Fighting Tradition: A Marine’s Journey to Justive is Yamashita’s own story of his courageous struggle to expose a pattern of racial discrimination against minorities that has existed at various levels of the Corps.

With the support of a broad coalition of community and civil rights organizations, the Hawaii-born law school graduate fought a five-year long legal, political and media battle against the military establishment, that ended in his commission as a captain, and the revision of Marine Corps policies and procedures forever. Learn more…

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Fighting Tradition: A Marine's Journey to Justice

“A valuable account of one person’s fight against racial profiling and the inexcusable damage to civil liberties and self-worth that result from it.”

Dennis Ogawa / Department of American Studies, University of Hawaii-Manoa

“His book is a fascinating page-turner, with a wonderfully interwoven mix of family history, current events and self-reflection.”

Phil Tajitsu Nash, Asian Week

“Fighting Tradition should be read for the story it tells and the seriousness of the issues it addresses…
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Don Watanabe, International Examiner

About Bruce Yamashita

Bruce I. Yamashita is a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps reserves. In May of 2009, he was honorably discharged from the corps. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii, master’s in international affairs from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He currently lives in Washington D.C., where he practices immigration and nationality law and criminal defense.

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Bruce Yamashita

A Most Unlikely Hero

A PBS Hawaii Documentary

Bruce Yamashita just wanted to serve his country; because of his race and ethnicity, the U.S. Marine Corps denied him the chance. Instead of giving in to discrimination, he took a stand for fairness and justice, uncovering evidence that rocked the Corps. A Most Unlikely Hero, a one hour documentary, tells Bruce’s story, a model of courage and commitment in contemporary America. Learn more…

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Acceptance speech for the 2014 Daniel K. Inouye NAPABA Trailblazer Award

Bruce is available for speaking engagements or film screenings. Please contact him to learn more or schedule an event.

Previous events at which Bruce has spoken:

  • Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
  • Kitsap Naval Base, Bremerton WA
  • Bill Gates Millennium Leadership Conference, Chantilly, VA
  • United Methodist Church, Seattle WA
  • DaimlerChrysler, Pontiac MI
  • University Laboratory High School, Honolulu HI
  • UCLA, Los Angeles CA

There’s a full list of events (including photos) at which Bruce has spoken on the Awards & Events page. See the full list…

This website is dedicated to the hundreds if not thousands of good Americans who joined the struggle for justice.

I did not do this alone. They are the true heroes.

It is hoped that the lessons learned and sacrifices made will not be forgotten, and will inspire the next generation to continue the hard work to create a more perfect union.

— Bruce Yamashita