Lucky Ears: The True Story of Ben Kuroki, World War II Hero

Book Review

Lucky Ears: The True Story of Ben Kuroki, World War II Hero, by Jean A. Lukesh. Much has been told about Ben Kuroki, the Nebraska native who became a Japanese-American war hero after surviving 58 bomber missions in World War II. A biography was written in 1946 and a PBS documentary came out in 2007. Former Grand Island teacher and librarian Jean A. Lukesh has carried out more research and has held in-depth interviews with the now 93-year-old Nebraska hero, uncovering interesting facts about the man. One interesting fact Kuroki revealed during interviews is that he was born with small holes near the tops of his ears, hence the book title. Kuroki's father saw this as a very auspicious sign that revealed his son would be very lucky and live quite long, both of which have come true.

Written for readers in grades 4-7, this new book is the result of those interviews and research. A good portion of the book deals with the racism Kuroki had to deal with as a Japanese American in the U.S. Military. Kuroki flew bombing raids against both Germany and Japan, a total of 58 missions which exceeded the requirement limits. He survived all those missions without so much as a scratch yet he suffered abuse at the hands of his fellow soldiers, including a knife attack by a fellow squadron member. Since his retirement, Kuroki has devoted his life working to end racial intolerence, which he calls his "59th mission." The book is a very readable tribute to a great Nebraska hero. Click here for more information or to order.