The US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project The Interpreter Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries Number 55 òRemember September 11, 2001ò October 15, 2002

Our Mission the good natured Harvard/Yale .Return of Swords and then the question arose on rivalry at that time and place: how to keep them from being In the Spring of 2000, the “At Yale, they don’t have Before the end of WWII, Captain destroyed. The young Japanese Archives continued the origi- entrance exams, they have try- Harold Willens USMCR [JLS said he would search the nal efforts of Captain Roger outs.” 1945] was dispatched to a warehouse if he was given Pineau and William Hudson, And to Ned Coffin, a popular staging area in Guam as part of a permission and when he found and the Archives first at- member of the Yale contingient: possible American invasion the swords he would give them tempts in 1992, to gather the “Hey Ned, say something in force. However, the War ended to Willens, whom he had come papers, letters, photographs, ‘Yale’.” in August 1945, and after a few to respect and Willens would and records of graduates of Jack Craig weeks he was sent along with a keep them and guard them the US Navy Japanese/ USMCR large Marine contingient to privately. Going in with several Oriental Language School, JLS 1944 Kumamoto City in Japan where guards, miraculously the young University of Colorado at [Ed. Note: Yeah, well, we felt the he spent about a year as part of man found these four of five Boulder, 1942-1946. We same way at the University of Idaho the Marine group administering swords along with identifying assemble these papers in toward Boise State University. that area. inscriptions in the hilts of the recognition of the contribu- DMH] To avoid any violence, the swords, establishing their ______tions made by JLS/OLS American command decided to authenticity and gave them to instructors and graduates to Book Review have the Japanese surrender Willens to keep forever. Willens, the War effort in the Pacific weapons of any kind to the in turn, had them shipped to his and the Cold War, to the Anton Myrer, The Last Marine Corps authority. These home in Santa Monica, creation of East Asian Convertible weapons would be stored in a California. As the story goes, the language programs across large central warehouse. This old man’s neurosis disappeared the country, and to the I submit the following review to included among other types of and he was “saved.” development of Japanese- you because this book is about weapons, large numbers of As an old friend of Willens, I American cultural rec- your generation of educated Samurai swords that had been visited his home often, saw the onciliation programs after elite, in this case, Harvard ‘44. passed down through swords, but never heard the World War II. They were one of the classes that generations. complete story until recently. Harvard v. Yale had to interrupt their education One day a young Japanese Some fifteen or twenty years to go to war. I feel you would from Tokyo came down to later Willens was invited along Bull Dog! Bull Dog! enjoy this novel if you have not Kumamoto and asked to speak to with his family to visit China – a Bow, wow, wow. read the book before. the Japanese Language Officer notable honor. Willens did some Harvard! Harvard! Anton Myrer, was made named Harold Willens. In those creative and magnanimous Grr, Grr, growl! famous by his military cult novel days traveling anywhere was an thinking about what agreat I read with delight Harry Once an Eagle and his grim arduous task. gesture it would be to return the Muheim’s account of Professor discussion of comrades rent by He explained that his father swords to their rightful owners in Wolle’s description of the JLS the realities in the Pacific in The was an old man living in Japan. Before leaving for Japan, students as “snooty Easterners” Big War. Kumamoto and that he he got in touch with the Mayor and his hope that Harry would The book is actually an worshipped him. But he said his of Kumamoto City to get his infiltrate the group planning a explanation by the main father was dying out of remorse help in tracing the whereabouts musical review to guide it in a character to his godson. Like any and worries and fear that his of the son. This was done. “non-snooty direction.” historian, he makes a short story surrendered Samarai swords Willens sent the swords to his This called to mind my first long. The Last Convertible is would be destroyed, and asked it hotel in Tokyo to hold for his impressions of the student body actually a 1940 Packard which there was any way the swords arrival. He contacted the son and when I arrived in Boulder in appears at a dorm at Harvard, could be saved. They had been in apprised him when he would be January 1943: there were more driven by a French sophisticate the family for a hundred years in Tokyo on return from China to Ivy Leaguers than you can find veteran, that beguiles and unites and the old man was very give back the treasured swords. among officers of Wall Street the disparate frosh dorm-mates attached to them. Willens To Willens’ amazement and investment banks and partners in and becomes central to their developed a respect for the delight there was a TV crew at high-powered New York law “honeyed” pre-War youth at young man’s efforts and his the airport on his return from to firms. Moreover, from the Harvard. Benny Goodman, big desire to save the swords for his Tokyo. The representatives of number of singers performing for games, whiskey flasks, girls dying father. He promised he the large Japanese TV company social events, I was sure that at from surrounding schools and would take up the matter with his told him they would pick him up least half of the Yale Glee Club excursions in that beautiful CO. Willens then spoke to his the next day –a Saturday was in residence. Both Yale and convertible define a carefree CO, who agreed that the swords morning – to televise the Harvard seemed to have a time before decisions. They should be protected and not returning of the swords. greater representation – or finish school, some in the destroyed. At the Saturday morning visibility, perhaps – than other married quanset huts. However, Willens explained in his next ceremony, witnessed by a large colleges and universities. I recall war and choices caught up with interview with the young man TV audience, Willens handed bon mots by Jack Bronston, a them and take their casualties, that first it would be a over the swords to the son who Harvard graduate, that reflected leaving divisions in the group of tremendous effort just to find the never dreamt he would get them curiously bound classmates. swords in that huge warehouse ______back. What a great example of generosity and faith on the part Stroke. He was 84.Weil “gave first stores in the country to JLS/OLS Plaque of the Japanese and the his whole life to Fashion Bar,” develop specialty divisions. To be Hung American Willens and what a said his friend John Levy, whose Weil helped Fashion Bar On Veterans Day symbolic accolade for the trust father Jack Levy, and aunt expand to more than 50 stores in between two peoples. Hannah Levy started Fashion Colorado. It was his idea to The Veterans Lounge in the Bar in 1936. Weil, a distant come up with niche stores that newly renovated University William Newman Memorial Center has finally JLS 1943 cousin of the Levys, was visiting became enormously popular. ______Denver when Jack Levy invited After the Levys retired, Weil been completed. Taking up _ of him to join. So he did. became president of Fashion the reception area, one wall Fashion Bar Exec “It was a labor of love for Bar. Following Weil’s holds plaques to the CU fallen of William Weil Dies him,” John Levy said. “He was retirement, Fashion Bar was sold WWI, WWII, Vietnam and absolutely essential in every to Specialty Realtors in 1992. Korea. The center of the room William Weil, who was aspect, the one who took the Weil entered the US Navy holds the bell of the USS instrumental in developing the business from a store-by-store Japanese Language School in Colorado. I have arranged for Fashion Bar Chain of retail growth to a real horizontal April, 1943. Navy ROTC Cadets to hang the stores in Colorado, died May 24, th growth where we were one of the Denver Post & Archives plaque at 11 AM on the 11 of 2002 after an accident during a ______November. Program TBA. ______