Schedule

Thursday, January 9, 2025
7:00 p.m. CT Book Talk

Join journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Gregg Jones as he discusses his newest book, Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II.  This comprehensive biography vividly tells the story of war hero Ben Kuroki, the only Japanese American in the U.S. Army Air Forces to serve in combat operations in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific theater during World War II.

Born in rural Gothenburg, Nebraska, in 1917, Ben Kuroki joined the Army shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. As a second-generation Japanese American or “Nisei,” he overcame racism to be allowed to join the Army. Despite these and other obstacles including being told he would never be allowed to serve overseas, he persisted and requested to serve in a combat role in Europe. During the war, Ben became a national advocate for equality, speaking out against the incarceration of Japanese Americans, and encouraging the acceptance of Japanese American soldiers to help the war effort. Following the war, he traveled the country promoting civil rights for nearly two years and went on to become a journalist.

Gregg will be joined in conversation by Jim Falk, host of Perspectives Matter…a McCuistion Program, for a discussion of Ben Kuroki’s inspiring and courageous life story. 

About the Author 

Gregg Jones is a long-time foreign correspondent, investigative journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist. He has 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 is the author of the acclaimed nonfiction books Honor in the Dust: Theodore Roosevelt, War in the Philippines, and the Rise and Fall of America’s Imperial Dream, and Last Stand at Khe Sanh: The U.S. Marines’ Finest Hour in Vietnam, which received the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's General Wallace M. Greene Jr. Award for distinguished nonfiction.

About the Moderator

Jim Falk is president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and a longtime member of the Asia Society Texas advisory board, he is known for his engaging interviewing style. Jim hosts Perspectives Matter on KERA-PBS (North Texas) and The Forum on KSFR-FM (Santa Fe), as well as the podcast WorldNow with Jim Falk, where he discusses global issues with influential authors, diplomats, and thought leaders. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Jim is frequently invited to moderate conversations on international topics by corporations and global organizations. He holds a BA from Washington and Lee University and an MA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. Jim and his wife live in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Asia Society hosts today's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect Asia Society views.

Asia Society Texas Business & Policy Programs are endowed by the Huffington Foundation.

Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, and ExxonMobil. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., and Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding provided by bp America, Inc, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Regions Bank, and Stephanie and Frank Tsuru. Additional support is provided by the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.

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About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.