Supes 'Go For Broke' to honor vets

Placer County supervisors have agreed to honor members of the Army's famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team by naming a road at the newly named Placer-Bill Santucci Justice Center "Go For Broke Road." Described as the most-decorated combat unit of its size in U.S. history, the all-Japanese-American fighting force counted 18,000 individual decorations during service in World War II, including 9,486 Purple Hearts. Twenty-four of the team's 1,400 soldiers came from Placer County foothill communities and two were on hand to see supervisors approve the name of the road. "Go For Broke," or give it everything you have, was the their motto. They received a standing ovation from the board and audience members and the June 26 meeting, when the announcement was made.Frank Kageta, 87, a longtime Loomis resident now living in Rocklin, said the gesture was much-appreciated. "It's an everlasting thing," said the Bronze Star recipient. "And this brings back good memories." Shigeo Yokote, 90, of Loomis served with the 442nd and described the decision to name the street after the team as an unexpected honor."The small guy is often neglected," Yokote said. "It helps us feel that we're part of America."Facility Services Department Director Jim Durfee presented the proposal to supervisors, noting that the initial idea was to name the circular street 442nd Road but the city of Roseville, which the center is located in, couldn't approve it because of a policy against numbered streets. He said after the meeting that numbered streets are considered confusing to emergency personnel who must consider both a number and a street address. Kageta said the "Go For Broke" motto came from Hawaiian members of the combat team who liked to play dice and "go for broke." Superior Court Presiding Judge Larry Gaddis said fellow judges supported the road name but did joke that there may be some confusion, with the justice center near the Thunder Valley Casino. He requested that some information on the origin of the "Go For Broke" title be available to the public in the future. Durfee said plans are for a monument honoring the 442nd at the site. Supervisors also approved naming the center after longtime supervisor and Roseville City Council member Bill Santucci. The center, which will open to the public early next year, is the first major county-constructed building in his former district and will house a major portion of the county's court operations. The honor was "more than what I ever imagined," Santucci told the board after the vote.