When the word went out this summer that veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion desperately needed funds to repair their aging clubhouse, the public responded quickly, donating more than the $40,000 needed to fix the leaking roof.

"The community has been very generous and we really appreciate the response," said Denis Teraoka, 88, president of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans. "I hope people come for this book and bake sale. We'd like to get to know them and we'd like them to know about us."

Proceeds from a used-book and bake sale this weekend at the clubhouse will be used for several other long-overdue repair projects, but what the aging veterans really hope to do is attract residents to their facility and connect to the community.

Shigeru "Stu" Tsubota, 87, a platoon leader and first lieutenant during the war, frequently visits the clubhouse to reminisce and play cards.

He is a survivor of the original group of 17 Nisei officers (second-generation Americans of Japanese ancestry) in the 100th. He points out a photograph of the group taken while training in Wisconsin when he was 23 years old.

"I'm the last of the Mohicans," he said. "All my friends have passed away. I'm lucky I'm still alive."

About 500 of the original 1,400 100th Battalion members are still alive, all in their 80s and 90s, said office manager Amanda Stevens. If the public wants to meet these men who helped write a chapter of American history, they better visit the clubhouse soon, she said.

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

In September 1943, the battalion landed in Italy, where it fought a long, bloody campaign 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 died from the combined 100th and 442nd units 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.

These days, the clubhouse is used for meetings, classes, ceremonies and karaoke. The walls are covered with maps of the unit's battles and photos of members in uniform.

Keli Umeda, a ninth-grader at Iolani School, helped sort and stack books for the sale this week. Her grandfather fought and was wounded in the war, and she is happy to help.

"They were sacrificing their lives," she said. "I'm thankful for what they did."

Umeda and her English class are part of a learning project, reading and writing about the veterans whose clubhouse is right across the street.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.