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The Eagles of Heart Mountain: How Japanese American Teens Became Wyoming Champions Behind Barbed Wire

What happens when teenage athletes prove their excellence while imprisoned by their own country? In 1943, the Heart Mountain High School football team achieved the impossible—winning the Wyoming state championship while their families were incarcerated in an American concentration camp.

Join host Michael Bahr as he explores Bradford Pearson's powerful book "The Eagles of Heart Mountain," revealing how Japanese American teenagers used sports as an act of resistance and dignity during one of America's darkest chapters. From Executive Order 9066 to the championship game in Casper, this is a story about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to be American.

This episode connects directly to today's debates about athletes and activism, showing how the simple act of playing—of refusing to be broken—can become a profound form of protest. It's a sports story, a civil rights story, and a reminder that patriotism sometimes means criticizing your country while still calling it home.

Perfect for history buffs, sports fans, and anyone interested in the stories that challenge our understanding of American identity.

Next Episode: Washington's End - The final years of America's first president.

#HistoryPodcast #JapaneseAmericanHistory #WWII #SportsHistory #CivilRights #HeartMountain