100TH INFANTRY BATTALION VETERANS CLUB Puka-Puka Parade
MAY 2014 !! ! ! ! ! ! NO. 04/2014 President’s Message and an evening kick-off fundraiser for the Nisei Veterans by Lloyd Kitaoka Legacy Center (NVLC). The month of May means Mother’s Day and I would like The NVLC is a separate 501(c)(3) entity incorporated in to wish all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day! Since I lost 2012; it is supported by six Nisei American veterans- th my mom this past December, it will be a sad time because related organizations, including the 100 Infantry nd this will be the first Mother’s Day without her. It got me Battalion Veterans, the 442 RCT Veterans, the Military th th thinking about the unsung heroes of our 100th, the wives Intelligence Service, the 1399 Engineers, the 100 nd and widows. Our vets receive all the glory and honor and Infantry Legacy Organization, and the 442 RCT rightly so, but I’d like to use this column to honor their Foundation who have representation on the NVLC Board. “better halves.” Some of them are not mothers but I’d like Its mission is “to preserve, perpetuate and share the to recognize them too. They work in the background but legacy of the AJAs who served in World War II, and to truly are the backbone of our organization. The sacrifices recognize the socio-economic changes brought about in they go through to support their husbands and children are Hawaii because of their extraordinary wartime service.” simply amazing. They do this all with very little credit. The NVLC is supported and endorsed by our organization, The saying goes…”Behind every great man, there is a however, there have been some confusion and great(er) woman” and I truly believe that. How do I know misperceptions brought to my attention and to set the th all of this? The answer is my mom. She did everything record straight, the 100 Infantry Battalion Veterans from balancing the family finances, cooking, sewing, organization is NOT in any way moving in a new washing clothes, cleaning house, chaperoning, and on top direction; we will continue to maintain our separate of that keeping 4 sons in line. Mom wasn’t perfect -- she identity. If anyone has concerns on this or any other couldn’t sing or hit a baseball -- but she truly devoted her subject, please feel free to contact me. life to our family. (She did however have one perfect son, Aloha… her 2nd, and one out of 4 is a pretty good percentage.) Mom lived for 99 years and finally said she needed to rest. Our family will miss her on this Mother’s Day and although life goes on, we’ll always honor her in our hearts. Rest in peace Mom, and Happy Mother’s Day to you and to all the women in our organization! During the last week of March we were involved with the opening of the exhibit “Go For Broke: Japanese American Solders Fighting on Two Fronts” sponsored by the Nisei Veterans Legacy Center (NVLC). The 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans also hosted the venue for two gatherings, including a private “Meet and Greet Luncheon Lloyd with Mr. and Mrs. Ted Tsukiyama at the NVLC event with Eric Saul” for all Nisei veterans, families and friends,
Puka-Puka Parade, Monthly News PUKA-PUKA PARADE NO. 04/2014 rented a house in Sparta where his mother, grandmother In Memoriam and aunt went to live. Bert was sent to Andover School in Tadayoshi Hirai (HQ) Massachusetts, but he remembers spending Christmas Passed away on February 16, 2014 1942 in Sparta. After the battalion was sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi in January 1943, Mrs. Turner moved Seiki Koga (HQ) to Camp Dixon, New Jersey as she knew the battalion Passed away on March 16, 2014 would be departing from that area. Mike Masaru Nagaishi (C) Bert graduated from Andover in June 1944 and Passed away on March 16, 2014 immediately volunteered for the Air Force Cadet Program. But after being recommended for an appointment to West Our deepest sympathy to their families. Point by Samuel Wilder King, the Delegate to Congress The First 100th Son from the Territory of Hawaii and by his successor, Joseph Farrington, Bert went to the Army military academy. by Susan Muroshige Following his graduation in 1949, Bert married Vonnie the On a recent trip to Honolulu, I had a most enjoyable lunch following year. During his 28 years in the Army, he served with Bert and Vonnie Turner. They lead an active life at in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Among the places they the Arcadia Retirement Residence in Honolulu and also were stationed at were Schofield Barracks, Fort Sill in travel to the mainland every year to visit two of their sons, Oklahoma, Fort Leavenworth in Kansas and several seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. locations in Germany. His last posting before retiring was at Camp Smith in Honolulu. Bert then went into property management and later investment advising. After he retired from the Army, Bert was recruited by Young Oak Kim to serve on the 100th Board. He served as treasurer and was a member of the Long Range Planning and Scholarship Committees. Bert has been a terrific source of information for me. I learned while gathering information for the 100th website how much Colonel Farrant Turner cared for the Japanese American soldiers under his command. When he returned Bert and Vonnie Turner to Hawaii from the combat zone in Italy, he traveled Bert is now 88 years old. In June 1942, he was 15 years throughout the islands to visit the families of his men. old when he and his mother traveled from Honolulu to Letters that were written to him show the high regard and Oakland, California on the USS Maui with his father, love the men had for him and how they turned to him for Colonel Farrant Turner, and the AJA men who formed help. One of my father’s friends, Tad Kanda of D the original contingent of the Hawaiian Provisional Company, told me that he called Col. Turner, who was a Battalion. The battalion’s name was changed to the 100th Vice President at Lewers and Cooke, when he couldn’t get Infantry Battalion (Separate) after landing in Oakland. any building supplies to fix his parents’ home after the Some of the Japanese American soldiers in the battalion war. The next day a truck filled with supplies showed up left behind young children, but I think Bert could be at the house. Bert remembers that Mr. Kanda visited his considered the first 100th son. family after Col. Turner died and served on the committee that commissioned the portrait of him that hangs in Turner When the ship arrived in Oakland, Bert’s mother was ill Hall. and had to stay in a hospital in the Presidio while he stayed at the Cliff Hotel in San Francisco by himself. After As the years go by, I hope the support and love Colonel she recovered, they took a train to Oregon, Illinois where Farrant Turner and his son Bert gave to the men and his grandmother had a farm. After learning that the families of the 100th Infantry Battalion will always be battalion was at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, his parents remembered.
2" Puka-Puka Parade, Monthly News PUKA-PUKA PARADE NO. 04/2014 The 100th Education Center that focuses on American history and is broadcast on a Salt Lake City non-profit TV station. Their goal is to Website: An Update provide quality educational programming. by Susan Muroshige ! Also a request was just received from a company who The Club’s office has been receiving inquiries and is producing a film for the new National Museum of requests over the last year that have demonstrated the the United States Army. The museum will be located at website’s potential in providing easily accessible Fort Belvoir, Virginia and is scheduled to open in information about the 100th Infantry Battalion. It is very 2018. The film will feature several Medal of Honor exciting as these requests have been increasing this year. recipients, and the company asked to use the photo of Following are some examples: Shizuya Hayashi, who was one of seven 100th soldiers whose Distinguished Service Crosses were upgraded ! The organizer for the Congressional Medal of Honor to the Medal of Honor in 2000. tour requested examples to demonstrate several specific values: courage, compassion, perseverance, Among the most rewarding messages and requests are humility, respect and citizenship. ones from relatives who have discovered the website and found information they never knew or photos they had ! A researcher from the Gustav Line Association in never seen of their father, grandfather or uncle. A Cassino, Italy discovered the website and wrote that it grandson living in Los Angeles wrote that he had was a wonderful source of information for their work. recently become aware of the “wealth of information” We have sent Damiano several books for the small on the website and had discovered there were photos and museum they are creating and have continued to keep a few anecdotes about his grandfather. in touch. Last month, David Fukuda (son of Mits Fukuda), who is active in the Nisei Veterans Memorial If you don’t use a computer, please ask one of your Center in Kahului, inquired if there was a photo on the children, grandchildren or younger relatives to type in website of the monastery on Mt. Cassino before it was www.100thbattalion.org. You will see the depth of bombed. As there wasn’t, I suggested he write to information on the website – a history of the battalion Damiano; David received a photo the next day. and early years of Club 100, feature stories that were commissioned for the website, memoirs, letters and ! The secretary of the 34th Infantry (Red Bull) Division photographs. These documents not only capture Association based in Iowa, wrote that he was sending battalion history, but also provide details of the Japanese two photos he had found in their files that might be of community in Hawaii such as life in the plantation interest. I wrote back to thank him, also mentioning camps. the 100th soldiers were very proud to wear the Red Bull patch and the clubhouse has a prominent display You can support the work of preserving our history in of this emblem. several ways: th ! A teacher at Kamehameha School on Maui is ! Donations designated for the 100 Infantry Battalion passionate about the history of the Nisei soldiers and Veterans’ Education Center will help pay for technical includes it in her curriculum. Ramona was researching help in preparing the documents and photographs information about the Hawaiian men in the battalion. I before they can be added to the website. For the last was able to show her what there was on our website; two years, Jan Nadamoto, a B Company daughter, she in return sent me information that we didn’t have. has been doing almost all this very labor intensive work by herself. ! Last month the Collections Manager at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in ! If you know a 100th family, please ask them if they Seattle sent a request to use two photographs from the have any journals, letters or photographs that we can website for an exhibit in their Nisei Veterans borrow and copy to be added to the website. The more Foundation building. material is added, the more potential there will be for 100th families to discover information about their ! Recently the office received a request to use several veteran ancestor. photos from the website, including two of Col. Farrant Turner, for a television show called “American Ride”
Puka-Puka Parade, Monthly News" 3 PUKA-PUKA PARADE NO. 04/2014 ! We could use a few volunteers to help with copying and Exhibit Honoring AJA Soldiers transcribing of journals or letters that are received. You may become very passionate about preserving this The "Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers Fighting history, just as I have these past five years! It is on Two Fronts" photographic exhibit which was fascinating and rewarding and a lot of fun to review new commissioned by the National Park Service and dedicated material and meet more members of the 100th ohana and at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in August 2010 is others who are interested in this history. currently touring the islands. This exhibit shares the Please contact the Clubhouse office or me at history of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental [email protected] if you have any leads or would Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service through like to help. National Archives photos and was organized by Eric Saul, founding curator of the Military Museum at the Presidio of San Francisco (1973–1986). 100th Mini-Reunion 2014 The exhibit has been shown at the Hawai`i State Capitol, University of Hawai`i - West Oahu library, and Honolulu by Ann Kabasawa Hale. It will next travel for a showing at Maui’s Nisei The trip information and registration form for the 100th Veterans Memorial Center from May 1-June 13. More Mini-Reunion, October 19th -24th in Las Vegas are now locations will be announced later when the exhibit returns available at the clubhouse. The seats are going fast, so to Oahu. please contact me (Ann Kabasawa) as soon as possible at !"#$%&'()*+#,-%.#$/+(0%#$%122'.#,(&*.%30%&"*%4#$*#% 781-8540, or email me at 5*&*'(,$%6*-(10%7*,&*'%#,%/('&,*'$"#/%8#&"%&"*%9::&"% [email protected] or ;,<(,&'0%=(&&(+#2,%5*&*'(,$>%&"*%??@,.%5*&*'(,$%7+A3>%&"*% [email protected]. I can send or e-mail a copy of B#+#&('0%;,&*++#-*,1*%C*')#1*%5*&*'(,$>%&"*%4#$*#%5*&*'(,$% the registration form to you. More details to follow in B*D2'#(+%7*,&*'%EB(A#F>%(,.%&"*%G2%H2'%='2I*%4(,(+% the next PPP and a meeting will be held in August to J.A1(,%7*,&*'K discuss this event. Hope you’ll join us for this Mini- Reunion event in Vegas! Collating News 72nd Anniversary Banquet The following volunteers helped to collate the newsletter on Saturday, March 29, 2014: Nancy Arakaki, Matsue Registration Deadline, June 1st Furushima, Bert Hamakado, Kimi & Don Matsuda, Our 72nd Anniversary Banquet promises to be a great Lorraine Miyashiro, Dayne & Velma Nakahara, Paul event! Don’t forget to fill out the registration form by Nishida, Naomi & Atanacio Agustin-Nishida, John June 1st (refer to the April PPP) and send it in with your Oki, Elsie Oshita, Arlene Sato, Ralph & Yasuko payment to the Clubhouse! Steensen, Beverly Sumida, Dot & Glenn Tamashiro, Evelyn & Riki Tsuda, Isami Yoshihara. The next Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., Commander of the collating will be on Saturday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. Your Pacific Fleet, who has Japanese ethnic ties, will be the kokua will be very much appreciated. honored guest speaker at this year’s banquet. Let’s all welcome him warmly with our support! If you have any questions on this event, please call the Chapter News Clubhouse or email us at: [email protected] Mahalo! Baker Chapter News by Drusilla Tanaka BANQUET DATE: SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014, TIME: 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Yum, yum! The refreshments at the April meeting were VENUE: POMAIKAI BALLROOM, enjoyed by all and brought back memories of the days DOLE CANNERY when chapter meetings began with lunch. It was
4" Puka-Puka Parade, Monthly News PUKA-PUKA PARADE NO. 04/2014 unanimously voted that refreshments be served at all an internee. Others who portrayed distraught family future meetings. Gary Nakayama volunteered to take members included, Patty (Yoza) and Michael Koyama, charge of coordinating refreshments. Jan (Uchida) and Ed Sakoda, Kay (Saito) Okimoto, Enjoying the food and fellowship were President Randy Carl and Sheila Tonaki, and April (Akita) Yukitomo. Kuroda, Gary Nakayama, Alton Nadamoto, Rikio and As volunteer “extras,” they worked for six hours, patiently Evelyn Tsuda, Charlie Tanaka, Bert Kuioka, Sonsei and re-doing the scenes for the director Tim Savage. On hand Elaine Nakamura, Drusilla Tanaka, and honorary to observe was Dennis Sekine, who as professional actor member Ralph Steensen and his wife Yasuko. Charlie’s Dann Seki plays the part of “Grandpa” Nakaji in the film. daughter-in-law Carolyn and Alton’s daughters, Sharyse The next meeting will be on Saturday, May 3, at 1 pm. and Danielle, were observers, but at age 18, Sharyse is Baker Chapter members who live in Kaneohe, call Randy eligible to be a voting member, so we hope she will Kuroda at 247-0286 or Drusilla Tanaka at 235-1343 if you become a member soon. need a ride. Those in Hawaii Kai may call Bert Kuioka at President Randy’s detailed reports of the Board of 396-6033. Directors’ meetings are often interrupted by questions and other concerns, so much so that his report is often longer than the actual BOD meeting. We appreciate Randy’s Charlie Chapter News efforts to present all the information and make us aware of by Arlene Sato what is happening with the Mother Club. The following attended the meeting on Saturday, March Baker Chapter members unanimously voted to nominate 29, 2014: Warren Yamamoto, Kazuto Shimizu, Skip an individual for Club Honorary Member status. Randy Tomiyama, Arlene Sato, Lorraine Miyashiro, and will take the nomination form to the next Board of Randy Nagaishi. Randy’s dad, Mike Masaru Nagaishi, Directors meeting. an original member of the 100th Infantry Battalion in E Drusilla Tanaka has been attending the Long Range Company before being transferred to Charlie Company, Planning Committee meetings and shared some ideas that passed away on March 16, 2014. Like most of the are being considered. Gary Nakayama reported that he has veterans, Randy’s dad never talked about the war. Since not been aware of any activity with the Nominating his passing, Randy wanted to learn more about his dad in Committee, despite an upcoming election for the the 100th Infantry Battalion and decided to attend our Executive Board members for the next 2 years. Gary asks chapter meeting. that he be contacted with names for the next slate of Recently Kazuto Shimizu finished a big project that his officers. Evelyn Tsuda has been attending the Anniversary computer teacher suggested he start on. He completed a Banquet committee meetings. Ralph Steensen volunteered 19-page memoir and brought a copy to our chapter to help on the day of the banquet. More help is needed. meeting to share with us. Kazuto was born and raised in a Best wishes to Jack Nakamura who was in the hospital small plantation town on the island of Hawai`i. He was a for major surgery. He made a speedy recovery and is back senior in high school when Pearl Harbor was bombed and in his apartment at Pohai Nani. When one of our members was unable to finish school. He goes on to describe his went to visit him in the Care Center where he spent about experiences being in the first replacement group to join the a week to recuperate, it was obvious he did not belong 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy. After the war, Kazuto there. The nursing staff gave him lots of special attention continued his education and graduated from the University and Jack said the entire staff “treated me like a KING!” of Hawai`i with a degree in civil engineering. The During the filming of “Under the Blood Red Sun,” several remainder of his life centered around Club 100 and its 100th descendants played extras in the background scenes. activities. If you are interested in reading his complete Mary Ann Katahara-Tanabe and her entire family, memoir, it will soon appear on our website: www. including daughters Kiahna and Bethalyn, participated in 100thbattalion.org. Congratulations Kazuto! the scene where the internees from Sand Island were being taken to the ship bound for the mainland and from there to the prison camps. Her husband, Drake, played the part of
Puka-Puka Parade, Monthly News" 5 PUKA-PUKA PARADE NO. 04/2012 Headquarters/Medics Chapter News by Janice Sakoda – 737-7778 Daughter of Gary K. Uchida The club was recently notified that Seiki Koga, Headquarters Chapter, passed away on March 16, 2014. The Honolulu Star Advertiser posted: “Seiki Koga, 96, of Honolulu, a retired Blairs Ltd. cabinetmaker and an Army veteran, died in Kuakini Medical Center. He was born in Waialua. He is survived by wife Mildred M. and son Milton M. Private services.” Our condolences to Mr.Koga’s family. Kimi Masuda, Ann Kabasawa, and Elsie Oshita Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see a Headquarters Chapter News column in the next issue. My husband and I will be joining 11 other 100th descendants in Monte Cassino, Italy for the commemoration of its liberation and will return the end of May. In preparation for this trip, I’ve been talking story with veterans Ed Ikuma, Kenneth Higa, Sonsei Nakamura, and Judge Takashi Kitaoka, finding out what they remember about this place in time. The places they mention have become more “real” to me as I know we will be visiting those locations. These locations are no longer Sophie Hatakenaka, Arlene Sato, Jan Nadamoto, and just a name as I learn more about the movements of the Bev Shiroma 100th and I’m looking forward to actually being there to “experience” the locations.
Mahalo to Our 100th Women! Photos by Pat Thomson
At the recent Nisei Veterans Legacy Center luncheon and evening events, the women of the 100th Infantry Battalion provided generous amounts of time, energy, and support behind-the-scenes in helping to make these gatherings a Musicians Barbara Martin, Skip Tomiyama, and success! Gladys Nakoa We extend a very big MAHALO to the wives, widows, descendants and supporters who coordinated segments of the events and provided ono-licious food, desserts, sherbet fruit punch, floral decorations, music entertainment, set up, photography and other essential support. Thank you Ann Kabasawa, Jan Nadamoto, Dot Tamashiro, Bessie Fukumoto, Skip Tomiyama, Barbara Martin, Gladys Nakoa, Sophie Hatakenaka, Jayne Hirata-Epstein, Susan Morishige, Arlene Sato, Bev Shiroma, Pat Thomson, and Janice Trubitt! Dot Tamashiro, Margaret and Carole Ota
6" Puka-Puka Parade, Monthly News PUKA-PUKA PARADE NO. 04/2014 • Parked vehicles on the street must be at An Important Reminder least 4 feet away from the edge of any on Parking Regulations driveway entrance. Violators could face a $35 fine by HPD and your car may be It’s well-known that parking is a premium at the towed. Clubhouse and surrounding vicinity. We kindly ask that members and visitors alike continue to • It is illegal to park on the dirt strip section be mindful and respectful of all City ordinances parallel to the sidewalk fronting the regarding sidewalks, curbside parking and Clubhouse. This strip is City property and driveways. Illegally parked vehicles could be vehicles will be fined and towed if parked fined and towed. Of note: there.
• It is illegal for vehicles to block any Please visit the HPD website to view the video portion of the sidewalk even if the on curbside and sidewalk laws: sidewalk connects to a private driveway. http://www.honolulupd.org/news/index.php? Vehicles parked on the asphalt pavement page=main&ask=1&story=1183. Mahalo! fronting the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans sign must not block or infringe into the sidewalk. If you park in front of the Clubhouse, please park your vehicle at an angle to avoid your bumpers extending into the sidewalk.
In Appreciation Thank you so much for the generous and thoughtful donations that were received between March 15, 2014 and April 15, 2014.
General Account Book and DVD Donations
$200 Kathleen Salloum (Plano, TX), in memory of Sonsei Nakamura (B Company) – book donated: Alice Hayashi (wife of Tokuichi) Reflections of Honor, The Untold Story of $50 Bryan Yagi (San Francisco, CA) a Nisei Spy, by Lorraine Ward and Katherine $100 George Hirose, in memory of Priscilla T. Hirose Erwin (wife of Yoshio Hirose) Ukichi Wozumi (B Company) -- 2 DVD set of “Go For Broke - Hanashi Oral History Program © Education Center 2007 on Ukichi Wozumi“
$100 John C. Hau (Monterey, CA), in memory of 1LT Our sincere apologies if any donations were Norman C. Mitchel, C Company) inadvertently omitted; kindly inform the HIBV $50 James Tanabe office at 946-0272. Mahalo!
Puka-Puka Parade, Monthly News" 7 100thPUKA-PUKA Infantry Battalion Veterans PARADE NO. 06/2013Non-Profit 520 Kamoku Street Organization Honolulu, HI 96826 U.S. Postage P A I D Permit No. 158 Honolulu, HI RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
May 2014 Calendar of Events Puka-Puka
EBOD Meeting Saturday, May 17, 8:30 am Parade BOARD Meeting Saturday, May 17, 9:30 am ABLE Chapter Sunday, May 25, 8:30 am The Puka Puka Parade is the official monthly newsletter BAKER Chapter Saturday, May 3, 1:00 pm of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans organization. and is published eleven times a year. CHARLIE Chapter Saturday, May 31, 10:00 am The opinions expressed in the Puka Puka Parade are those DOG Chapter Saturday, May 3, 9:30 am of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the HQ/MEDICS Chapter Saturday, May 10, 10:00 am position of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans. LONG RANGE PLANNING Saturday, May 17, 11:30 am Please send your articles, comments or questions about the Parade via email to [email protected] GREEN THUMB No meeting If you do not have access to email, please contact the office LINE DANCING Wednesdays, 9:00 am to discuss how best to submit content for the newsletter. CRAFTS Tuesdays, 9:00 am The deadline to submit articles for the PUKA PUKA PARADE Collating on Saturday, May 31, June 2014 issue is 9:00 am. May 9, 2014. 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Dates and times subject to change. Please contact your Chapter President, Committee Chair, or the Office for more information. 520 Kamoku Street Honolulu, HI 96826 The Office will be closed for the Memorial Day weekend, from (808) 946-0272 Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26, 2014. [email protected] www.100thbattalion.org
PUKA-PUKA PARADE! NO. 04/2014