Jim Morita (Japanese: ジム モリタ) the San Francisco Kid[1] was a Japanese-American soldier who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Born in San Francisco, California, to Japanese immigrant parents, he was assigned to a special unit of Nisei Rangers under Captain Samuel Sawyer.[2]
Morita fought alongside Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos on multiple missions, including a pre-war operation in China where they faced the alien dragon Fin Fang Foom.[3] He later aided in the rescue of Dr. Parker from a Nazi camp[2] and defended Able Company against the Blitzkrieg Squad.[4]
Captured during a later mission, Morita was imprisoned at Camp 13, where he was falsely accused of being a traitor. With help from the Howling Commandos, he escaped and exposed the true spy.[5] He later joined Captain America and Bucky in a battle at Wundagore Castle to stop Dormammu's incursion through a Nazi Ghost Machine.[6]
History
Early Life[]
Jim Morita was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Japanese immigrants. As a second-generation Japanese American, he was classified as a "Nisei", a term meaning "second generation" in Japanese. Nisei were born in the United States to parents from Japan, who were known as the "Issei", or first generation. The designation "Nisei" became widely recognised in the years and helped define the identity of Japanese Americans during that period. He enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to a special squad of Nisei rangers under the command of Captain Samuel Sawyer. [2]
Fin Fang Foom[]
In October 1940, just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jim fought alongside Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos on a classified mission in China. There, the squad encountered an ancient and unexpected threat Fin Fang Foom, a towering alien dragon awakened amid the chaos of global war. As the Howlers struggled to hold the line against enemy forces, the emergence of Fin Fang Foom turned the battlefield into a nightmare. Morita, drawing on his courage and tactical skill, helped coordinate the squad’s efforts to repel the creature’s rampage while Fury sought a way to neutralise the threat. Despite overwhelming odds, Morita’s calm leadership and experience proved vital in keeping the team focused and alive. Ultimately, Fin Fang Foom was forced back into his cave, where he returned to his slumber and the immediate threat was contained.[3]
Joining the Howling Commandos[]
Morita arrived at Able Company several days ahead of the rest of his unit and was subjected to xenophobic harassment from fellow soldiers, including "Wild-Man" Wilson. When attacked, Morita defended himself with his judo skills, prompting Sergeant Nick Fury to intervene and help resolve the situation. [7] Shortly after, Captain Sawyer ordered Morita to join the Howling Commandos on a covert mission to rescue Dr. Warren Parker, a vital surgeon being held in a Nazi concentration camp. Parker's skills were needed to operate on the injured Dino Manelli. Since Eric Koenig was needed to fly the aircraft, Morita was chosen to serve as an additional operative. He stowed aboard the Commandos' plane and parachuted with the team into Nazi territory. Although their arrival triggered an alarm, Morita and the Howlers successfully extracted Parker and fought their way back to the rendezvous point. Upon returning to England, Morita was reunited with his ranger squad, and Wilson now aware of Morita's heroism offered an apology for his earlier behavior.[2]
Defense of Able Company[]
During a later Nazi assault led by Colonel Klaue and the Blitzkrieg Squad, Morita and his unit joined the Howlers in defending Able Company’s base. The attackers were defeated, and Morita congratulated the Howlers, expressing a desire to serve alongside them again [4]
Imprisonment and Escape from Camp 13[]
During a separate mission, Morita and his squad were captured and imprisoned in Nazi-controlled Prison Camp 13, commanded by Captain Schnitzler. The camp had a notorious reputation for killing escapees. While imprisoned, Morita was falsely accused of being an informant by a fellow inmate named Bodenschatz, who used Morita's heritage as supposed evidence. In a daring rescue, the Howling Commandos deliberately allowed themselves to be captured to help free Morita and his men. Suspecting a traitor in the camp, they fed false escape plans to mislead the spy and orchestrated a successful breakout. During the escape, Morita destroyed the Nazi motor pool to hinder pursuit. Later, while stopping for water, Gabe Jones offered his canteen to Bodenschatz, who refused to drink after Jones had. This confirmed Fury's suspicions that Bodenschatz was a Nazi agent. Captain Tim Corbett, the ranking Allied officer in the camp, executed the traitor. Morita then led the group to a nearby Nazi radio station, where they successfully contacted Allied forces and secured evacuation back to England. [5]
Wundagore and the Ghost Machine[]
During a fierce battle against Nazi forces, Jim Morita and the Commandos arrived just in time to help Captain America and Bucky using deception tactics to scatter the enemy. However, the dead Nazi soldiers soon rose again—reanimated by a Ghost Machine powered by dark magic at Wundagore Castle. The machine had been built by Baron Mordo and his grandfather Viscount Krowler to raise an undead army and tear open reality, allowing Dormammu to enter Earth. Mordo hoped to rule the ruins of humanity as Dormammu's chosen. Teaming up with allies including Sofia Maximoff, a brilliant young scientist, Morita joined the assault on the castle. While Captain America battled Mordo, Bucky and Sofia sabotaged the Ghost Machine. Krowler was ultimately killed by Mordo, and the device's destruction severed Dormammu's link, ending the spectral threat. Though Mordo escaped, the castle was left in ruins and the fallen soldiers were freed. Morita regrouped with the team, ready to continue the fight against both earthly and otherworldly threats.[6]Attributes
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Abilities
Paraphernalia
Weapons
See Also
- 5 appearance(s) of Jim Morita (Earth-616)
- 1 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Jim Morita (Earth-616)
- 1 image(s) of Jim Morita (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Captain America: America's Avenger #1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Sgt. Fury #38
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Nick Fury vs. Fin Fang Foom #1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sgt. Fury #48
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sgt. Fury #57
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Captain America: The Ghost Army #1
- ↑ Sgt. Fury #38[[Category:]]
- ↑ Captain America: America's Avenger #1
- ↑ Captain America: America's Avenger Vol 1 1