Cold Case Episode 5.11 Family 8108

The team reopens the investigation of a Japanese man whose death occurred after being released from a Japanese-American camp in California during World War II.

Ray Takahashi was a hard working Japanese American citizen who worked to have success for both himself and his family. When World War II broke out he saw that all slip away.

The family was put into a camp in California, his son Billy ripped away from his best friend, Skip. The family had to start over, learn to live in a barn which they shared, and tried to keep their spirits high as the war continued. Billy was able to take classes through a kind teacher, Mary Anne, who Ray also befriended. As time passed Ray and Mary Anne grew close. One day, Billy walked by the school house and stumbled upon Ray and Mary Anne kissing, he decided after that to enlist in the army, said goodbye to his mother and left. Ray was heartbroken and never heard from his son again. A few months later, the family learned that Billy had died.

After being released from the camp, Mary Anne helped the Takahashi's start over in Philadelphia. When an old camp friend Nakamura finds Ray to deliver Billy's last note to his father, he gets a new found patriotic spirit and decides to go to the annual Army Navy game see Billy's commanding officer Skip and ask if Billy can receive an honorary medal. Sadly the war has turned Skip into a different and angry person and he lashes out at Ray, punching him which results in Ray falling from the train steps to his death.