Noel Okamoto digital photograph collection, 1940-2009
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Okamoto, Noel Yuzuru, 1922-2017
- Title
- Noel Okamoto digital photograph collection
- Dates
- 1940-2009 (inclusive)19402009
- Quantity
- 30 digital images
- Collection Number
- P1664
- Summary
- Noel Okamoto (1922-2017) was a Japanese American educator who served in the United States Army During World War II as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This collection contains 30 digital images related to Okamoto's military service. It also includes several images of Okamoto, his friends, and his family.
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Noel Yuzuru Okamoto was born on December 4, 1922 in Waimea, Hawaii to Kakichi and Ai Okamoto. He graduated from Waimea High School. Okamoto served in the United States Army During World War II as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was wounded in Italy, for which he received a Purple Heart. Okamoto was later awarded a Congressional Gold Medal and was knighted into the French Legion of Honor for his service.
After his military service, Okamoto attended what is now the University of Southern Mississippi, becoming the first person of Japanese descent to graduate from the institution. On June 26, 1955, he married Susie Shizue Oka. For the majority of his career, Okamoto taught at the Intermountain Indian School, a Native American boarding school located in Brigham City, Utah. After Noel Okamoto's retirement, the Okamotos moved to North Ogden, Utah.
Noel Yuzuru Okamoto died on April 27, 2017. (Source: Noel Okamoto Obituary, Lindquist Mortuary, Ogden, Utah, March 2, 2022).
Content Description
The Noel Okamoto digital photograph collection consists of 30 digital only images depicting Okamoto's military service with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. The collection also contains images of Okamoto and friends and family and ephemera--patches and clippings--related to his military service. The material in this collection was digitized by the donor and provided to the Marriott Library on a thumbdrive. The files are in jpeg format.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Noel Okamoto digital photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: Noel Okamoto digital photograph collection, P1664, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library. Salt Lake City, Utah.
Following Citations: P1664.
Administrative Information
Return to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
-
Description: Europe, World War II, digital only
- 1: Okamoto by a bridge
- 2: Okamoto by a truck In Italy
- 3: Camp Shelby Barracks
- 4: Genoa
- 5: German Nest
- 6: Gondola in Venice
- 7: Japanese on a truck
- 8: Okamoto in a Jeep
- 9: Jeep
- 10: Leaning Tower of Pisa
- 11: Three soldiers having lunch
- 12: Modified Tent
- 13: French Girl
- 14: Okamoto by a Tent
- 15: Okamoto by a Truck
- 16: Okamoto in Uniform
- 17: Okamoto in Uniform2
- 18: Walter Higa, Group of soldiers
- 19: Okamoto in his Winter Uniform
Container: Box 1, Folder 1 -
Description: Friends and Family, digital only
- 1: Noel Okamoto
- 2: Noel Okamoto and kids
- 3: Okamoto Family photo (?)
- 4: Family photo
- 5: French Girl
- 6: Poetry Group
Container: Box 1, Folder 2 -
Description: Ephemera, digital only
- 1: 442nd torch patch
- 2: Yellow Army patch
- 3: Go for Broke-442nd combat song
- 4: article from 2009 (in French)
- 5: article from 2009 (in French)
Container: Box 1, Folder 3
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Japanese American soldiers--Photographs
Personal Names
- Okamoto, Noel Yuzuru, 1922-2017
Corporate Names
- United States. Army. Regimental Combat Team, 442nd
Form or Genre Terms
- digital images
