Sus Ito, ninety-five, whose story features in From Working to Wisdom, rang in the New Year atop a float in the 126th Rose Bowl Parade.

Sus joined four other members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all-Japanese-American unit that won honor in the Second World War, and that became one of the most highly decorated units in the history of the United States military. (In the book, Sus gives a long account of his service, and also discusses what it was like to fight on the front lines while his family was held in an internment camp in Arkansas.)

He was excited to travel from his home in Wellesley, Massachusetts for the Parade, the theme of which was “Inspiring Stories,” and which also featured members of the family of the late, great Louis Zamperini. Sus was especially excited to see his old friends from the 442nd, to help keep alive the story of their unit’s remarkable heroism, and, in old age, to once again affirm the deep wisdom of their famous battle cry, which urges us all to always “Go for broke.”