Douglas Nelson, the Vice Chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his more than 50 years of commitment to preserving the history of the Japanese American incarceration during World War II. The award was presented to Nelson during the foundation’s annual pilgrimage, held from July 27 to 29.
Nelson’s dedication to telling the story of Heart Mountain began in 1968 when he discovered the site as a graduate student at the University of Wyoming. At that time, very little remained of the camp where 14,000 people were held during the war. However, Nelson’s determination to uncover and share the camp’s history resulted in his master’s thesis and the 1975 book titled Heart Mountain: The History of an American Concentration Camp.
Earlier this year, the foundation published an updated edition of Nelson’s book, which has already reached its second printing. The award-winning document sheds light on the experiences of Japanese Americans and their unjust internment during the war.
Shirley Ann Higuchi, Chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, expressed her admiration for Nelson and highlighted his invaluable contribution to preserving the Japanese American experience. Higuchi described Nelson as a trusted ally, a dear friend, and a truly deserving recipient of the prestigious award.
The ceremony honoring Nelson also paid homage to three former Heart Mountain incarcerees: Harumi Bacon Sakatani, Jeanette Misaka, and Raymond Uno. These individuals played an instrumental role in the establishment of the foundation and the construction of its interpretive center, which opened its doors in 2011.
In addition to recognizing Nelson’s achievements, two Heart Mountain board members, Kathleen Saito Yuille and Claudia Wade, were honored for their significant contributions to the success of the foundation’s annual pilgrimages.
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation is dedicated to preserving the site where Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated from 1942 to 1945. The foundation achieves this through the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, a museum located between Cody and Powell that showcases the stories of those affected by the internment. For more information about the center, interested individuals can contact (307) 754-8000 or email info@heartmountain.org.
The Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon Douglas Nelson serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to preserving history and educating generations to come about the Japanese American experience during World War II.
