Japanese American Soldiers of WWII (U.S. 2021)

From the U.S. Postal Service announcement on November 17, 2020:  [Note that this issue was revised. The new version is further down.]From the USPS: With this commemorative stamp, the Postal Service recognizes the contributions of Japanese American soldiers, some 33,000 altogether, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. The stamp, printed in the intaglio method, is based on a photograph. “Go for Broke” was the motto of the all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team and came to represent all Japanese American units formed during World War II. The stamp was designed by art director Antonio Alcalá.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent at the top.


Updated July 5th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
5593
a. Imperforate

Updated May 28th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark for this issue measures 2.97″ x 1.44″ The pictorial postmark measures 2.72″ x 1.12″ The “special” postmark that non-first-day post offices may use measures 2.878″ x 0.94″

Updated May 14th:
The image that accompanied press release below confirms that the Go For Broke design has been revised: [press release]
Go For Broke: World War II Forever Stamp
Reverence for Japanese American Veterans

WHAT: The U.S. Postal Service will honor Japanese American veterans with the Go For Broke: Japanese Americans Soldiers of World War II commemorative stamp. Second-generation Japanese Americans, also known as nisei, formed one of the most distinguished American fighting units of World War II: the all-Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, whose motto was “Go for Broke.”

The stamp was designed by Antonio Alcalá and is based on a photograph of a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The photograph was taken in 1944 at a railroad station in France.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #GoForBroke and#GoForBrokestamp

WHO: The Honorable Lee Moak, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors

Gen. David A. Bramlett, U.S. Army (retired)

WHEN: Thursday, June 3, 2021, at 11 a.m. EDT/8 a.m. PDT

WHERE: A virtual dedication ceremony will be posted on the Postal Service’s Facebook
and Twitter pages. Please visit usps.com/goforbrokestamp for details.

BACKGROUND: The U.S. Postal Service recognizes the contributions that Japanese American soldiers made while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

For a time after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, second-generation Japanese Americans were subjected to increased scrutiny and prejudice because of their heritage.

Known as nisei, these second-generation Japanese Americans were eventually able to join the war effort. The Army turned to nisei to serve as translators, interpreters and interrogators in the Pacific theater for the Military Intelligence Service. Nearly a thousand nisei men served in the 1399th Engineering Construction Battalion and more than 100 nisei women joined the Women’s Army Corp. Altogether, some 33,000 Japanese Americans served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

The Go For Broke: Japanese Americans Soldiers of World War II stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Here is a large picture of the new version:

Updated May 7th:
On June 3, 2021, in Los Angeles, CA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 480500). This stamp will go on sale nationwide June 3, 2021, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

With this commemorative stamp issuance, the Postal Service™ recognizes the contributions of Japanese American soldiers, some 33,000 altogether, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. The stamp, made to resemble an engraving, was printed in the intaglio print method. The image is based on a photograph taken in 1944, in France, of a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, whose motto was “Go for Broke.” The stamp was designed by art director Antonio Alcalá.

No automatic distribution.

Only the following pictorial postmark is permitted for the Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII stamp. The word “Station” or the abbreviation “STA” is required somewhere in the design because it will be a temporary station. Use of any image other than the following special pictorial image is prohibited.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Go for Broke: Japanese American
Soldiers of WWII Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by October 3, 2021.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII Stamp
Item Number: 480500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: June 3, 2021, Los Angeles, CA 90052
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá
Designer: Antonio Alcalá
Artist: Antonio Alcalá
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Intaglio, Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74 / Phoenix
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Blue PMS 294, Red PMS 186
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 1.42 in./ 21.336 x 36.068 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.98 x 1.56 in./24.892 x 39.624 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.92 x 7.50 in./150.368 x 190.50 mm
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.84 x 22.5 in./300.736 x 571.500 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by two (2) single digits in two corners
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Go for Broke Japanese American Soldiers of World War II • Plate number in bottom two corners
Back: ©2020 USPS • USPS logo • 2 barcodes (480500) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotional text

Updated March 17th:
This stamp will be issued June 3rd. The first day city is Los Angeles, and a virtual ceremony is planned.

10 thoughts on “Japanese American Soldiers of WWII (U.S. 2021)

    • From USA Philatelic Q2 USPS# 4805xx #06 Press-Sheet With Cuts $66.00 #08 Press-Sheets WITHOUT Die Cuts $66.00 #16 FDoI PIC 99c #21 FDoI DCP $1.70

      • The rest of the broadcast in 06 May Post Bull. PIC, DCP, ANY CITY cancels, Not on Auto-Distrib. Already available for pre-order on USPS.COM.

      • “Memorial Day” is an American holiday. Canada, Israel and I’m sure other countries have their own “memorial days,” but they rarely coincide with the U.S. holiday.

  1. Finially a recognition of the the incredible contributions of Japanese soldiers in the war effort. The artwork is great and makes this stamp a valuable collectable.

  2. The ” go for broke” stamp issue is a long deserved tribute to Jap-American soldiers. A wonderful candidate for a future isue would be a ” wind talkers” issue based upon Navaho soldiers who used their native language as a code. Their recognition is long overdue.

  3. We all thank the Americans of Japanese descent who served and defended Our Country and the rest of the world during WWII. They were the most decorated military US unit in WWII, earning more than 9,000 Purple Hearts, 21 Medals of Honor while fighting abroad for freedom while their families were imprisoned by Our Nation.
    In 1996, a study determined that Asian Pacific American were discriminated against in the awarding of medals during World War II; consequently, 22 had their medals upgraded to the Medal of Honor..
    As far as the design, I would have preferred stamp design at http://theydeserveastamp.org/ but I am happy a worth while stamp was finally issued.

  4. Is it me, or do the first-day postmarks, especially the DCP, show a marked lack of originality, nor do they add anything to the FDCs? The DCP in particular repeats the stamp image and text.

  5. I retract my Facebook comment about the originally-announced design being better. My FDC arrived with the actual stamp affixed. I really like the silvery sheen coming from the surface when it’s tilted n the light.

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