Episode Details

A Japanese Canadian WWI soldier, Private Sentaro Omoto, finally received a proper burial after decades of neglect — a poignant reminder of the racism he faced upon returning home. Despite his bravery on the Western Front and being wounded in 1917, he was denied honors due to discriminatory policies. Historian Debbie Jiang helped uncover his story, connecting with his granddaughter Cathy Uchida, who revealed how many Japanese Canadians had to enlist in Alberta because British Columbia barred them. Uchida’s family also endured forced internment during WWII, with her grandfather staying in Canada while others went to Japan — a painful split that erased his wartime legacy. After years of searching, Omoto’s ashes were found at a Buddhist temple, unclaimed for decades. Veterans Affairs’ one-year deadline nearly blocked his final resting place — until the Last Post Fund stepped in, using donations to secure a dignified grave. His story, and those like it, honor the quiet sacrifices of immigrant soldiers who served their country only to be forgotten.

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