Acknowledgments
Above all, we thank our participants for sharing their stories and lives with us. We mention many by name in the accounts, and oth ers are ther e under pseud- onyms. We felt honored to have had your contributions and hope this book wil l help you and others to more fully know that your lives and those of your families continue to have significance. We also remember with gratitude those who have passed on during this research and the many dead who can no longer tell their stories. We commend them, the dead and the living, to God. As the “chief investigator” of this Mothers’ Darlings Project, I would like to thank all the members of the team, including those who assisted initially but later left the project for personal reasons. Special thanks go to Marsa Dodson, our first tireless research assistant who early in the project found and interviewed so many Cook Islands’ participants, as well as a cou ple of others from other countries. Her work and sensitivity in this regard were outstanding. I also thank Phyllis Herda who assisted in several ways with the Tongan aspects of the research. I warmly thank my friend, colleague, and collaborator, Angela Wanhalla, whose even composure I can never hope to duplicate. Kate Stevens and Lucy Mackintosh supplemented Angela’s interviews with research in the New Zealand archives and in U.S. newspaper records, respectively. Jacqui Leckie and Alumita Durutalo were a complementary and productive duo for research in Fiji. Saui‘a Louise Mataia-Milo’s work among the Samoan participants is a singular and cou- rageous contribution, not without cost to her among her own people where such matters are rarely discussed beyond the family. Based in San Diego, Kathryn Creely has added particular value to this collection through her sensitive case study of a New Caledonian wom an who struggled to survive in the United States but whose family ther e and in New Caledonia have now reconnected through Kathy’s patient research. We are all the richer for this history. I am especially grateful, as we all are, to Rosemary Anderson, who worked initially as a research assistant and, when the need suddenly arose, wrote the chapter on the Cook Islands, calling on her own knowledge of wartime pressures on these islands. Her persistence in tracking down lost connections with U.S. families has been
xi xii Acknowledgments a major strength of this project and of lasting benefit to the families concerned, some of whom are mentioned in the book. The original plan for this project was for the designated research team of four plus a research assistant to work among people from particular islands. One of the designated researchers had to withdraw for personal reasons, so I took her place for one of the island groups. Bec ause none of us was fluent in French we had decided to concentrate on islands where Engli sh was the main foreign language. Happily, I found a Wallis man, Petelo Tufale in Vanuatu. He agreed to be part of this research while Kathryn Creely, as mentioned earlier, provided a New Cale- donian case study. I was able to research Bora Bora and added that as another chapter to cover the bases in the French Pacific. The rest of the team—Wanhalla, Leckie, and I—worked on the islands we knew best from earlier research. I had planned to work in Samoa, but soon realized that my former student, Saui‘a Lou- ise Mataia-Milo, being Samoan, could do this research far more ably, so I left it in her capable hands. In 2010 when I was in Vanuatu doing research, by chance I met a former un- dergraduate student of mine. Discussion over the worst red wine Steve Talley has ever been presented with led to his interest in making a documentary related to this project. Unfortunately, this discussion occurred after our funds had already been allocated according to the strict categories of the Marsden Fund, but the University of Otago did provide substantial support. With the subsequent help of Television New Zealand (TVNZ), one of the stories of the U.S. reunion of the Beren family was broadcast on 28 August 2011 in an episode titled “Generation GI” of Channel One’s Sunday Program. Steve had to use his personal funds to capture the Michigan reunion on film. He and co-producer Peggy Holter were then contacted by TVNZ who happened to be covering Arthur Beren’s trip from the New Zealand end, and both parties agreed to share their respective footage for the Sunday Program and for the University of Otago project. A follow-up doc- umentary made by Steve and Peggy about the return of the Willess family to American Samoa appeared on 26 April 2012, as the “World War Two Love Story of Homer and Vaofefe Willess” on Māori TV, New Zealand. With some reallo- cated funds from savings from the Marsden grant, Steve and Peggy have since made a film of the Gaeng sons’ search for both their U.S. father and their Māori mother. Aspects of these stories were presented in a fifty-minute documentary ti- tled “Born of Conflict,” broadcast on 25 April 2014 (Anzac Day) on Māori TV, as well as on YouTube. These programs have had a major impact on people’s lives and understanding. Even as I write this in June 2014, in the last week we have had two emails and a visit from people who believe they have a U.S. father. We are Acknowledgments xiii grateful to TVNZ for the opportunity to bring the fruits of this research project to the public. We all thank Steve and Peggy for their unique role in doi ng history through film and for their patience with book-oriented historians who have learned so much from them. We are pleased and encouraged to see that research in relation to indigenous women and children was taken up in 2014 in Australia by University of Sydney- based Victoria Grieves and associates under the auspices of the Australian Re- search Council in the project, “Children of War: Australia and the War in the Pacific.” In New Zealand when the Mothers’ Darlings project first received some pub- licity in late 2009 Angela Wanhalla and I were inundated by a torrent of emails and letters, primarily from children of U.S. servicemen, whose mothers were either from New Zealand or the Pacific Islands. There was only one email that criticized the awarding of public funds for this research. “A waste of money,” wrote the anonymous person, who went on to say that such funding would be better spent going to health and education spending in New Zealand. His was a singular negative voice, but we listened. It soon became clear from the se many communications and from what par- ticipants later told us that most wanted to find out more about their U.S. fathers and families. This had not been the initial aim of this research, but we again lis- tened. We realized that what we intended and what was needed had to be recon- ciled to reciprocate the trust and generosity of the participants in sharing their experiences, so we did a considerable amount of searching for relatives; often hours spent doing research on websites brought nothing, especially when a com- mon surname was all we had. We also knew that the terms of our funding im- posed limits on our searches. We could not become full-time professionals work- ing at reconnecting families, so Angela, with the help of Geofrey Hughes from Web Services at the University of Otago, designed a webpage with information to assist any searchers to find out for themselves about possible fam ily links. See http://www.otago.ac.nz/usfathers. As this research was drawing to a close, we also received many emails of thanks from tho se seeking and sometimes finding relatives, as well as fromtho se who now know that they were not the only ones with such a wartime legacy. From the tone of these communications and those participants we got to know person- ally, we feel that we now can ofer a defense to our first critic. Thepeo ple we have assisted (and often had assisted us) seem to have gained health benefits, if the measure is the holistic well-being of body, soul, and mind. As I mentioned ear- lier, we continue to receive one or two new email inquiries about U.S. fathers xiv Acknowledgments
every week or so; thus ther e still seems to be a need among many. In terms of education too, we hope that our small contribution via this book, as well as the film documentaries,wil l broaden understanding of the war in the South Pacific, its impact on societies, and how marriage between U.S. servicemen and South Pacific indigenous women was virtually impossible. Angela Wanhalla and Erica Buxton have calculated that about only forty such marriages occurred, mostly with part-indigenous women (by descent), with only about fourteen being from the smaller Pacific Islands and the rest from New Zealand. With this understanding of the cruel politics of race, tho se societies that in the postwar years so condemned their daughters may now see the wider context and remove any taint of stigma from the se mothers and their children. We all thank the Marsden Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand, for its gener- ous support. Without this funding these stories of wartime would remain hidden in time’s dark recesses. We hope we have fulfilled its trust in the project and achieved all the objectives we laid out in the original application for funding. The University of Otago has been constant in its support and advice. Many across the university have contributed a great deal. In particular, we thank the Division of Humanities, the Department of History and Art History, and the De- partment of Anthropology and Archaeology. Right at the start, Elaine Webster gave brilliant advice regarding the application to the Marsden Fund and was enormously encouraging with requisite form completion! We are also grateful for their map-making skills to Les O’Neill (Department of Anthropology and Ar- chaeology) and the late Bill Mooney (formerly in the Department of Geography). In the Department of History and Art History, the administrative staf, Sue Lang and Peter Cadogan kept finances straight and IT mattersund er control, respec- tively. Our former head of department, Barbara Brookes was supportive through- out the project. Members of the Department of Music, particularly wonder worker Stephen Stedman, are all thanked for their support in sound recording of the Samoan song, “Tofa Mai Feleni” for the documentary. The singers gave freely of their time and talents. We thank Christine Anesone of the Pacific Islands Cen- ter and music students, Metitilani Alo and Joel Amosa, for their golden voices. Joanne Galer and Megan McPherson (Marketing and Communications) were very active in assisting with publicity for the aims and outcomes of this project, which led many now-adult children of the war years to contact us. Lisa Davis, formerly of the Research and Enterprise Office, gave us useful legal advice in re- gard to contracts. Richard White advised on copyright matters. Helen Nicholson, then-Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), was particularly encouraging in her support and efective in finding funds for the film project. Acknowledgments xv
A very sincere fa‘afetai to the director of the Pacific Islands Center, Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai, whose advice, support, and enthusiasm have helped this project from the start. We also gratefully acknowledge the cultural advice of the Samoan Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Efi Tamasese, in regard to the use of the old Sa- moan song, “Tofa Mai Feleni.” We are both humbled and honored to have had such kindness and alofa bestowed on this work. My personal thanks go to my former supervisor, long-time friend and men- tor, Murray Chapman, Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Hawai‘i, for sage advice on various matters from start to finish. All the following have assisted in one way or another with support, advice, hospitality, facilitation, information, photographs, translation, publicity, and kindness. We ask any we have omitted to forgive our fragile memories. To men- tion specific contributions would almost need another book, but brevity does not signal any lack of sincere appreciation: Marcellin Abong, Latileta Adiseru, Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa, Gary Anderson, Frederic Angleviel, Arimatang, Pula Ta- vita Asa and Lina Pula Tavita Asa, Petra M. Autio, John Basco Baremes, Gra- ham Boyle, Bwebweniti Brechtefeld, Maria Brown-Benesh, Terry Brown, Peter Brueggeman, Greg Burnett, Takeua Burnett, congregation of Geddie Presbyte- rian church in Port Vila, Tess Camacho, Margaret Chung, Tui Clery, Jeanette Ji- ako Costa, Maurice Costa, Jeanne Coutavas, John Craddock, Joanna Daiwo, Rod Ewins, Fiso Evelini Faamoe, Stewart Firth, Bess Flores, Eleanor Naua Fong, Ga- brielle Fortune, Ian and Lala Frazer, Namu Fred, David Galvin, Helen Gardner, Eliki Gaunavou, Wilson George, Jan Giesselink, Theresa Haeo, Lyn Haywood, Richard Hewett, Freddie Higgins, Simon Høgh, Dianne Holmes, Judith Hunts- man, Johnson Iavma, Nathan Itonga, Kent Jay, Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, Florence Kalfau, Michel Kalorib, Roy Kasalik, Alai Kavana, Joe Keli, Adi Romera Nasolo Kisi, Maria T. Kerslake, Eleanor Kleiber, Marcelle Lallul Koinde, Ismet Kurtovi- tch, KVZK TV News Team (American Samoa), Sairusi Lagivala, Arthur Lavine, Rhoda Lavine, Hugh Laracy, Manino Salamo-Leaupepe, Leaupepe Mulinu’u Leaupepe, Tara Leckie, Nanette Lela’ulu, Christine Liava’a, Frances Ligalevu, Jeanne Lindsay, Naita Michel Lolomai, Robert Lowry, Maria Lucas, Lucy Mack- intosh, Sean Mallon, Cyril Manlaewia, Mary’s Motel staf in Tarawa, Ueantabo McKenzie, Peter McQuarrie, Melanesian Brothers’ Chester House in Honiara, Leasiolagi Malama Meleisea, Noel and Lois Mamau, Rosalie T. Matai’a, Agness Matemotu, Adi Meli, Frank Meriki, Monica Miller, Taiatu Sulutumu Sasa Milo, Matafonua Moa, Vitolia Mo’a, Pearl Montrose, Kate Bernier Morad, Tony Morelli, Adrian Muckle, Kimaere Nabaruru, Gordon Nanau, Martha Naua, Anne Naupa, Ruta Nenetaake, David Norah, Eliane Ouillemon, Isabelle Paillard, Bernardette xvi Acknowledgments
Palaud, Don Paterson, Lachy Paterson, Sylvia Paterson, Bruce Petty, Joel Po, Guy and Maureen Powles, Dorothy Prince, Elaine Pullar, Greg Rawlings, Ralph Rengenvanu, Ruth Richardson, Jean Robet, Margaret Critchlow Rodman, the late John Roughan, Antonina Schmidt, Ruby Schmidt-Ripley, Penny Schoefel, John Sexton, Max Shekleton, Ruta Sinclair, Isalei Sioa, Alexandra Brewis Slade, Arthur and Maretta Solomon, John Spurway, Frances Steel, Ewan Stevenson, Peter Stone, Sailau Suaalii-Sauni, Margaret Sul livan, Kirata Taano, Taiatu Mose Ta’ei, Alaima Talu, Afioga Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese, Tiam Tanetoa, Lafaitele Fualuga Taupi, Tautolo Charlie Agaoleatu and Meleane Tautolo Agaoleatu, Seiuli Vaifou Temese, Ashlea Terry, Ken Tufunga, Adi Makelesi Tavaiqia, Juiel (Tiura) Tearatoa, Carmen Temata, Margaret Tepui, Marukii (Kii) Tereu, Jenny Bryant Tokalau, Ole Tominiko, Peter and Dorothy Traill, Julian Treadaway, Linda Uan, Willy Uan, John Usuramo, K. Roger Uwate, Howard Van Trease, Vanuatu Na- tional Cultural Council, Rey Vuiyasawa, Michael Walsh, Paerau Warbrick, Alan West, Anatasi Wilson, Sandra Winton, Willess family, Pascaline Wor Wor, as well as our anonymous readers and the University of Hawai‘i Press. For their assistance and dedication to the records of so many ancestors, we also thank all archivists and curators of collections at the following institutions: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington; Auckland Museum; Archives New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin; Hocken Collections, Dunedin; Department of Internal Afairs, New Zealand; New Zealand Police Force; Western Pacific Archives, University of Auckland; National Archives and Rec ords Administration (NARA), College Park, United States; National Archives of Fiji, Suva; National Archives of Solomon Islands, Honiara; Catholic Archdiocese records, Honiara; National Museum of Samoa, Apia; National University of Samoa, Apia; University of the South Pacific, Suva and at Port Vila, Honiara, and Tarawa campuses; Catholic Archdiocese records, Port Vila; Service des Archives de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa; the Walter Lord Trust, Gilman School, Balti- more; and the Radio Heritage Foundation. Any errors in this book are my re- sponsibility. We feel privileged to have had so much support. Most of all, we are grateful and humbled to have been able to do this research that, to borrow from Kathryn Creely’s words, took us to places that we never expected to visit. Some were phys- ical locations, but many were terrains of the heart and spirit. On behalf of all who have worked on this book and the associated documen- tary film Born( of Conflict), I hope that this contribution to the history of the South Pacific will lead to a better understanding of the unforeseen and hidden social and emotional consequences of World War II and militarism in what, to Acknowledgments xvii all of us, is our part of this small planet, this unique and much beloved “Ocean of Islands.”
Judith A. Bennett Dunedin/Ōtepoti, Otago/Ōtākou, South Island/Te Waipounamu, New Zealand/Aotearoa