Honoring Memorial Day: Read My Graphic Novel “442” Free for a Limited Time
Today is Memorial Day—a time dedicated to remembering and honoring the countless individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country.
To mark the occasion this year, I wanted to do something special to help keep a crucial piece of American history alive. For a very short time, I am making my graphic novel, 442, completely free to read online.
Why This Story Matters
For those unfamiliar with the history, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was a fighting unit during World War II composed almost entirely of second-generation Japanese American (Nisei) soldiers.
What makes their story so profoundly moving—and incredibly vital to remember—is the context of their service. While these young men were fighting with unmatched bravery on the battlefields of Europe, their own families back home were being unjustly held behind barbed wire in American internment camps.
Despite facing intense prejudice and systemic discrimination from the very government they wore the uniform for, they fought with everything they had. Their motto was “Go for Broke.” They lived it, they fought by it, and they became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and duration of service.
A Labor of Love
Writing 442 was a deeply personal journey for me. History books give you the dates and the statistics, but graphic novels have a unique way of capturing the humanity, the emotion, and the quiet moments of resilience between the battles. I wanted to honor their fierce loyalty, their sacrifices, and the heavy burden they carried for future generations.
We cannot let their legacy fade.
How to Read
The graphic novel is open and free to read right now, but only for a limited time over the Memorial Day holiday.
You can access the full story directly via the link below:
👉 [Click Here to Read “442” for Free]
Thank you for reading, for remembering, and for helping to keep the memory of the 442nd alive.
— Koji
Koji Steven Sakai 