Bell Investment Advisors would like to congratulate our client and friend, TomGraves, the author and photographer of Twice Heroes: America’s Nisei Veterans of WWII and Korea, for receiving the 2014 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award in History. Twice Heroes is Tom Graves’ first published book and also the first for Nassau & Witherspoon Publishers of San Francisco. This award is considered one of the highest national honors for small and independent publishers in recognition of editorial and design work. This year’s award ceremony was held on May 28 at New York University’s Kimmel Center.
Independent Book Publishers, IBPA, has honored Twice Heroes as one of the most significant books on the history of Japanese Americans who fought for the United States. The Nisei Veterans reveal their stories as they fought for their country while their families were interned during World War II. In 2011 the Nisei received the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest civilian honor, and became the most decorated soldiers in U.S. military history. Along with the veterans’ experiences, 98 striking portraits by Tom give life to his book.
Tom also gave a fascinating and very well-received presentation based on the book to Bell Investment Advisors’ clients and friends in May of 2012. The Memorial Day presentation was accompanied by a photography exhibit of his original portraits honoring the World War II Japanese Americans.
For Tom, Twice Heroes is not the end of sharing our veterans’ history. He continues to speak with many groups on the Nisei soldiers’ legacy of achievement, and his work is expanding as he continues to chronicle under-recognized veterans, adding their chapters to our history books.
About the author:
Tom Graves is a San Francisco photographer and writer with over 30 years’ professional experience. He studied portraiture with LIFE photographer Philippe Halsman and taught for seven years at Parsons School of Design/The New School (now New School University). Photography has taken him to five continents and to all 50 states for clients AT&T, Cisco, IBM, Merrill Lynch, The New York Times, and People and Time magazines.
