Stanley Akita remembers how as a prisoner of war in Germany, he ate hard, heavy bread made of "23 percent wood pulp" to survive.

"You could kill a guy if you hit him on the head with it," wrote Akita in his World War II memoir. Akita was a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and went to Europe in 1943 to join members of the 100th Infantry Battalion already fighting there.

Yesterday, Akita was among a party of Japanese-American veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion and their wives who were honored by the Ko'olau Baptist Academy in Kane'ohe.

The school treated the 17 special guests to a Thanksgiving feast and musical program.

Beneath a tent at a picnic table decorated with student-made mats with autumn designs, Akita and his wife, Yukie, enjoyed the homemade meal of kalua turkey, macaroni salad, potatoes, noodles, salad and lots and lots of cakes, cookies and pies.

"Much better than sawdust," Akita said.

He was captured by the Germans on Oct. 23, 1944, and held for six months until freed by Allied troops.

That year, Thanksgiving wasn't celebrated, he said.

"Some of the Americans were thinking about it, but there was nothing we could do," he said. "Thanksgiving now is to be grateful that we live in a free country, and that Germany didn't win the war."

Denis Teraoka, 88, president of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans, said the veterans have a lot to be thankful for this year. The community donated generously when the group's clubhouse needed money for repairs, and also gave to the group's book and bake sale. The Thanksgiving meal was another show of support.

"We are really thankful for the expression the community made toward us for our clubhouse," Teraoka said. "It's great to be here and to be recognized. This was so unexpected and so tremendous. We are very thankful."

Mitchell Chung, 11, a sixth-grader, was happy to see the veterans in person.

"At first the Army didn't want them," said Chung, referring to the difficult road faced by Americans of Japanese descent who wanted to fight for the U.S. military. "World War II was basically a test of our freedom."

Ko'olau Baptist principal John Goodale said the meal and program was to honor all veterans, but especially the men of the 100th and their wives.

"I think you have to have an appreciation and understanding of what these men accomplished," Goodale said. "They have some of the character and values that we need in our country today. Not to say we don't see that in our armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, but these guys are a living treasure."

When introduced by Goodale and given paper lei by the children, the veterans and their wives received a standing ovation from the crowd of about 400 people.

The Ko'olau Baptist students have been studying the history of the 100th as part of their curriculum this year.

"We have really been trying to teach them that these guys were young and brave and handsome at one time," Goodale said. "They are special, and there are a lot of good things we can learn from them."

The program at Ko'olau Baptist was an all-American affair with patriotic songs and children dressed in brown paper bags cut to make costumes as Pilgrims and Indians. Parents moved up the aisles to get photos of their children on stage. Some of the veterans were moved to tears.

One active-duty Marine, Staff Sgt. Jennifer Glassford, who has a son and daughter at the school, came in uniform and stood at attention as the Marine Corps Hymn was played.

In June 1942, the 1,400-member 100th Infantry Battalion was formed of men of Japanese ancestry.

In September 1943, the battalion landed in Italy, where it fought in numerous battles over the next nine months. When the newly activated 442nd Regimental Combat Team arrived in Italy in June 1944 and joined the battle-tested 100th, they formed the legendary "Go for Broke" unit.

More than 9,000 soldiers from the combined 100th and 442nd units died and more than 18,000 individual decorations for valor were issued, making the units the most decorated of their size and length of service in history.

About 500 of the original 100th Battalion members are alive, all in their 80s and 90s.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.