Imperial Japan, 10 yen note, acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.38 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Japanese 10 yen note acquired by Captain James (Jim) Edward Kirkebo. This currency was first issued in 1930, and reissued without the English text in 1944. Kirkebo served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe with the Thunderbolt Division from December 1944-May 1945. Kirkebo, 19, enlisted in 1940 and, in August 1942, 2nd Lt. Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. Kirkebo received a battlefield promotion to captain on February 1, 1945. On May 5 and 6, soldiers from the 11th Armored liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps. At Mauthausen, the unit was tasked with caring for 19,000 starving inmates. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his leadership and heroism in action.
Japanese 10 yen note acquired by Captain James (Jim) Edward Kirkebo. This currency was first issued in 1930, and reissued without the English text in 1944. Kirkebo served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe with the Thunderbolt Division from December 1944-May 1945. Kirkebo, 19, enlisted in 1940 and, in August 1942, 2nd Lt. Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. Kirkebo received a battlefield promotion to captain on February 1, 1945. On May 5 and 6, soldiers from the 11th Armored liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps. At Mauthausen, the unit was tasked with caring for 19,000 starving inmates. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his leadership and heroism in action.
- Title: Imperial Japan, 10 yen note, acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.38 front
- Provenance: The currency was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Jamie Kirkebo, on behalf of the Estate of his father, James Edward Kirkebo., The currency was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Jamie Kirkebo, on behalf of the Estate of his father, James Edward Kirkebo.
- Subject Keywords: Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Western Front--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American., Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Western Front--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- Type: Exchange Media, Exchange Media
- Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: Rectangular 10 yen paper currency with a face design in black and brown ink with a light red and green background. The face has an interlocked border with the denomination 10 in each corner and within the side borders, and a chrysanthemum symbol at the top center. Across the center is a medallion with a red tinted denomination 10 on the left, Japanese text superimposed over a treen upon a light green background in the center, and a medallion with a realistic portrait of a bearded man, Wake no Kiyomaro. The serial number is in the top left and bottom right corners, with a 3 digit number in the opposite corners. A red Imperial Japan signature seal is in the center. The reverse has an orange scalloped rectangle underprint, with the denomination 10 in each corner. There is a superimposed design in black with 2 floral medallions with Japanese text flanking an image of a shrine surrounded by trees, the Goou or Jinja Shinto shrine, with 10 YEN and a red Imperial seal below and the sun symbol above, with Japanese characters along the side. It is torn and soiled., Rectangular 10 yen paper currency with a face design in black and brown ink with a light red and green background. The face has an interlocked border with the denomination 10 in each corner and within the side borders, and a chrysanthemum symbol at the top center. Across the center is a medallion with a red tinted denomination 10 on the left, Japanese text superimposed over a treen upon a light green background in the center, and a medallion with a realistic portrait of a bearded man, Wake no Kiyomaro. The serial number is in the top left and bottom right corners, with a 3 digit number in the opposite corners. A red Imperial Japan signature seal is in the center. The reverse has an orange scalloped rectangle underprint, with the denomination 10 in each corner. There is a superimposed design in black with 2 floral medallions with Japanese text flanking an image of a shrine surrounded by trees, the Goou or Jinja Shinto shrine, with 10 YEN and a red Imperial seal below and the sun symbol above, with Japanese characters along the side. It is torn and soiled.
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