Contains language which may offend.

Dramas, Purple Heart Warriors, Purple Heart Warriors: 6. ‘Go for broke’

Dramas

Purple Heart Warriors

Purple Heart Warriors: 6. ‘Go for broke’

January 13, 2025

26 minutes

Available for over a year

To access this episode early and ad-free, subscribe to BBC Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts. The episode will be available for free with adverts on 13th January.

As the 442nd take on the Nazi enemy, they shout their unit’s anthem: “Go for broke”. Ken finally learns why he has been transported back into his grandfather’s life as a soldier. Then he finds himself travelling forwards in time to present-day Los Angeles.

This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.

Cast:

Narrator: Will Sharpe

Ken: Akie Kotabe

Lieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy Elletson

Grandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde Kusatsu

Emily: Samantha Dakin

Little Ken: Hudson Roberts.

Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn Tomita

Nui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron Ikeda

Barry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek Mio

Shorty: Raiko Gohara

Ohta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooey

Drill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougal

Colonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin Stinton

Sonny: Kurt Kanazawa

Boxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi

Written by Iris Yamashita

Sound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker Sound

Recording and mixing: Leon Chambers

Original music: Josh Sneesby

Consultant: L Stuart Hirai

Dramaturg: James Yeatman

Broadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski

Production co-ordinator: Kate Brook

Associate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa Crompton

Director: Jessica Dromgoole

Producer: Catherine Bailey.

Based on an idea by Simon Pitts

A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service