The US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project The Interpreter Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries Number 136 Remember September 11, 2001 [email protected] June 1, 2009

Our Mission reporting in , and production facilities and public Erik Thorlaksson passed Southeast Asia. events play an important role in away August 9, 1996. Tavie, my In the Spring of 2000, the Gibney later served as an the life and academic activities husband, has Alzheimer’s and Archives continued the origi- editor of Time, a senior features of the college and community. has been in a nursing home for nal efforts of Captain Roger editor of Newsweek and an "Frank Gibney was a about a year. I have appreciated Pineau and William Hudson, editorial writer for Life remarkable and rare person," receiving the newsletters and and the Archives first at- magazine. After joining the says Hans Palmer, vice president occasionally reading something tempts in 1992, to gather the Encyclopedia Britannica in 1966, of the Pacific Basin Institute and that triggers memories of those papers, letters, photographs, he spent 10 years in charge of professor of economics at times. My husband was a very and records of graduates of Britannica’s business and . "As an expert quiet, introspective individual, the US Navy Japanese/ editorial operations in . on Asia and a journalist even before he suffered from Oriental Language School, He founded and edited the extraordinaire, he helped define dementia, and would probably University of Colorado at Japanese-language Britannica much of our thinking about the have had little to say, even then. Boulder, 1942-1946. We (completed in 1975) and later peoples and cultures of the We met at the Lutheran assemble these papers in editions of the encyclopedia in Pacific Basin. He believed that Church, located on Broadway, recognition of the contribu- Chinese and Korean. we all share a common reality had our first date on tions made by JLS/OLS A prolific writer, Gibney was and that we all would share a Thanksgiving and were married instructors and graduates to the author of 11 books from Five common future for which we six weeks later on January 16, the War effort in the Pacific Gentlemen of Japan (1953) to need to prepare. His humor was 1943. He wanted his brother to and the Cold War, to the Korea’s Quiet Revolution (1992) infectious, and his humanity was be his ―Best Man‖ at the creation of East Asian and The Battle for Okinawa all encompassing. He will be wedding, so we were married on language programs across (1995). His major work, The sorely missed." the day Erik had to leave. The the country, and to the Pacific Century (1992) was the He is survived by his third marriage took because we have development of Japanese- capstone of the award-winning wife, Hiroko Doi, of Santa celebrated our 63rd anniversary American cultural rec- PBS television series of that Barbara, and seven children: this past January (2006) onciliation programs after name, where he served as chief , of Summit, New I have fond memories of World War II. editor. The program aired in Jersey; Margot Gibney, of getting to know the Japanese Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Oakland, CA; Frank Gibney Jr. instructors and their wives, Singapore, as well as the U.S. He of Brooklyn, New York; James learning to play Mahjong, and Frank B. was also a frequent contributor Gibney, of New York City; learning about Japanese culture to the Los Angeles Times and the Thomas Gibney, of Placerville, and food. I was born and raised Gibney, 81; Washington Post, most recently CA; Elise Gibney, of Eagle in Iowa and had literally no writing about Japan’s Prime Rock, CA and Josephine Gibney opportunities to get to know One of the Nation’s Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in of Los Angeles; and seven people of other cultures. In those Preeminent Experts on September 2005. grandchildren. days people did not travel as they Asia and Active in public service, Obituary provided by do today. (to be cont’d) President of the Pacific Gibney served as a chief Dr. Pedro Loureiro Freda Thorlaksson (Mrs. S. O.) Basin Institute at Pomona consultant to the House of Pomona College ______

College, Has Died Representatives Committee on FAMILY CONTACT: Space and Aeronautics, a White James Gibney War Years in Frank Gibney, one of America's House speechwriter for President Phone: (212) 556-7005 foremost experts on Asia and Johnson, and a vice chairman of Email: [email protected] Boulder Asia Pacific affairs and editor of ______the Japan-U.S. Friendship [The Kansas City Star’s] story The Pacific Century, died on Commission. on Boulder, Colorado, as part of April 9, 2006 at his home in Certainly Worthy In 1976, the Japanese a series on Big 12 cities was Santa Barbara, at the age of 81. government awarded Gibney the Of a Look great (8/27/06, ―That’s my President of the Pacific Basin Order of the Rising Sun, Third My husband, S. O. ―Tavie‖ Boulder: Downtown booster has Institute and a professor of Class, for his work in cultural Thorlaksson, was a member of been in love with the city for politics at Pomona College, in affairs. The Order of the Sacred the School in more than 60 years‖). However, Claremont, California, Gibney Treasure, Second Class, Boulder before leaving there for for my part, an era was not spent most of his life attempting followed a few years later. Pearl Harbor on December 13, reported on: the war years in to bridge the gap between Fluent in Japanese, Professor 1943, the day our daughter was Boulder. Americans and the countries and Gibney co-founded the Pacific born. His brother, Neils Erik, Virginia Patterson, who was cultures of East Asia. He first Basin Institute in 1979 to further was also at the Language School the source of a lot of the article, visited Asia as a lieutenant in understanding, on both sides of and left January 16, 1943. Both is my age, and she started there U.S. Naval Intelligence stationed the Pacific, of the tremendous had been born and raised in in 1942, so she has recollections in Japan during World War II importance of their relationship Japan and spoke fluent Japanese, of the US Navy presence there. and returned to Japan in 1949 as and their shared responsibilities. had a real understanding of the I was sent there in 1943 to Time-Life's bureau chief, rising In 1997, the Institute to moved to Japanese people, and had to learn attend radio school. There were to prominence covering the Pomona College, where its the formal, written Japanese at about 100 of us from all parts of . He remained in unique Asia/Pacific film archive, the school. the country in each class, and as Asia where he did extensive soon as one class graduated, do have fairly clear memories of age is not a remarkable thing, his attention to disinherit him for another arrived. I remember Brother Soden, notwithstanding life was. Born in San Francisco going into Chinese studies), and sailors from California who had that our acquaintance was over shortly after the great Lessing was himself estranged never been in snow before. 50 years ago. I remember him earthquake, raised by a from his own son when the son We lived in the Field House as a kind, thoughtful person, grandmother who was herself joined the Nazi party (he was next to the football stadium, and with a somewhat-obscured but orphaned when her parents were later executed by the Nazis in the our mess hall was there too. A clearly present sense of humor. killed by Indians while coming last days of the war.) Something short distance away was what My copy of the 1955 yearbook to California by wagon train, of of a father-son relationship had been the men’s dormitory has a photo of him, if anyone such limited means that as a developed between the two and before the war. The Navy wants a copy. My father, who young boy he had a job lighting Rudolph often fondly recalled utilized it to house the Japanese joined the Foreign Service after the street lights of the small the Mongolian language language students who would the War, was (I believe) Consul California town in which he was recordings Lessing thoughtfully later become officers upon General in Yokohama at the raised, and forced for a time to made for him when he was graduation. time. He was acquainted with live in a water tower and later a recruited by the OSS during the I loved Boulder and went Brother Soden. dirt-walled basement while Second World War for a mission back after the war on vacations, St. Joseph’s was closed a few putting himself through 14 years to Mongolia which, instead of and each time I noted the years ago, but its alumni have an of the university during the "Hello," began with "Call off changing landscape. active association with meetings Depression, he was often asked your dogs, I come in peace." (A

Harold Hosterman every now and then in the United why he went into Chinese major motion picture was later Overland Park, KS States. I am not an active studies. Never interested in made of this mission.) Perhaps member of the alumni talking about himself, he would wisely, he eventually accepted a [Ed.Note: Duane Flaherty, OLS association, but one of my best always joke that Chinese was the position as head of the Chinese 1945, passed this tidbit to me from the Kansas City Star. I thought you friends in Japan, Thomas Haar, only field in which he could get section of the U.S. Navy might like to know that some of your has been quite active. I believe financial support—though he Language School at the fellow students from the other Navy his e-mail is [email protected], told his own children that he had University of Colorado, where schools liked Boulder, as well. I and he lives in Hawaii. I if you been deeply attracted to Chinese he worked with Ensho Ashikaga called him and he was curious about or anyone else needs more culture ever since he was young, and Y.C. Chu, lifelong friends our program. I told him the Archives information about Brother when he used to hide and read who would later come to UCLA, was interested in the Radio School, Soden, Tom can probably about during a job he had and where he met Mary Alice too. I put him in touch with Duane, provide it of steer you in the at the Carnegie library in his Potter, his wife of 59 years. as they live about a block or two from each other and thought they right direction. home town. (He had, in fact, From 1945 to 1947, he served would like to compare notes. Very truly begun his college career quite as acting director of the School I wonder if any of you ever ran yours, successfully in pre-med, and of Chinese Studies at the into Virginia Patterson? J. Owen Zurhellen, III received his B.A. from UC University of Toronto and ______We have one memoir of the Radio Berkeley in what was then called assistant keeper of Far Eastern School, but none from the pre-radar Another Reprise on Foreign Trade.) antiquities at the Royal Ontario or cook’s school.] His professional career all but Museum of Archaeology, an ______Brother Soden began with his first trip to China experience that instilled in him a Soden Reprise I've just received and read The in 1948-49, just before it closed lasting love of ancient books, Interpreter #104A. Brother with the Communist Revolution, calligraphy, paintings, and Dear David: Soden and I were in the same You might recall that my late and more or less ended with his artifacts. (His house was a heap class, though never particularly second trip in 1973 as a member of these things.) Offered his father, J. Owen Zurhellen, Jr., close friends. We entered was a JLS graduate and served in of the first group of American choice in 1947 of either a October 1, 1942 and graduated in scholars to enter China before position at Berkeley or the the Marine Corps (5th Division) November, 1943--not in March as a language officer. A few the normalization of relations. opportunity to found a new of 1944. I knew he remained in This closing of China during department of Oriental years ago, I sent you the JLS/ the Navy, but after graduation I WWII memorabilia I found virtually his entire professional Languages at UCLA, he lost track of him completely. life was a deep disappointment enthusiastically chose the latter, among his belongings. Your newsletter of October Richard Moss to him, almost a personal and remained at UCLA JLS 1943 tragedy, and one he compensated throughout his career. (to be 15, 2006 contained an article concerning Brother Aloysius M. [Ed. Note: Funny how things work. I for to some degree with a love of cont’d) Japan that lasted his whole life. Conrad Rudolph Soden. I might be able to add unknowingly placed this reprise right ______some biographical information next to another on Brother Soden.] He was a bibliophile and a ______linguist at heart, being fluent in regarding Brother Soden. In Certainly Worthy Mandarin, Manchu, Mongolian, 1954 and 1955, as a fourth and IN MEMORIAM Of a Look Japanese, German, French, fifth grader, I attended St. Joseph’s College, an inter- Richard C. Rudolph Italian, and Spanish—and having (Cont’d) we had become good national boys’ school operated Professor of East Asian begun but never finished Tibetan friends with the Imais (Martha by the Marianist Order in Languages and Cultures, and Russian. and Yugi). After you called, I Yokohama, Japan [At 4, I was in Emeritus, UCLA Rudolph received his Ph.D. in called Martha, with whom I had Japan in 1956. My dad was on OLS Chinese Dept. Head Chinese literature from Berkeley lost touch over the years. It was in 1942, studying with the the USS St. Paul]. For the 1955 (1909–2003) fun talking with her again. The famous sinologists Ferdinand Imais attended the same church school year, Brother Soden came Richard C. Rudolph, described Lessing and Peter Boodberg. He with us, and one Sunday, as I on as the Treasurer of St. recently as "the father of Chinese saw very little of his father was talking to Martha, I threw Joseph’s. Because I left the studies at UCLA," died April 9, throughout his life (though his my arms around her to tell her school after that year, I don’t 2003, just a few weeks short of know if he stayed on thereafter. I free-spending and at times how happy I was because I had his 94th birthday. While such an wealthy father did pay enough just gotten a letter from my When Dr. John Middendorf first dozen or so other language JLS 1944 husband. As I looked over her started teaching at GS in 1945, students. [Ed. Note: Roy Minkler and Art shoulder, I saw two older women Professor Donald Clark warned On the appointed day we Gassaway have passed away. Ed gasping and shocked that I was him, ―Prepare for a rocky life if were picked up by bus Cameron may have died 4/23/04.] hugging a Japanese person. That you plan to stay at Columbia.‖ somewhere along Broadway and ______was an epiphany for me – to Clark was speaking of the driven to a wooded area at the In Memoriam realize the person, my friend, rumored proposal to get rid of foot of the glacier. While it was Walter Ernest Schlaretzki was the most important thing GS entirely. But Middendorf not yet fully light we were about Martha. I was fortunate to would not be swayed. Instead, he served a substantial breakfast. OLS (Malay) 1944 carry that with me from then on. took his place in the then system Then we began the not too Our beloved colleague, friend Another interesting situation of ―hot desks‖ where, as a result arduous climb to the glacier and former chair Ernest helped me learn about the of limited space and funds (GS itself. The glacier was our Schlaretzki died of Parkinson's Japanese culture. Shortly after operated an independent faculty wintry playground for the next disease at his home in we were married, while walking back then), five faculty members hour or so. There were snowball Gaithersburg, Maryland on down the street, we met three shared a single desk. It was fights, of course. But the most January 19, 1999. Ernest came to instructors. My husband almost by accident that popular activity was forming Maryland as assistant professor introduced me. After the Middendorf later learned he had "seat-of-the-pants" toboggans, in 1953, chaired the Philosophy introduction, they all spoke in shared a desk with Thomas sitting on a slope, four or more Department from 1962 to 1972, Japanese. When we were again Merton. (GS is Gen. Studies) people locked together, for the and retired in 1985. alone, I asked my husband what Middendorf can recall a time long glide down the glacier. Born in Dallas City, Illinois, had been said. He told me that when GS was merely an I suppose ecological and on February 7, 1920, Ernest the men were saying what a extension school with no faculty security concerns might have received his Ph.D. in philosophy lovely wife he had. He had told or dean of its own, offering its ended the Arapahoe Glacier Trip from Cornell University. He them that I was not worthy for students a B.S. degree regardless by now, but in 1942, it provided served in the intelligence arm of them to look at! My American of the major or field of study (the an unforgettable experience. the during heritage was shocked, but he College refused to relinquish its Paul E. Hauck World War II, and subsequently explained he was just being hold on the B.A. degree). In JLS 1943 in the Naval Reserve, retiring polite (in Japanese) [Where I got those early days, GS had only a [Ed. Note: The Arapahoe Glacier from military service with the the title]. (to be cont’d) director and a reputation for and the N. Boulder Creek watershed rank of Captain. When Ernest making money for the have been off-limits to the public for Freda Thorlaksson (Mrs. S. O.) became Chair, the department ______University. But things changed. more than 40 years as they are part was divided by principle and by GS grew in spite of its relative of Boulder’s water supply.] ‘Where are They Now?’ ______policy; when he left the office it obscurity on campus. It fought a Prof. Emeritus, JLS 1944 had a unity of purpose and sometimes bitter struggle to be Navy Roommates John H. Middendorf, commitment. This was largely a given its own chapter of Phi Beta I had hoped to find a current result of his civility, Sitting in his study on Riverside Kappa, and it fought for and won address for Edgar M. Cameron, evenhandedness and warmth. It Drive among countless volumes the right to award its students who was my roommate in the is all the more remarkable when of first, second, and third B.A. degrees where appropriate, basement of the Men's Dorm, but one considers the times. Those editions of the various works of and it continued to attract bright he has probably passed away-- were the years of the Vietnam Samuel Johnson, Professor young minds from all walks of along with a lot of our now- War. When the department made Emeritus John Middendorf life. It is just this kind of student ancient classmates. I arrived an unpopular tenure decision, fondly recalls teaching body that Middendorf from San Francisco in charge of students took over its offices, classrooms filled with dancers, appreciates. ―They’re not wet a draft of three active duty and many were arrested. business men and women, and behind the ears,‖ he quips while sailors--Ed Cameron, Art Resulting indignation fed into young people who had been searching for a copy of English Gassaway, and Roy Minkler. the national outrage at the backpacking through Europe and writers of the Eighteenth They were all Yeomen 3/c from bombing of Cambodia and the South America for a few years Century, which he edited for the Censorship in SF, and I had been killings at Kent State. There before deciding to attend college. Columbia University Press in on duty for a year in the 12th were mass demonstrations; the ―GS changed my perception for 1971. (to be cont’d) Naval District Intelligence National Guard invaded campus. the better,‖ he says. ―Too often, Elizabeth Valeri, gs ’01 Office as a Yeoman 2/c (a real Amid the rocks, tear gas and one loses sight, when becoming The Columbia Owl Online stenographer). helicopters, Ernest remained an academic, of the line between The Alumni Newsletter of I had studied Japanese for unflappable, exerting a calming the intellectual/academic world The School of General Studies about 3 months at Univ. of influence on those around him. and the world at large. In my Fall/Winter 2002 ______California, Berkeley, standing Ernest's philosophical case, GS gave me a sense of the my duties in SF at night. This interests lay in the areas of importance of literature as a Arapahoe Glacier Hike gave me a good head start, but it ethics, social and political nourisher of life. The range of was my shorthand training that philosophy, and the philosophy students helped me keep in Not long after I arrived in got me through Boulder. I did of law. Most of his publications perspective where literature fits, Boulder in June 1942, I saw an not socialize much but skied were in these areas; those that and how it can be enriching and ad in the Daily Camera for an almost every Sunday during the seemed to lie elsewhere nearly relevant.‖ Arapahoe Glacier Trip to be sponsored, I believe, by the winter of 1943-4. But the always turned out to be focused Chamber of Commerce. Never language stuck with me and I on values. having been west of the Hudson became quite fluent after arriving Students deeply appreciated River, the thought of actually in Japan on 6 Sept. 1945. Still the care and the commitment that climbing over a mountain glacier love to speak it, but most of the went into Ernest's teaching. (He in the West had an instant appeal Kanji are lost. routinely photographed his Lawrence S. Myers Professor Middendorf’s study for me. I signed up, as did a half classes at the beginning of the term in order to learn his my job in the library but felt I accepted. Under Secretary of conducting research in Dutch students' names and faces.) His should get involved. My mother State Dulles, the new US history. However, he served in course on Kant's ethics was a read in the Key Reporter about Information Agency was formed. the Royal Navy during the staple of the Department's the opportunity to go to the Between 1950 and 1963, she Second World War, in the course offerings. Late in his career, language school. On my day off served as USIS librarian in of which he studied the Japanese inspired by a concern about the I went to see Commander Athens, Bombay, New Delhi, language at the US Navy moral principles that should Hindmarsh. and Ankara, with a three year Language School at Boulder, govern international relations, he Boulder turned out to be one stint between 1955 and 1957 in Colorado, in 1943-44. In the developed a course on of my favorite places, not, of the USIA Headquarters in final weeks of the war he international morality together course, because I found the Washington, DC. interrogated Japanese prisoners with Prof. Don Piper from studies easy; it was just such a She resigned from USIA in on Pacific islands. Shortly after Government and Politics. marvelous place to live. The 1963 and married Andrew Entzi the surrender ceremony in Philosophers sometimes joke beauty of the mountains; the whom she met on leave from September 1945, Bill Beasley that specialists in ethics tend not good climate; and the weekends New Delhi. She was widowed in landed at Yokohama and to be the best exemplars of the after the dreaded tests when we 1990, but her marriage brought participated in the early phases virtues and principles they study. could go off hiking up Flagstaff her a new family: 2 of the occupation at the This is an unfair charge in or along Boulder Creek; and the stepdaughters, six grandchildren, Yokosuka naval base and at the general, but it would be absurd good friends, all made it three great grandchildren and British Liaison Mission in in the case of Ernest Schlaretzki. special.‖ many in-laws. . (To be continued)

His friends and colleagues From January 1945 to June Her time in the 1990s was Ian Nish and Peter Lowe would find it hard to think of 1946, Ms. Dilley was assigned to occupied with volunteer work The Independent anyone more deeply moral or the Communications Annex in with the Red Cross, the local 04 December 2006 ______more clearly a model of virtue. Washington, DC. In June 1946 food bank, and the local Friends When the Department decided to she separated from the Navy and of the Library. She hiked, Howell V. Calhoun award an annual prize for the was hired by the Army to go to bowled and still enjoyed Departed best graduating senior, it was Japan. On August 15, 1946, She traveling. named the Schlaretzki Prize. The left Staten Island on a civilian ―Both in Boulder and later in This is to inform you that a dear Department's intent was "to transport vessel and sailed via Japan, it was difficult to friend of mine (in Boulder) encourage students to emulate the Panama Canal to Japan. On reconcile the Japanese people we passed away this past February, those qualities of mind and board were three other ex- knew with the ones we read 2007 – Howell Vincent Calhoun. character that are associated with WAVES: Betty Knecht [See about.‖ He lived with his wife Sueko in Dr. Schlaretzki by those who Knecht Recollects in multiple Margaret Dilley Entzi Honolulu for many years. know him." These words are an issues] , Blanch Belitz [see Issue WAVE JLS 1944 I spoke with him a few times apt tribute to Ernest's memory. #87A] and Avis Pick. They WAVE 50th Reunion Entry, 1993 from here. He was suffering a Ernest is survived by his wife, arrived on September 1946 at great deal from cancer of the Eleanor Campbell Schlaretzki. Yokohama harbor. [Ed. Note: Our attempts to find Ms. sinus, according to his wife. I Entzi have been unsuccessful.] They celebrated their fiftieth She spent the next two years ______think he was in the March ’44 anniversary shortly before his in Tokyo with the Occupation, group. I just called Bill Hudson Professor W. G. Beasley: death. All of us who knew him ―Many other language officers in West Palm Beach (also a good Historian Who Advanced The will miss his kindness, his worked in the Occupation, friend of mine) and informed Study Of Japan In British decency and his quiet dignity. including some from Stillwater, him of the sad news. Universities Oklahoma. Most were in Logo Sanford L. Schultheis William Gerald Beasley, University of Maryland Tokyo.‖ JLS 1944 http://brindedcow.umd.edu/logo/sch Deciding to complete their historian: born Brackley, LT USNR (ret.) ______laretzkifund.html circumnavigation, Ms. Dilley Northamptonshire 22 December ______and Ms. Knecht left Japan in 1919; Lecturer in Far Eastern $Donations Accepted WAVES June 1948. They were not able to History, School of Oriental and sail the whole way by boat. They African Studies, London 1947- If you wish to support the Circumnavigating flew to Shanghai, then to hong 54, Professor of the History of JLS/OLS Archival Project in

Margaret Dilley was born in Kong, where we got passage on the Far East 1954-83 (Emeritus), ways other than giving papers Boardman, Ohio,a suburb of a Swedish freighter. We Head of the Japan Research you may contribute donations to Youngstown on September 20, debarked at Marseilles, then Centre 1978-83; FBA 1967; our US Navy JLS/OLS Fund. 1915. She received her BA from traveled mostly by train across CBE 1980; married 1955 Hazel We hire work-study students on the College of Wooster, Phi Beta Western Europe, where again we Polwin (one son); died this fund, tripling its value. If Kappa in 1937. From 1937 to could not book sea passage and Twickenham, Middlesex 19 you wish to donate, make your 1941, she taught high school. In had to fly home [still counts, by November 2006. check out to the University of 1942 she received a Masters in Jules Verne’s standard]. W.G. Beasley, Emeritus Colorado Foundation, writing Library Science from Columbia After a holiday, Margaret Professor of the History of the US Navy JLS Fund on the University. Ms. Dilley then Dilley went job hunting. As the Far East at the School of Oriental memo line to the bottom left of worked as a reference librarian at Occupations of Japan and and African Studies of London your check, and mail it to our Youngstown Public Library from Germany had set up libraries, she University, was a pioneer in contact address. introducing Japanese history in June 1942 to September 1943. hoped to hired for a library in David Hays British universities and in She entered the US Navy Japan. Budget cuts foiled that Archives Japanese Language School in attempt. However, the State communicating knowledge of University of Colorado at Boulder September 1943. Department had taken over the Japan to a wider audience. 184 UCB ―When World War II started, Office of War Information After completing his first Boulder, Colorado 80309-0184 I was happy with my studies and libraries and was setting up degree at University College others. She appled and was London, Beasley intended ______