Gregg Jones Book Talk: "Most Honorable Son"

Pulitzer Prize finalist Gregg Jones will discuss his new biography, Most Honorable Son : A Forgotten Hero's Fight Against Facism and Hate During World War II, releasing July 23, 2024. The first comprehensive biography of World War II hero Ben Kuroki, Most Honorable Son recounts the incredible story of a Nebraska farm boy who became the only known Japanese American to fly combat missions in Asia during World War II, then devoted his life to fighting racial prejudice at home.

Event Schedule

• 1:00 - 2:00 pm: Book talk with Gregg Jones on his new biography, Most Honorable Son
• 2:00 - 3:00 pm: Book signing and docent-facilitated tours of the California Museum's exhibit about the Japanese American incarceration and Nisei military service during WWII, Uprooted: An American Story

Tickets
Reduced $5 admission to the California Museum, plus Eventbrite fee. Free admission for California Museum members.

About Ben Kuroki

As a gunner on Army Air Forces bombers, Ben Kuroki flew 58 missions spanning three combat theaters: Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific, including the climactic B-29 firebombing campaign against Japan that culminated with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In between his tours in Europe and the Pacific, he challenged FDR’s shameful incarceration of more than 100,000 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.

About the Author

A long-time investigative journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist Gregg Jones covered civil wars and insurgencies in Asia and Latin America, the fall of Asia’s two longest-ruling 20th-century dictators, and the early months of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. He has been a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution; he has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, and the U.K. editions of The Guardian and The Observer. His three previous books received critical acclaim. Jones is the nephew of a B-24 radio operator who fought and died alongside Ben Kuroki in the 93rd Bomb Group in 1943, making him uniquely qualified to write this inspiring story.

FAQs

CANCELLATION POLICY:

• Tickets may be refunded, minus Eventbrite fees, until 1:00 pm on July 27 by requesting a refund through an Eventbrite account.
• Seating is limited, so if your plans change, please return your tickets so that others may attend.

MISSING TICKETS & ORDERS:

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EVENT ENTRY:

• Seating opens at 12:45 pm.
• Please bring either a printed copy of your ticket OR digital ticket displayed on a mobile device (cell phone or tablet) to expedite event entry.
• Attendees without printed or digital ticket may experience delay in entry as purchase is verified.

CHILDREN:

• All ages are welcome but all guests age 6+ must have their own ticket.
• Children age 5 or under receive free admission and do not need a ticket.

PARKING & DIRECTIONS:

• Bonderson Garage (Lot 24) directly across the street from the Museum on the corner of 10th & O Streets (now accepts credit card in addition to cash).
• Limited metered street parking is available on streets surrounding the Museum. Please visit City of Sacramento Parking Services for more information.
• Bike parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• For more information, visit https://www.californiamuseum.org/directions.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION::

• The Museum is located at the Archives Plaza stop of Regional Transit’s Light Rail and a convenient transportation option for the event. For more information on routes, schedules and fares, visit: http://www.sacrt.com.

COVID-19 SAFETY:

• All attendees must follow current Museum health and safety policies at the time of the event. Visit https://www.californiamuseum.org/covid-19 for our current policies.
• By registering for tickets for this event, you acknowledge that a risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people are present. By attending the event, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold the California Museum and its event partners liable for any illness or injury.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE:

• For questions or additional help, please email [email protected].

Host or Publisher California Museum