Shigehusa Kanda of Maui was the only Japanese American Red Cross worker from the United States to serve in France. A former Christian minister and director of the Wailuku Girls’ Home, he left Hawaii in 1918 despite initial rejections from U.S. and British authorities. He financed his own way to Europe, determined to show his loyalty to the United States and serve in gratitude for the opportunities given to his family. In Paris, he worked at the Gare du Nord canteen, assisting American troops. His dedication earned widespread admiration from the Red Cross and military personnel
