Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Former US Cadet Nurse Aiko “Grace” Obata Amemiya spoke about her experiences serving in the US Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II at JANM on May 18, 2013. Born and raised in Northern California, Grace was a student at the University of California School of Nursing when the US declared war on Japan. Like over 110,000 other Japanese Americans, Grace and her family were forcibly removed from their home and incarcerated at the Turlock Assembly Center and later at the Gila River Relocation Center. She continued to work as a nurse’s aide at both Turlock and Gila River. In February 1943, Grace was able to leave camp and continue her nursing studies at St. Mary’s University in Rochester, Minnesota. She was then able to enlist in the US Cadet Nurse Corps and served proudly for six months at Shick General Army Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. Amemiya spoke about her service in this very special program.
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Programs like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM’s members and donors. Become a member (janm.org/membership) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more programs and exhibitions like these: janm.org/donatenow. Your support makes a difference. Thank you!
Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
janm.org
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Former US Cadet Nurse Aiko “Grace” Obata Amemiya spoke about her experiences serving in the US Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II at JANM on May 18, 2013. Born and raised in Northern California, Grace was a student at the University of California School of Nursing when the US declared war on Japan. Like over 110,000 other Japanese Americans, Grace and her family were forcibly removed from their home and incarcerated at the Turlock Assembly Center and later at the Gila River Relocation Center. She continued to work as a nurse’s aide at both Turlock and Gila River. In February 1943, Grace was able to leave camp and continue her nursing studies at St. Mary’s University in Rochester, Minnesota. She was then able to enlist in the US Cadet Nurse Corps and served proudly for six months at Shick General Army Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. Amemiya spoke about her service in this very special program.
—
Programs like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM’s members and donors. Become a member (janm.org/membership) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more programs and exhibitions like these: janm.org/donatenow. Your support makes a difference. Thank you!
Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
janm.org
Stay connected with us!
Follow JANM on Instagram: instagram.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Facebook: facebook.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jamuseum
Follow JANM on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamuseum.bsky.social
Follow JANM on Threads: threads.net/@jamuseum
