men, Ben felt the call to join the fight, but his intentions were different than his white compatriots. He felt a personal responsibility to prove his loyalty as an American citizen and to show the country that his ancestral home did not represent Japanese Americans. A hard battle to be won by a small town boy with a high school education.
“Since December 7, 1941, the ghost of Pearl Harbor had haunted Ben, as if he somehow shared personal responsibility for the deeds of the Japanese forces. In his anguish and his shame, Ben had convinced himself that only by confronting Japan in combat could he prove his patriotism and atone for the deaths of more than ninety thousand Americans in the three years of Pacific Combat.”
As the only Japanese American solider in the pacific theater, in a desperate mission to prove himself against the bigotry of America, he flew an unprecedented Fifty-Eight missions far beyond his call of duty. Here's where Most Honorable Son really makes it mark, Gregg Jones doesn't only see Ben as the hero he is, but delves into the intense insecurity that pushed him to fight for his country to earn his countries respect. It's a sad state of affairs, and one that Jones feels that Ben never came to grips with in his life. During an extended shore leave, the Military Department sent Ben to Japanese Internment camps to try and get the young men there to join the war. It was never in Ben's mind that these people who were held poisoner by their government and stripped of their basic civil liberties wouldn't want to fight for that same government and prove the bigots wrong. That is the crux of his internal blind spot. Ben committed himself for racial equality, but his conservative approach has left him a controversial figure in these communities today.
By focusing on the larger picture of the United States' racist policies up to and following Pearl Harbor, Ben Kuroki's life and experiences are seen in a context that he might not have even fully realized. Jones does an excellent job of laying out the life in the Japanese Internment camps, and the turmoil the Americans held there faced. And on the other side of the coin, he discusses familial piety and the pursuit of self-worth and nationalism that would have led Ben to enlist, when those who had been literally put into camps by their government wouldn't have. One wouldn't expect such a focus on mental health and internal politics in a WWII book, but Jones approaches the topic with grace and the further contributions of Japanese American scholars make the book a deeper look into how the United States exploited and oppressed minorities under the false name of national security.
June 5, 2025
The World War II plight of Japanese Americans is common knowledge to many. “Most Honorable Son” is a different take on the oft told story.
This is the tale of Ben Kuroki, a Nebraska farm boy born to Japanese-American immigrants in 1917. His life changed dramatically on December 7, 1941, but in different ways than some. The Kuroki family has endured racial discrimination common to Japanese-Americans, but from a different perspective. They were precluded from citizenship and land ownership but were not relocated as that applied to West Coast areas. Ben and his siblings had been raised to identify as Americans. Ben had taken the Army physical 18 days before news came of the attack at Pearl Harbor. Being unwilling to wait on the Army, he first visited a Marine Corps Recruiter, where he was told to wait for clarification on how to handle Japanese-American recruits, then enlisted in the Army Air Force. On the road to his induction in Texas he was subjected to racially motivated harassment.
Assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group, Ben was transferred to England, where he was trained as a gunner, and on to North Africa in December 1942. In days before GPS, crews were responsible for navigation. A 100-mile error in February 1943 brought Ben and his crewmates down in the Atlas Mountains of Spanish Morocco, leading to their three month confinement at Hotel Termas de Pallares, a popular spa and casino in Zaragoza in neutral Spain.
Their sorties attacked numerous targets in the Mediterranean area. Transferred to England in October 1943, Ben suffered wounds in a raid over Germany. The most detailed account is the horrific August 1943 raid on the Ploesti oil refineries that stretches over four chapters.
Ben’s status as a Japanese-American hero drew attention that only grew after an interview by Walter Cronkite. He was granted furlough and called home to a speaking tour. After braving anti-aircraft fire over North Africa and Europe, he “felt it wasn’t safe to walk the streets of his own country.” His successful speech before the prestigious Commonwealth Club of San Francisco won Ben powerful friends and celebrity status, but his visit to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center brought a different challenge as he confronted a draft-resistance movement. In contrast to Ben’s patriotic zeal to serve, others argued against service in the armed forces of a country that denied Japanese-Americans basic rights. After conclusion of the speaking tour, Ben got the assignment for which he had enlisted, Pacific, from which he participated in bombing runs on Japan from Tinian.
After 58 missions and countless near misses, Ben’s war ended in a most unlikely, but foreseeable fashion. An exchange between a Native American airman and Ben ended with a bayonet buried in Ben’s scalp shortly before the atomic bomb forced Japan’s surrender.
The return of peace and his honorable discharge brought Ben his 59th Mission, a crusade against prejudice and race hatred, which he continued as he obtained a college degree from the University of Nebraska and a career in journalism.
Author Gregg Jones has crafted a well written account that appeals to a variety of interests. The text is amply supplemented by photos, footnotes, a bibliography and index. Readers seeking insights into the air war will relish the accounts of combat. Those interested in the who fight to eradicate prejudice in our own country will find a hero. If you are just searching for a good story, look no further. Whatever your tastes, pick up and read.
This is the tale of Ben Kuroki, a Nebraska farm boy born to Japanese-American immigrants in 1917. His life changed dramatically on December 7, 1941, but in different ways than some. The Kuroki family has endured racial discrimination common to Japanese-Americans, but from a different perspective. They were precluded from citizenship and land ownership but were not relocated as that applied to West Coast areas. Ben and his siblings had been raised to identify as Americans. Ben had taken the Army physical 18 days before news came of the attack at Pearl Harbor. Being unwilling to wait on the Army, he first visited a Marine Corps Recruiter, where he was told to wait for clarification on how to handle Japanese-American recruits, then enlisted in the Army Air Force. On the road to his induction in Texas he was subjected to racially motivated harassment.
Assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group, Ben was transferred to England, where he was trained as a gunner, and on to North Africa in December 1942. In days before GPS, crews were responsible for navigation. A 100-mile error in February 1943 brought Ben and his crewmates down in the Atlas Mountains of Spanish Morocco, leading to their three month confinement at Hotel Termas de Pallares, a popular spa and casino in Zaragoza in neutral Spain.
Their sorties attacked numerous targets in the Mediterranean area. Transferred to England in October 1943, Ben suffered wounds in a raid over Germany. The most detailed account is the horrific August 1943 raid on the Ploesti oil refineries that stretches over four chapters.
Ben’s status as a Japanese-American hero drew attention that only grew after an interview by Walter Cronkite. He was granted furlough and called home to a speaking tour. After braving anti-aircraft fire over North Africa and Europe, he “felt it wasn’t safe to walk the streets of his own country.” His successful speech before the prestigious Commonwealth Club of San Francisco won Ben powerful friends and celebrity status, but his visit to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center brought a different challenge as he confronted a draft-resistance movement. In contrast to Ben’s patriotic zeal to serve, others argued against service in the armed forces of a country that denied Japanese-Americans basic rights. After conclusion of the speaking tour, Ben got the assignment for which he had enlisted, Pacific, from which he participated in bombing runs on Japan from Tinian.
After 58 missions and countless near misses, Ben’s war ended in a most unlikely, but foreseeable fashion. An exchange between a Native American airman and Ben ended with a bayonet buried in Ben’s scalp shortly before the atomic bomb forced Japan’s surrender.
The return of peace and his honorable discharge brought Ben his 59th Mission, a crusade against prejudice and race hatred, which he continued as he obtained a college degree from the University of Nebraska and a career in journalism.
Author Gregg Jones has crafted a well written account that appeals to a variety of interests. The text is amply supplemented by photos, footnotes, a bibliography and index. Readers seeking insights into the air war will relish the accounts of combat. Those interested in the who fight to eradicate prejudice in our own country will find a hero. If you are just searching for a good story, look no further. Whatever your tastes, pick up and read.
August 14, 2024
We start with the traditional full disclosure statement. I received an advance copy of "Most Honorable Son" from the author about a month ago and this is my honest review.
My father passed in 2011. Born in 1921, he was drafted by the US Army in World War 2 and later selected for Officer’s Training. My mother was a US Army Nurse. They were in both Europe and the Pacific, and he later served in Korea and Viet Nam. He retired in 1976 as a Colonel after over 30 years in service. Several of his friends were at Normandy and most of their closest friends were from this period. Calling them “The Greatest Generation” is the truest label ever invented. I still have pictures he and my mom took in bombed out Tokyo. Posing among the rubble was their normal. The Noritaki china set they gave us states on the back that it was made in “Occupied Japan.” I still have a watch that he bought in France shortly after it was liberated and the GI’s were running around buying up souvenirs to remember being there. World War 2 never felt far away for me and there were remembrances of it all over our house.
I was very pleased to receive a copy of this fine history even though I primarily read fiction. Most of my history knowledge comes from historical fiction, although I do read some historical non-fiction. For example, I recently read Ian Kershaw’s Nemeis—the second part of a definitive biography of Hitler and found it to be equal parts horrifying and fascinating. At this point in history it should be hard to believe that something as awful as World War 2 actually happened. Evil on such a large scale is hard to comprehend. I used to think that the type of mind set that could create such an atmosphere and give it oxygen to survive had long since passed. I don’t think that any more. I don’t think we have evolved as much as I once thought we had. That is what makes books like Most Honorable Son so important.
The treatment of the Japanese divided the country and remained a sore topic long after the war ended. My father said over and over again to me that the American Government's treatment of Japanese Americans was one of the most shameful things we had ever done as a nation, at least that he had seen first hand. He said that he was still sickened every time he thought of it. One of his oldest friends was another retired Colonel named Yamamoto who served with him in World War 2 and beyond, which probably accounts for how deeply he felt about this topic. I thought of Col. Yamamoto and his son, my friend, David, when I read this book, as I did when I read "Buddha’s in the Attic" and "When The Emperor Was Divine"---which I have heard is now required reading in high school in some places, as it should be. This true history shows that the actual events were even worse than the historical fiction portrays. When the politics of fear gets into our cultural and national identity it poisons the core of who we are as human beings, not just as a country. When what we fear becomes how we think, we are capable of awful action. I look around today and wonder exactly how close we are to Germany of the 1930s—how far along that spectrum we have come and how far we will go.
I don’t want to give the impression that "Most Honorable Son" is solely focused on the racial tension of the time; it is also a very fine history of how the air war devasted the Nazi war effort and even more Japan's later in the war. I believe that Kershaw states in "Nemesis" that Allied Air dominance won the war and "Most Honorable Son" provides much detail that helped my understanding of this point. I recommend it to anyone who has interest in critical air conflicts (like the hell in the air that was the low altitude bombing of Ploesti) and the specific qualities, strengths and limitations of various Allied aircraft. Finding out that the B-29 had on-board computer assistance in targeting, compensating for bullet trajectory, gravity, air speed, temperature, wind and other factors and could be operated remotely was a revelation to me. In 1945? Seriously? I had to stop and hit the internet to learn more. I made a model of the B-17 Flying Fortress when I was a kid and had it hanging from my ceiling on threads for years. As effective as that airship was, the technological advances contained on the B-29 Super Fortress was nothing short of overwhelming. I don’t want to give anything away but by the end of the war Allied air superiority had gotten to a “why bother even resisting” level of dominance.
Loved this book. Learned so much. And the personal story of Ben Kuroki was riveting, both in the air and after the war. Put his picture next to the definition of “hero” and you get it. Airmen were expected/required to fly 25 missions and were then done. Free to go home. Ben flew 25, then asked to fly 5 hoping that he could silence the haters who only saw his race. After Germany surrendered, he then flew another 23 in the Pacific. 58 missions. And then came home to start on his 59th mission—to move the hearts and minds of Americans to accept him and people of other races as full members of American Society.
Was he successful? I am not sure the we have the answer yet.
5 Stars.
My father passed in 2011. Born in 1921, he was drafted by the US Army in World War 2 and later selected for Officer’s Training. My mother was a US Army Nurse. They were in both Europe and the Pacific, and he later served in Korea and Viet Nam. He retired in 1976 as a Colonel after over 30 years in service. Several of his friends were at Normandy and most of their closest friends were from this period. Calling them “The Greatest Generation” is the truest label ever invented. I still have pictures he and my mom took in bombed out Tokyo. Posing among the rubble was their normal. The Noritaki china set they gave us states on the back that it was made in “Occupied Japan.” I still have a watch that he bought in France shortly after it was liberated and the GI’s were running around buying up souvenirs to remember being there. World War 2 never felt far away for me and there were remembrances of it all over our house.
I was very pleased to receive a copy of this fine history even though I primarily read fiction. Most of my history knowledge comes from historical fiction, although I do read some historical non-fiction. For example, I recently read Ian Kershaw’s Nemeis—the second part of a definitive biography of Hitler and found it to be equal parts horrifying and fascinating. At this point in history it should be hard to believe that something as awful as World War 2 actually happened. Evil on such a large scale is hard to comprehend. I used to think that the type of mind set that could create such an atmosphere and give it oxygen to survive had long since passed. I don’t think that any more. I don’t think we have evolved as much as I once thought we had. That is what makes books like Most Honorable Son so important.
The treatment of the Japanese divided the country and remained a sore topic long after the war ended. My father said over and over again to me that the American Government's treatment of Japanese Americans was one of the most shameful things we had ever done as a nation, at least that he had seen first hand. He said that he was still sickened every time he thought of it. One of his oldest friends was another retired Colonel named Yamamoto who served with him in World War 2 and beyond, which probably accounts for how deeply he felt about this topic. I thought of Col. Yamamoto and his son, my friend, David, when I read this book, as I did when I read "Buddha’s in the Attic" and "When The Emperor Was Divine"---which I have heard is now required reading in high school in some places, as it should be. This true history shows that the actual events were even worse than the historical fiction portrays. When the politics of fear gets into our cultural and national identity it poisons the core of who we are as human beings, not just as a country. When what we fear becomes how we think, we are capable of awful action. I look around today and wonder exactly how close we are to Germany of the 1930s—how far along that spectrum we have come and how far we will go.
I don’t want to give the impression that "Most Honorable Son" is solely focused on the racial tension of the time; it is also a very fine history of how the air war devasted the Nazi war effort and even more Japan's later in the war. I believe that Kershaw states in "Nemesis" that Allied Air dominance won the war and "Most Honorable Son" provides much detail that helped my understanding of this point. I recommend it to anyone who has interest in critical air conflicts (like the hell in the air that was the low altitude bombing of Ploesti) and the specific qualities, strengths and limitations of various Allied aircraft. Finding out that the B-29 had on-board computer assistance in targeting, compensating for bullet trajectory, gravity, air speed, temperature, wind and other factors and could be operated remotely was a revelation to me. In 1945? Seriously? I had to stop and hit the internet to learn more. I made a model of the B-17 Flying Fortress when I was a kid and had it hanging from my ceiling on threads for years. As effective as that airship was, the technological advances contained on the B-29 Super Fortress was nothing short of overwhelming. I don’t want to give anything away but by the end of the war Allied air superiority had gotten to a “why bother even resisting” level of dominance.
Loved this book. Learned so much. And the personal story of Ben Kuroki was riveting, both in the air and after the war. Put his picture next to the definition of “hero” and you get it. Airmen were expected/required to fly 25 missions and were then done. Free to go home. Ben flew 25, then asked to fly 5 hoping that he could silence the haters who only saw his race. After Germany surrendered, he then flew another 23 in the Pacific. 58 missions. And then came home to start on his 59th mission—to move the hearts and minds of Americans to accept him and people of other races as full members of American Society.
Was he successful? I am not sure the we have the answer yet.
5 Stars.
January 9, 2025
I read this book on the plane to and from Colorado, with a family visit between. (Read the book description above). Ben had to fight to be allowed to join the military and was finally allowed to do unskilled day labor at the base. He had to fight to be allowed to ride as a crew member on a bomber and to work his way into a position as tail gunner. There were examples of bias but through his determination, he also found officers and crew willing to see him as a dedicated and loyal American.
The first half showed the author’s tremendous research behind the story. Every crew member’s personal history and every flight was detailed. I really wondered what I’d gotten myself into, wishing it would focus more on Ben and his experience.
In retrospect, it was important to show the impact of wartime. The anxiety of waiting for planes in his unit to return to base. The losses of friends and buddies. The emotional turmoil and images that left airmen begging to go home before completing their twenty-fifth flight (assuming they could survive the terrible death rate among flight crews). Then, the goal before one could go home was extended to thirty.
Ben decided to take on another five after hitting his thirty missions to prove his patriotism. He came home a hero, whose quiet and heartfelt speeches won over the crowds. Yet, he also came home to the reality of internment camps, trying to fight for both US victory againstJapan and for the innocent Japanese-Americans still held in interment camps.
He fought to go back and bomb Japan for another round of missions. That anyone could survive that many missions is itself a miracle. The Air Force suffered the highest death rates of any military service (one plane down took a whole crew).
I am glad to have read the story. Sad (unfortunately not surprised) to see the treatment of minority groups (loyal Americans) during, between, and beyond wars. Upset to see poorly planned military maneuvers that seemed destined to destroy huge groups of veterans in short order.
In truth, war is an ugly, ugly thing. This book is an eye opener for anyone who finds it glamorous and honorable. The veterans fighting the wars are honorable and courageous. We should do more to honor all our veterans with the support they need after the wars are over.
The first half showed the author’s tremendous research behind the story. Every crew member’s personal history and every flight was detailed. I really wondered what I’d gotten myself into, wishing it would focus more on Ben and his experience.
In retrospect, it was important to show the impact of wartime. The anxiety of waiting for planes in his unit to return to base. The losses of friends and buddies. The emotional turmoil and images that left airmen begging to go home before completing their twenty-fifth flight (assuming they could survive the terrible death rate among flight crews). Then, the goal before one could go home was extended to thirty.
Ben decided to take on another five after hitting his thirty missions to prove his patriotism. He came home a hero, whose quiet and heartfelt speeches won over the crowds. Yet, he also came home to the reality of internment camps, trying to fight for both US victory againstJapan and for the innocent Japanese-Americans still held in interment camps.
He fought to go back and bomb Japan for another round of missions. That anyone could survive that many missions is itself a miracle. The Air Force suffered the highest death rates of any military service (one plane down took a whole crew).
I am glad to have read the story. Sad (unfortunately not surprised) to see the treatment of minority groups (loyal Americans) during, between, and beyond wars. Upset to see poorly planned military maneuvers that seemed destined to destroy huge groups of veterans in short order.
In truth, war is an ugly, ugly thing. This book is an eye opener for anyone who finds it glamorous and honorable. The veterans fighting the wars are honorable and courageous. We should do more to honor all our veterans with the support they need after the wars are over.
August 25, 2024
Creating a fictional character for a story is one thing but bringing a true hero to life on the pages of a nonfiction book about World War II requires more than just excellent research skills and a vivid imagination. It requires passion and a dedicated commitment to the endeavor of re-creating a life well lived and a country well served. And Gregg Jones has accomplished this at the highest level.
Knowing nothing about Ben Kuroki before reading this book, and then learning about the extreme challenges he faced when wanting to enlist in the US Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a first generation Japanese American, opened up a whole new exploration of what it means to be an American patriot. After each of his fifty-eight missions, even when Ben was lauded as a hero, he needed to prove repeatedly that his accomplishments as a citizen of the United States were honorable. It would have been easy to give up and sit back on his laurels, but that was not Ben Kuroki. He battled on, whether in the midst of a world war or back at home fighting against racism and discrimination, until his very final days.
Ben's journey, from the fields of Nebraska to the skies over Europe, North Africa, and Japan, and to the Japanese American internment camps of the western states, tells a moving story of what it takes and what it means to be an American patriot. And, while the same struggles he encountered in the 1940's unfortunately are still with us today, his amazing and inspiring story of perseverance, strength, courage, and optimism is one that stays with you long after the last page of the book has been read. In his own words, the "fifty-ninth mission continues."
Ben Kuroki was, indeed, a Most Honorable Son and, the story of his life by Gregg Jones is a most honorable endeavor.
Knowing nothing about Ben Kuroki before reading this book, and then learning about the extreme challenges he faced when wanting to enlist in the US Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a first generation Japanese American, opened up a whole new exploration of what it means to be an American patriot. After each of his fifty-eight missions, even when Ben was lauded as a hero, he needed to prove repeatedly that his accomplishments as a citizen of the United States were honorable. It would have been easy to give up and sit back on his laurels, but that was not Ben Kuroki. He battled on, whether in the midst of a world war or back at home fighting against racism and discrimination, until his very final days.
Ben's journey, from the fields of Nebraska to the skies over Europe, North Africa, and Japan, and to the Japanese American internment camps of the western states, tells a moving story of what it takes and what it means to be an American patriot. And, while the same struggles he encountered in the 1940's unfortunately are still with us today, his amazing and inspiring story of perseverance, strength, courage, and optimism is one that stays with you long after the last page of the book has been read. In his own words, the "fifty-ninth mission continues."
Ben Kuroki was, indeed, a Most Honorable Son and, the story of his life by Gregg Jones is a most honorable endeavor.
July 9, 2024
Gregg Jones' next forthcoming book, to release on July 23d, "Most Honorable Son," isn't your typical World War II story. It's a tale of heroism that transcends battlefields, and a story that exposes the ugly underbelly of prejudice even amidst the fight for freedom. Get excited for the extraordinary journey of Ben Kuroki, a Japanese American from Nebraska who defied stereotypes to become a decorated war hero. Ben wasn't just dodging bullets and bombs; he was battling suspicion and racism on American soil. Forced from his home by internment camps, his patriotism burned bright. He enlisted, facing discrimination within the military itself. Yet, his courage soared above it all. Ben flew a staggering 58 combat missions, first as an B-24 waist gunner and then an B-29 tail gunner, over three continents—his bravery earning him respect from his comrades. But the war wasn't Ben's only fight. Jones masterfully weaves the external battles with the internal ones. We see the sting of prejudice, the yearning for acceptance, and the unwavering determination to prove his worth. This isn't just a historical account; it's a deeply personal story that resonates with timeless themes. “Most Honorable Son" is meticulously researched, bringing Ben's story to life with vivid detail. It's a book that stays with you long after the last page. It's a reminder that heroism comes in many forms, and the fight for equality can be just as fierce as any fought on the ground. So, if you're looking for a World War II story that soars above the rest, filled with action, emotion, and a powerful message, then "Most Honorable Son" is a must-read. Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp for an advanced reading copy to review!
February 27, 2025
5/5 stars for Ben, his family, his sacrifice, and the author for capturing the wonderful life of an American hero whose story is not known by the majority of Americans.
Gregg Jones illustrated an in-depth look into Ben’s family, his life pre-war, war, and post war. While at times I might have been bored due to the extreme detail and at some points, monotony, every word and detail was important to me and I know it was important to Ben, his family, the lives lost at Pearl Harbor, the survivors of American concentration camps, and generations of Japanese Americans.
The action and detail in the book is absolutely superb.
The crimes committed against Japanese Americans by the United States will forever be a stain on the legacy of America. It is absolutely inexcusable and average Americans will never know the true extent of the damage done by the people who are supposed to protect us unless they actively choose to learn about it and seek it out.
Ben, his family, and the brave Japanese Americans who chose to sacrifice their freedom, life, and legacy to fight for a country who chose not to fight for them, are the true heroes of this country. Immigrants who chose America to be their true home, know what it means to be an American more than any natural born citizen, especially generations of American born citizens. Immigrants know the true sacrifice and hardship it takes to belong to a country that embraces them, well one that is supposed to embrace them.
I cannot get over Ben and his story.
Gregg Jones illustrated an in-depth look into Ben’s family, his life pre-war, war, and post war. While at times I might have been bored due to the extreme detail and at some points, monotony, every word and detail was important to me and I know it was important to Ben, his family, the lives lost at Pearl Harbor, the survivors of American concentration camps, and generations of Japanese Americans.
The action and detail in the book is absolutely superb.
The crimes committed against Japanese Americans by the United States will forever be a stain on the legacy of America. It is absolutely inexcusable and average Americans will never know the true extent of the damage done by the people who are supposed to protect us unless they actively choose to learn about it and seek it out.
Ben, his family, and the brave Japanese Americans who chose to sacrifice their freedom, life, and legacy to fight for a country who chose not to fight for them, are the true heroes of this country. Immigrants who chose America to be their true home, know what it means to be an American more than any natural born citizen, especially generations of American born citizens. Immigrants know the true sacrifice and hardship it takes to belong to a country that embraces them, well one that is supposed to embrace them.
I cannot get over Ben and his story.
April 11, 2025
The book is about a Japanese American named Ben Kuroki became a soldier for the U.S. army during World War II, a time when virtually everyone living on the West Coast that was of Japanese descent, no matter if they were born in the U.S. at all, were forced to move from their homes (which they had to sell along with most other belongings at massively reduced prices), shipped to assembly centers (some with horse stalls that still smelled), then shipped again to internment camps (which some term as concentration camps.)
Ben decided to volunteer but found joining did not mean he would immediately get to be part of the combat as there was a whole lot of prejudice against him, even in the army.
The book goes on to discuss the problems in the camp especially in relation to the loyalty questionnaire and the attempt to get Japanese American males to join up for a segregated unit and how some people reacted to his being willing to fight for the country that had just sent over 100,000 of his people into internment camps (most of which had barbed wire and guard towers around them.)
The book is really good on various levels. There's his own story and the things he went through in combat, the internment camps and how some of the internees refused to be willing to fight and how some of them actually wanted to go back to Japan and just how rough deadly the combat involving bombers could be.
To me it was a top-notch book on these various levels. Absolutely worth reading.
Ben decided to volunteer but found joining did not mean he would immediately get to be part of the combat as there was a whole lot of prejudice against him, even in the army.
The book goes on to discuss the problems in the camp especially in relation to the loyalty questionnaire and the attempt to get Japanese American males to join up for a segregated unit and how some people reacted to his being willing to fight for the country that had just sent over 100,000 of his people into internment camps (most of which had barbed wire and guard towers around them.)
The book is really good on various levels. There's his own story and the things he went through in combat, the internment camps and how some of the internees refused to be willing to fight and how some of them actually wanted to go back to Japan and just how rough deadly the combat involving bombers could be.
To me it was a top-notch book on these various levels. Absolutely worth reading.
May 22, 2024
***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***
My curiosity was piqued by the description of Ben Kuroki as a forgotten hero of WWII as I had never come across his name before. After finishing this book, I can say that I know who he is on the surface and what he contributed, but there's not much substance beyond that. I got no sense of Kuroki as a sentient human being and descriptions of him felt oddly detached. This book also could have been far shorter. The first half is mostly composed of detailed descriptions of military events, equipment, tactic, and more. In fact, the first half of the book could be better described as general military history. The author often brought up events that didn't involve Kuroki directly and then didn't draw the connection to why this was important in understanding the supposed subject of the book. He would mention the physical appearance, town of origin, and demeanor of another person, only for them to have little to no bearing on Kuroki's story. While he did circle back to Kuroki, much of the first half of the book did not seem like a biography at all. Overall, the book seemed to approach Kuroki from a distance and never gave me the feeling of getting to know the man behind the deeds. It remained at surface level, and I'm not sure that this made Ben Kuroki any more memorable.
My curiosity was piqued by the description of Ben Kuroki as a forgotten hero of WWII as I had never come across his name before. After finishing this book, I can say that I know who he is on the surface and what he contributed, but there's not much substance beyond that. I got no sense of Kuroki as a sentient human being and descriptions of him felt oddly detached. This book also could have been far shorter. The first half is mostly composed of detailed descriptions of military events, equipment, tactic, and more. In fact, the first half of the book could be better described as general military history. The author often brought up events that didn't involve Kuroki directly and then didn't draw the connection to why this was important in understanding the supposed subject of the book. He would mention the physical appearance, town of origin, and demeanor of another person, only for them to have little to no bearing on Kuroki's story. While he did circle back to Kuroki, much of the first half of the book did not seem like a biography at all. Overall, the book seemed to approach Kuroki from a distance and never gave me the feeling of getting to know the man behind the deeds. It remained at surface level, and I'm not sure that this made Ben Kuroki any more memorable.
February 7, 2025
This book left me wanting more in so many areas and gave me too much in others. The prologue and introduction made it sound like the book would be focused a LOT more on the complexity surrounding Ben’s overly patriotic goals when compared with the experience of most Japanese Americans during WWII. Instead, there was rather surface-level commentary regarding the matter and WAY more detailing the play-by-play of various battles, as well as introductions of far too many auxiliary characters.
The most frustrating aspect was the author acknowledging, at the very end, there was anti-Japanese sentiment. This would have been so much more compelling to discuss at the beginning. If we were truly to follow through on the complexity of the Ben/concentration camp dynamic, the author should have introduced that and spoken about how important it is for humans, especially in the US, to feel a sense of belonging. We see it time and time again where immigrants adopt ideals from the white majority here and go to great lengths to shed their immigrant persona or distance themselves from a group seen in a negative light. Instead, we’re left with a super elementary handling of “bigotry” and how it’s “bad.” Ugh. I appreciated the spotlight on the Japanese American experience, but as a Japanese American myself I found it sorely lacking in substance and effective storytelling.
The most frustrating aspect was the author acknowledging, at the very end, there was anti-Japanese sentiment. This would have been so much more compelling to discuss at the beginning. If we were truly to follow through on the complexity of the Ben/concentration camp dynamic, the author should have introduced that and spoken about how important it is for humans, especially in the US, to feel a sense of belonging. We see it time and time again where immigrants adopt ideals from the white majority here and go to great lengths to shed their immigrant persona or distance themselves from a group seen in a negative light. Instead, we’re left with a super elementary handling of “bigotry” and how it’s “bad.” Ugh. I appreciated the spotlight on the Japanese American experience, but as a Japanese American myself I found it sorely lacking in substance and effective storytelling.
July 9, 2024
Most authors would consider a work like Gregg Jones’ Last Stand at Khe Sanh to represent the pinnacle of a non-fiction career. But Jones has reached new heights with MOST HONORABLE SON: A Forgotten Hero's Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II. Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero's Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II Jones’ skill in crafting narrative history that effortlessly carries the reader along is on full display in his new offering. The remarkable experiences of Ben Kuroki as a Japanese-American tail gunner during World War II are brought to vivid life. Battling American racism and Axis war-making, Kuroki perseveres with grit and determination, which Jones renders into a new perspective on the WWII experience of American GI’s. Motivated to prove his loyalty by going to war for his country, Kuroki’s courage and humility are central to understanding the “most honorable son.” Greg Jones has once more produced a volume that will be a must-read for followers of modern military history.
August 15, 2024
Gregg Jones’s new book, “Most Honorable Son,” has been a thoroughly enjoyable read since Ann E. Pryor at Penguin Random House sent me an ARC last month.
The book tells the unforgettable story of Ben Kuroki, a young Japanese American man growing up in rural Nebraska, who is spurred to action by the attack on Pearl Harbor. “Ben wanted to avenge the attack, reclaim his family honor, and prove his patriotism.”
But it wasn’t going to be an easy road.
Jones - a Pulitzer Prize finalist - knows how to weave a good story, and he doesn’t disappoint here. He follows Kuroki from the internment camps of Wyoming and Idaho to the skies above North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, with a short stop in a Spanish prison along the way. In the process, Ben, who serves as a gunner in the Army Air Corps, flies a total of 58 combat missions, including the climactic B-29 campaign against the Japanese home islands.
“Most Honored Son” is an incredible story of fortitude and courage mixed with a tinge of racism and hatred. Ben Kuroki’s story is one that hasn’t been told previously and is well worth the read. In some ways, it serves as a reminder to just how much hasn’t changed since then.
The book tells the unforgettable story of Ben Kuroki, a young Japanese American man growing up in rural Nebraska, who is spurred to action by the attack on Pearl Harbor. “Ben wanted to avenge the attack, reclaim his family honor, and prove his patriotism.”
But it wasn’t going to be an easy road.
Jones - a Pulitzer Prize finalist - knows how to weave a good story, and he doesn’t disappoint here. He follows Kuroki from the internment camps of Wyoming and Idaho to the skies above North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, with a short stop in a Spanish prison along the way. In the process, Ben, who serves as a gunner in the Army Air Corps, flies a total of 58 combat missions, including the climactic B-29 campaign against the Japanese home islands.
“Most Honored Son” is an incredible story of fortitude and courage mixed with a tinge of racism and hatred. Ben Kuroki’s story is one that hasn’t been told previously and is well worth the read. In some ways, it serves as a reminder to just how much hasn’t changed since then.
August 16, 2024
Not your typical WWII history book, Jones wrote on the life of Ben Kuroki. Ben grew up in Nebraska, a Nissi, and joined the Army Air Forces. He fought his way to become the only Japanese American gunner to fly 58 missions in Europe and the Pacific.
A captivating book about someone who did all he could to show his patriotism. Kuroki never had a problem growing up in Hershey, Nebraska, until Pearl Harbor. I could tell while reading this book that Jones researched it well. It went into detail about the missions Kuroki flew, his life after the war, and most importantly, about the racism he faced in the Army Air Forces.
If you enjoy reading WWII history, I recommend 'Most Honorable Son' to you. I think you would enjoy it.
Published July 23, 2024
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads, Kensington, and Jones for the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🙂Happy Reading 🙂
#Goodreads #goodreadsgiveaway #kensingtonbooks #greggjones #mosthonorableson #readaway2024
A captivating book about someone who did all he could to show his patriotism. Kuroki never had a problem growing up in Hershey, Nebraska, until Pearl Harbor. I could tell while reading this book that Jones researched it well. It went into detail about the missions Kuroki flew, his life after the war, and most importantly, about the racism he faced in the Army Air Forces.
If you enjoy reading WWII history, I recommend 'Most Honorable Son' to you. I think you would enjoy it.
Published July 23, 2024
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads, Kensington, and Jones for the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🙂Happy Reading 🙂
#Goodreads #goodreadsgiveaway #kensingtonbooks #greggjones #mosthonorableson #readaway2024
June 6, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the copy of Most Honorable Son by Gregg Jones. I was surprised I had never heard of Ben Kuroki before, so this book interested me even though I don’t read much nonfiction. It was a tough beginning and it read more like a history of the military maneuvers but I’m glad I persevered through it because in the end we hear more about some of the men he served with. After he left the service, we finally learned more about Ben and his story, but not as much as I wanted or expected. I wish the author had talked to more people who knew him to get more insight into his personality. I loved learning about Ben Kuroki and he persevered in his quest to fight for his country. I hope this book will shine a light on his contributions. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
December 20, 2024
A biography of forgotten WWII hero Ben Kuroki, a Japanese American farm boy from Hershey Nebraska who had to fight to be allowed to fight in the war. His story intersects with the prejudice against Japanese Americans and their complete loss of rights when they were interred during the war and this book covers this dark side of the war years as well. Ben was all that a first generation American should be but his Japanese heritage brought prejudice down on him and his family after the attack on Pearl Harbor and he had to, and did, work so much harder than he needed to, flying missions in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific theater. An inspiring story of a man who worked and fought hard for his country even when it didn't always back him up. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways
August 19, 2024
Goodreads win. This was a very long book, and I struggled to stay interested in some chapters. The detailed descriptions of some of the equipment might be more interesting to people who are more mechanically inclined. For me, however, it seemed like overkill. I expected to get more emotionally involved with Ben and his family, closest friends and coworkers. With that being said, I usually read Historical Fiction so maybe not part of the target market for this book. For someone who reads more non-fiction and is interested in the details this would be a great book. *One detail I noticed, on page 283 Barbara Bush wasn't First Lady in 2006, Laura was.
May 22, 2025
I listened to the audiobook. It is too bad when selecting a reader that the reader does not take the time to learn to pronounce correctly foreign words. And when that word has been in the American vernacular for over 80 years. At first, I did not even realize what the reader was saying. After thinking about it I hit rewind and sure enough the author was trying to say Bataan. Bataan is a province on the Philippine Island of Luzon, and was a major battle in WWII. Surely the reader had heard of it. He mispronounced it at least five times in the book.
July 24, 2024
4.5 Stars
For history buffs and WWII military fans, this work is an intriguing read, but may have been better split into two books: general Army Air Force group history during WWII and a biography on Ben Kuroki, an American armed services hero during a troubled and turbulent time, especially for Americans of Japanese descent. His story was unfamiliar to me, and it's definitely worth reading for the right audience (think of it as getting two books for the price of one).
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For history buffs and WWII military fans, this work is an intriguing read, but may have been better split into two books: general Army Air Force group history during WWII and a biography on Ben Kuroki, an American armed services hero during a troubled and turbulent time, especially for Americans of Japanese descent. His story was unfamiliar to me, and it's definitely worth reading for the right audience (think of it as getting two books for the price of one).
Net Galley Feedback
May 9, 2025
A bit too long and not the best reader. That said, it is an interesting book and does a good job of explaining the conflicts between him and other young Japanese men. He wanted to prove his patriotism while those who were confined in concentration camps were understandably outraged at being drafted.
March 10, 2025
Inspirational story about a second-generation Japanese American man who proved his loyalty to America in WW2 by flying combat bomber missions during the time when Japanese-American citizens living on the west coast were incarcerated in prison camps.
July 23, 2024
Must read for true patriotism
July 30, 2024
It was a good read.
August 4, 2024
*Very well-written and easy to read
*Powerful, full of emotion
*Kept my interest from cover to cover
*Highly recommend
*Powerful, full of emotion
*Kept my interest from cover to cover
*Highly recommend
August 6, 2024
Very educational as well. I let one of my 10th graders read it as part of history.
October 13, 2024
wonderful;
January 27, 2025
Very interesting - learned so much about the Japanese internment during WWII and the missions of the B-24.
July 12, 2025
5 stars for the personal life, patriotism, and accomplishments of Ben Kuroki.
4 stars for the author, too much repetition
4 stars for the author, too much repetition
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews