The US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project The Interpreter Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries Number 201 Remember September 11, 2001 [email protected] November 1, 2014

Our Mission was the son of the late Jesse [CPL Harris served as a USMC He wanted to get back in the Orvall and Lucille Whitmer Enlisted Japanese Language Marines during the Korean In the Spring of 2000, the Gleason. He is also preceded in School instructor at Camp Elliot Conflict, but he had high blood Archives continued the origi- death by his wife of 64 years in late 1943 and 1944 and was pressure, two children, and my nal efforts of Captain Roger Genevieve Weeks. He entered well known to Cal Dunbar, mother was expecting me, so the Pineau and William Hudson, the Russian Program at the US Thomas Carey, and I think Irwin doctor would not clear him to go and the Archives first at- Navy Oriental Language School Slesnick, as well as many other back in: telling him, “You have tempts in 1992, to gather the at the University of Colorado in USMCELs. He went on, as an enough responsibility here at papers, letters, photographs, January 1945 from Evanston, officer, to attend the USN home”. Both my older brother and records of graduates of Illinois. He proudly served our JLS/OLS in Boulder and “Ed” (1960-66) and I (1970-74) the US Navy Japanese/ country in WW II and the Stillwater, but may have arrived served in the US Navy. Oriental Language School, Korean War as a US Navy to late to complete the course by My father really loved the University of Colorado at Veteran. He was also a graduate war’s end. See Issue #83] Marine Corps, and was proud of Boulder, 1942-1946. We of Iowa State University, He remained in the Marines his service. His service did affect assemble these papers in employed by ALCOA for many for the entire war. By the end, he him a lot and not always in a recognition of the contribu- years, and a member of the had reached the rank of captain. positive way. But I am sure it tions made by JLS/OLS Presbyterian church. Surviving After the war, he returned to affected pretty much all of those instructors and graduates to are his loving son, Jeffrey Lynn Indiana, moving to Muncie, who fought for the freedom we the War effort in the Pacific Gleason and his wife, Kathy, of Indiana. have today. I hope this is and the Cold War, to the Santa Barbara, Calif., and loving He went to work at Owens something that would be of creation of East Asian companion, Rita Sullivan. Illinois Glass Company until interest to someone. language programs across Asheville Citizen-Times 1950, when he got a job with Thanks for all you do, the country, and to the March 3, 2011 Prudential Insurance Company: Mike Harris development of Japanese- ______first as an agent, but later as ______

American cultural rec- “staff manager”. onciliation programs after Reprise on In 1961 he had a “nervous World War II. “Gocho” Harris breakdown” and retired on Sensei and USMC disability. Many believe the war Edward S. Goldman was the root of his breakdown. I Sensibility

OLS 2/1/45 - I really enjoyed talking to you on do know he had a lot of trouble the phone that day! sleeping at times, and he would After 73 years, Edward Sumnor Goldman, I thought I would give you often mention he would wake up Harvard 1946, died March 5, some history about my dad, dreaming about things that had Donald Keene ’42, 2012, in Denver, Colorado. He “Doyle (Gocho) Harris”. happened during the war. ’49 GSAS leaves served in World War II as a He was born in Dubois I was talking to his older Japanese Language Officer at the County, Indiana on January 11, brother “Paul” who is still alive, Columbia for Japan 1921. He went to French Lick University of Colorado in 94 years old, and living in Donald Keene ’42, ’49 GSAS High School, graduating in 1939. Boulder. He entered the USN Indianapolis. He thought a lot of arrived on Morningside by

JLS/OLS in February of 1945 his trouble might have developed subway as a shy 16-year-old from Lowell, Massachusetts. from my dad’s contraction of from Brooklyn. He leaves the

Later, he and his wife settled in malaria, and while he was in the Columbia faculty 73 years later

Denver, where he led Central hospital, his entire unit was as a globally renowned scholar

Electric Supply Company for killed at Tarawa. He never got and translator of Japanese many years. At age 40, he over that. literature, and a beloved figure in discovered a talent and passion After the war, he married my Japan, where he has now chosen for painting. He leaves his wife, mother (Donna Irene Hutson) to live as a citizen.

Elaine (Beck), a daughter, Carol, from Muncie. We moved to In the wake of the Tohoku and a son, Stephen. Marion, Indiana, after he went earthquake, tsunami and nuclear work at Prudential. He lived Harvard Magazine disaster last March, it came to

July – August, 2012 there for the remainder of his light that the eminent Columbia

Page 64O life. He had four sons: Doyle University professor Donald ______Edward, David, me and Peter, in Keene ’42, ’49 GSAS had

that order. He died on January chosen to retire to Japan. 17, 1971 after falling during an LYNN GLEASON (Detail) Seated as instructor with His decision became a major ice storm in front of our house, news story there, cheering a OLS 1/10/45 - the USMC Enlisted Japanese striking his head. Language School senior nation that appreciated the ASHEVILLE - Lynn Edward graduating class, Camp Pendleton, It seems kind of ironic that he gesture of solidarity from a Gleason, 90, of The Deerfield July 1944; Staff Sergeant Doyle W. survived Guadalcanal and the revered sensei — teacher — at a Episcopal Community, passed (“Gocho”) Harris, b&w, 8x10, war and dies, mailing a letter, time when many foreigners were away Tuesday, March 1, 2011. A Pineau31_06_00_15j falling on ice. leaving Japan. native of Des Moines Iowa, he Ever faithful to truth, however, recently the Order of Culture Japanese Culture, and a spark gentle” classicist, Moses Hadas Keene notes that he had actually (Bunka-Kunsho), which the was ignited. “He talks about ’30 GSAS; Lionel Trilling ’25, formed his intention many weeks Japanese government awards for Japanese aesthetics in daily life ’38 GSAS and Jacques Barzun earlier, as he lay in a Tokyo significant contributions to the — the beauty of irregularity. The ’27, ’32 GSAS, who led Keene’s hospital bed. On December 31, nation’s culture; he was the first misshapen tea bowl is more Senior Colloquium; and Pierre Keene had been stricken with an foreign national to be so interesting and something to Clamens, a French instructor unusually severe case of gout, honored. behold than a perfectly “who was very stern, but gave which eluded initial diagnosis. “He’s almost the most famous symmetrical piece of porcelain.” everything to his students,” “It was serious enough to be life- man in Japan,” says Carol Gluck Katayama followed his Keene says. threatening,” Keene says. “When ’77 GSAS, Columbia’s George curiosity and signed up for His chief mentor, however, I came back to myself, I thought Sansom Professor of History, Japanese classes, gradually was cultural historian Ryusaku about how I was going to live the herself a well-known scholar and committing to a major in East Tsunoda, a pioneer of Japanese rest of my life, and I decided that commentator there. “You can’t Asian languages and cultures. studies at Columbia whom it would have to be in Japan. I go anywhere in Japan and utter Eventually he landed in Keene’s Keene often refers to, simply, as also decided I would take the words ‘Donald Keene’ and famed course, “Introduction to Sensei. “He was a man I admired Japanese citizenship.” His choice not have everybody know him, Modern Japanese Literature.” completely,” Keene says, “a man was deeply personal, born of an whether you’re in the middle of “The amazing thing about who had more influence on me attachment that goes back to his the paddy fields or the mountains Professor Keene is that he does than anyone else I can think of.” student days at Columbia more in the north,” she says. not use notes,” Katayama says. As a senior, Keene enrolled in than 70 years ago. But after the “Intellectuals and scholars are “His lectures are all in his head, Tsunoda’s course in the history earthquake he felt even more media celebrities in Japan and and he’s extremely passionate. of Japanese thought. Fifty years committed, and when letters of always on television. Even I’m You can feel it in the tenor of his later, in a CCT interview (Winter gratitude poured in from always on television.” voice, his mannerisms, the way 1991) with David Lehman ’70, Japanese admirers, he says, “I Fred Katayama ’82, ’83J is a he holds himself. There’s a ’78 GSAS, Keene remem­bered: was, of course, pleased.” news anchor for Thomson Japanese sensibility to him — “The first class, it turned out I A modest, soft-spoken Reuters television in New York modest, quiet, extremely was the only student — in 1941 scholar and teacher, the 89-year- and a former student and diligent, but never patronizing or there was not much pro-Japanese old Keene is virtually unknown longtime friend of Keene’s. condescending. He always came feeling. I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be a to the broad American public. In Katayama remembers switching in a suit; he was old-fashioned in waste of your time to give a class the realm of Japanese letters, on NHK — the BBC of Japan — that sense. You’re not going to for one student?’ He said, ‘One however, his reputation could and watching in awe as his see him in a polo shirt. And he is enough.’” hardly be more stellar. As a teacher interviewed then-Prime ended perfectly on time — he Born in 1922, Keene speaks teacher, essayist, literary and Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone would be out the door.” with some sadness of his cul­tural historian, critic, one-on-one. Keene so engages Katayama feels deeply boyhood in Brooklyn’s Flatbush anthologist, memoirist, editor the Japanese public, Katayama indebted to Keene. “I was a section. In 1934, he lost his and translator — with some 25 observes, that his memoirs were Japanese-American who had an sister, which left him an only books in English and another 30 serialized in Yomiuri Shimbun, identity crisis at a Jesuit prep child. Keene’s father, who sold in Japanese — he is perhaps the the nation’s (and the world’s) school and swore he would never radio parts and later real estate, quintessential figure in his field. leading daily newspaper, with a go to Japan,” he says. “And I left his mother “under very Keene, who began teaching at paid circulation of more than 14 wind up spending a good chunk unpleasant conditions” when he Columbia in 1955, was named million. “I think they feel that he of my career tied to Japan. What was 15, Keene says. “And then the Shincho Professor of knows and understands Japan if I hadn’t read Landscapes and he disappeared from my life Japanese Literature in 1981 and more than perhaps any Portraits?” altogether for a period. I didn’t attained the institution’s highest foreigner,” Katayama says. Keene’s approach to teaching even know where he was.” academic rank, University A third-generation Japanese- and writing bears the imprint of Keene himself has never Professor, in 1989. The American from Los Angeles, his freshman Humanities married. University’s prestigious Donald Katayama spent a number of instructor, Mark Van Doren ’21 Lonely and, by his own Keene Center for Japanese years in Tokyo as a GSAS. “He was a scholar and reckoning, exceptionally Culture, named in his honor at its correspondent for Fortune, the poet and above all someone who unathletic, Keene found solace in founding in 1986, sponsors Associated Press and the understood literature and could stamp collecting, which opened instruction, research, exhibits, program Japan Business Today, make us understand it with him,” his eyes to a wider world of prizes and other public seen on CNBC in the United Keene writes in Chronicles of nations and languages, and in programs. Somehow the major States; he sits on the board of the My Life: An American in the movies, which opened his eyes College alumni awards have Japan Society and the U.S.-Japan Heart of Japan. “Van Doren had even wider. Years later, as a eluded Keene, however. Perhaps Council, in Washington, D.C. little use for commentaries or professor, Keene escorted Greta he feels as Duke Ellington did in Yet it was Keene who inspired specialized literary criticism. Garbo, a friend of a friend, to the 1965 when the Pulitzer Prize him to embrace his own cultural Rather, the essential thing, he Broadway production of The board denied him the award its ancestry. taught us, was to read the texts, Diary of Anne Frank. “After music jurors had recommended: “Japan didn’t have the think about them, and discover emerging from the theater, we “Fate is being kind to me,” greatest image when I was for ourselves why they were waited briefly for a taxi, and the Ellington dryly remarked. “Fate growing up,” Katayama says. “It ranked as classics.” drivers of passing cars halted doesn’t want me to be famous was mocked — ‘Made in Japan’ The experience of taking the their vehicles for a better look at too young.” and all that stuff. I didn’t want College’s general education the famous face,” he later Keene certainly has not anything to do with the country.” courses was “incredible,” Keene recalled. lacked for recognition on the But as a student in the College, says, and he fondly remembers In 1938, Keene attended his western side of the Pacific. He Katayama recalls, he happened the great teachers he encountered first performance of the has received a number of Japan’s to read Keene’s Landscapes and as an undergraduate. Among Metropolitan Opera; it was Orfeo most distinguished prizes, most Portraits: Appreciations of them were the “learned and ed Euridice. The following year, as a birthday gift, his mother Department. While at Iowa, The Opelika-Auburn News then-Maine House Speaker John gave him a subscription to 16 Royce met and married Shirley Martin, had broken into the July 17, 2012 successive Friday nights at the Needham in 1954. In 1967, ______recount room of the secretary of Met. The teenaged Keene sat in Royce began a 10-year state’s office to stuff ballot boxes the last row of the uppermost assignment with the Rock Island Remembering in favor of Deborah Rice, who at tier, where tickets cost $1, and Arsenal serving as the Director Harry Foote the time was neck-and-neck with was hooked for life. One of of the Rodman Laboratory and Joseph Taylor for the Maine (Cont’d from Previous Issue) Keene’s chief regrets in leaving Technical Advisor to the House District 38 seat. Sanphy said he admired New York is giving up his Met Commander. In 1977, Royce That story, which led to Allen Foote’s fearlessness when it Opera subscription. (to be cont’d returned to academics as the and one other aide pleading came to breaking stories, next issue) Chair of Mechanical Engineering guilty in Maine Superior Court especially those that made local By Jamie Katz ’72 at Auburn University. Royce to burglary and ballot-tampering political figures uncomfortable. Columbia College Today retired from Auburn University charges, made national news, but “He always ran with it, and Winter 2011 in 1993 at the age of 70. He had Foote broke it first in the http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/ did a good job reporting it, a long and distinguished career. American Journal, Baker said, winter11/features1 sometimes to the chagrin of ______He took a personal interest in his after a key source tried to tell the some politicians,” Sanphy said. students and cared deeply about story to the Portland Press Pete Profenno owns their success. Throughout his Herald, which declined to run it. Royce Beckett Profenno’s Bar and Grill in career, Royce and Shirley “He had a great nose for OLS 3/20/45- Westbrook, where Foote was a provided his international news,” Baker said of Foote. regular customer. “Nicest guy in ROYCE BECKETT Royce students a home away from Many journalists recalled the world,” Profenno said Beckett, 89, of Davenport, Iowa, home. Recently, former students starting their careers working Tuesday. “We’ll miss him in died Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at have established scholarships in under Harry Foote. Christopher town.” Trinity Bettendorf. Services were his name at both the University “Crash” Barry, 44, began Profenno said he was a held Thursday, July 12th in of Iowa and Auburn University. working as a part-time reporter regular advertiser and Foote Davenport. The family is also Royce loved photography and in 1994 at the American Journal. would run an ad even if Profenno planning a celebration of life at a enjoyed taking movies and slides He only worked there about a hadn’t ordered one. He said he later date at Holy Trinity of family vacations and holidays. year and a half while he attended last saw Foote and his wife, Episcopal Church in Auburn, Several of his pictures won local journalism classes at the Anne, and their son Ray in the Alabama, where he was member awards. He loved to travel. University of Southern Maine, restaurant three or four months for over 30 years. In lieu of other Favorite destinations were but the impression that Foote ago. Profenno pointed to a booth expressions of sympathy, national parks where he could made on his skills as a journalist where the Foote family always memorials may be made to the combine his love of the outdoors has lasted his entire career. sat. National Park Foundation and photography. He was an avid “(Working at) the American Hews said it was in (www.nationalparks.org) or to rose gardener, tending nearly Journal was like going to Profenno’s where she worked Alzheimer's Association 100 bushes in his Auburn journalism school,” he said. out the deal to purchase the (www.alz.org). Royce Beckett garden. Royce was active in his Barry said Foote forced him American Journal from the Foote was born May 31, 1923, the church and community. He to be relentless in his pursuit of family. eldest of six, in Hinch, Missouri. coached 6 years of Little League every little detail, and Barry lost “During the negotiations and He graduated from high school and Babe Ruth baseball, served count of how many meetings eventual sale of the paper, I in Bourbon, Missouri in 1940 as President of the Bettendorf Foote made sure he attended. spent many hours with Harry, and was the first in his family to School Board, and was the The experience was worth it. learning about the business he attend college. Royce was informal event photographer for “Now, I can go into any city had built and coming to accepted into the Navy's V-12 every organization he belonged hall, police station, or understand that the ‘deal’ we Officer in Training program and to. Royce and Shirley taught government building and be were putting together was never graduated with a BS in several courses for the Auburn comfortable that I know what’s the issue for Harry,” Hews Mechanical Engineering from University lifelong learning available to me for public recalled. “Harry needed to be the University of Illinois in 1944. program and helped found the information,” he said. sure that the people who relied He went to Midshipman School Auburn Food Bank. Survivors Foote, Barry said, was very upon the American Journal as at Colombia University in New include his wife, Shirley; old-school, typing up stories on a readers would continue to get York City. After receiving his daughters, Susan (Laurie Haag) typewriter even into the what they needed, and that the commission, he was sent to US of Iowa City, IA and Barb computer age. In fact, Barry said, employees would be treated Navy Japanese/Oriental (Doyle) Harris of Davenport; one of his most enduring fairly.” Language School in Boulder, son, Scott (Kim) Beckett of memories is of what Foote used In 1990, Foote received the Colorado. He was posted to Jacksonville, AL; grandchildren, to do with old press releases Maine Press Association’s Guam at the end of World War Trasi (Mark) Crowley, Kim which, in the days before email, Journalist of the Year award, and II. He earned an MS in (Shawn) Parr, Bryan Harris and were mailed in to the office. in 1999, he was inducted into the Theoretical and Applied Clay Beckett; seven great- “He would flip them over, association’s Hall of Fame. Mechanics in 1950 from the grandchildren; sisters, Norma tape them together, and type Baker said he personally University of Illinois and his (Clarence) Brouk of St. Louis, stories on the back of them,” nominated Foote for the doctoral degree in engineering MO and Bonnie Pennock of Barry recalled. induction. from Washington University in Bourbon, MO; brothers, Lindy Matt DeRienzo, group editor “I admired him enormously,” St. Louis. In 1953 he joined the Beckett of Lathrop, MO and of Journal Register Co.’s he said. “He was a very good University of Iowa as an Dale Beckett of Bourbon, MO. publications in Connecticut, is a newspaperman.” assistant professor. From 1960- He was preceded in death by his former American Journal In particular, Baker recalled a 67 he served as Professor and parents and a sister, Vera Halsey. reporter and managing editor. He 1992 story of allegations that Director of Solid Mechanics in He will be greatly missed by his started his career at the Ken Allen, executive assistant to the Mechanics and Hydraulics family and friends. American Journal at age 18. “He took a chance on me,” “I think we had better Irwin L. Slesnick Slesnick published numerous DeRienzo said of Foote. government because of Harry articles and books on Science DeRienzo said Foote never Foote,” DeRienzo said. USMCEL 1945 Education. His company, took statements at face value, Foote also showed a Biologist & JLS Historian Creative Dimensions, produced always pushing harder to get to dedication to the people who and developed science activity the truth underneath. worked for him, Collins said. kits for children. He wrote a “He would scare the hell out “While Foote was a tough comprehensive book on WWII of public officials,” DeRienzo editor, he cared about his staff Japanese Language Schools said, “He brought public officials and always wanted to know how initially motivated by his own to their knees.” we were doing,” she said. experience. DeRienzo said Foote also DeRienzo agreed, saying on a Irwin Slesnick is survived by forced his reporters to do the personal level, “Harry was a his wife Carole, his brother same, often asking reporters, father figure to me.” Bruce, and by his five children “How do you know he’s not Hews said she is proud to from a previous marriage, Trina, lying?” continue the work that Foote Twila, Dan, Tanya, and Natasha. Kate Irish Collins, a reporter started with the American Appreciation goes out to for the Sun Chronicle and the Journal. Home Attendant Care, Mt. Baker Weekly Reporter, worked for “I have always had it in the Care Center, and Irwin's doctors Foote for two years as a reporter back of my mind that I was and the staff at St. Joseph for the American Journal. She simply a steward of Harry’s Hospital for their constant care said she had no formal work,” Hews said. “I am so and comfort. journalism training, and learned honored that he allowed us to Bellingham Herald "I had the privilege of editing September 7 to 9, 2012 much from Foote. In particular, take over and continue to do his Collins recalled Foote’s passion work for the people in these two books he wrote for us...." [Ed. Note: It was Professor - Andrew Cooke Slesnick’s enjoinders when he for detail. communities.” “If you were doing a feature Foote is survived by his wife, Irwin Leonard Slesnick, beloved arrived to perform research between story on someone, Foote always daughter Susan and son teacher, father, husband, died 1999 and 2000 that induced the Archives to intensively reinitiate the wanted to know things like what Raymond, all of Portland; son September 5, 2012 at St. Joseph that person liked to eat for Thomas and daughter-in-law acquisition of USN JLS/OLS archival Hospital. materials from hundreds of former breakfast or what they were Anne Harwood, Bowdoinham; Dr. Slesnick was a professor JLS/OLS sensei and instructors, wearing – anything and son Daniel and daughter-in-law of Biology and Science attendees, graduates, and their kin. everything that could help the Mikiyo, Tokyo, Japan and Education at Western He told me, “They have a lot of reader connect with that person Seattle, Wash.; and grandsons Washington University from papers that they might want to and see something of themselves Jeffrey Perry of Arlington, Va., 1963 until retirement in 1996. He contribute.” Those collected papers too,” Collins said. and Kevin Perry of Charlotte, worked as Science Education assisted Sles and Carole in writing Chuck Anschutz covered N.C. Kanji & Codes, as well as they aided Advisor in India from 1965 - Professor Roger Dingman in his Windham and Gorham, and Also surviving are his wife’s 1970. research for Deciphering the Rising wrote sports stories under Foote sister Sally and her husband Irwin Slesnick was born in Sun. In the many research trips he from the late 1990s until Foote Richard Vaughan of Buxton, and Canton, Ohio August 5, 1926. made to CU, partially because he sold the paper. Like other former sisters-in-law Charlotte Foote of He joined the Marine Corps in enjoyed Boulder and staying at the colleagues, Anschutz recalled Northport, Mich., and Jannette March 1944 and served as a Faculty Club (no longer an option, I Foote’s dedication to making Foote of Bay Village, Ohio, and Japanese Language Interpreter am afraid), he was always a welcome sure public officials took many nieces and nephews. during the Battle for Okinawa. visitor). He had previously spent responsibility for their actions. A visiting hour and brief much time at CU for the High School At the end of WWII he was sent Biology Curriculum Study. So it was “Harry took his responsibility memorial will be held from 3-5 to China and was discharged in with relish, as well as generosity, of holding government p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the May, 1946. that he would front me dinners at the accountable very seriously,” he Jones, Rich and Hutchins Following his service, Flagstaff or at Sushi restaurants. He said. “He encouraged this ethic Funeral Parlor, 199 Woodford Slesnick received his B.S. and very much enjoyed the 2002 USN th in his reporters, and the local St., Portland. A.B. in Biology and Physical JLS/OLS 60 Anniversary Reunion at community was better off for it.” Contributions may be made in Science from Bowling Green the University of Colorado. I shall Raymond Foote, himself a his memory to Bowdoin College, miss him.] State University, his M.S. in ______former assistant editor and 1400 College Station, Zoology from University of publisher of the American Brunswick, ME 04011. Michigan, and his Ph.D. in $Donations Accepted Journal, said his father worked By Sean Murphy Science Education from The You may contribute donations to our hard every day at the paper up [email protected] Ohio State University. US Navy JLS/OLS Fund. We hire until age 86, when he sold it. Robert Lowell Dr. Slesnick was an active work-study students on this fund, “He loved the towns and the [email protected] | member of Washington Science tripling its value. Make your check people,” he said, “(and) they Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Teachers Association and out to the University of Colorado, loved him back.” 5:37 pm writing US Navy JLS Fund on the ______National Science Teachers They loved him, most agreed, Association, receiving their memo line to the bottom left of your check, and mail it to our contact because along with his strong Recent Losses: highest award in 1998, the political views, his relentless address. It will go straight to our Robert H. Carleton Award for project. pursuit of public officials, and his leadership in Science his tireless interest in the Education. He wrote many David Hays Archives smallest details, at the heart of articles for NSTA publications Harry Foote was a deep University of Colorado at Boulder The Science Teacher and 184 UCB commitment to helping the Science & Children. Boulder, Colorado 80309-0184 public. ______