The US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project The Interpreter Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries Number 147 zRemember September 11, 2001z [email protected] May 1, 2010

Our Mission In 1949 he was elected as the A couple of years following America (now ALCOA, Inc.) in then youngest mayor in the the death of his wife Helen, he Massena, NY. In early 1944, In the Spring of 2000, the history of the city of Augusta moved to his college town of President Roosevelt said things Archives continued the origi- and served two terms. Brunswick and married Priscilla were going to be tightened, nal efforts of Captain Roger Very active in the civic life of A. Keene of Old Orchard. deferments were going to be Pineau and William Hudson, the community, he was a director Survivors include his wife looked at. So to keep from being and the Archives first at- and president of the Augusta Priscilla A. Sanborn of drafted I went to an Office of tempts in 1992, to gather the General Hospital, president of Brunswick; his children, Stephen Naval Officer Procurement [Now papers, letters, photographs, the Kennebec Bar Association, W. Sanborn of Dresden, Jeffrey I was trained, as in ROTC. News and records of graduates of and charter member and M. Sanborn of Owings Mills, to me that officers could be the US Navy Japanese/ president of the Augusta Junior Maryland, and Carol A. Sanborn “procured”, I thought they were Oriental Language School, Chamber of Commerce. of Livermore; several “shaked and baked”.] in Utica, University of Colorado at For about 20 years each he grandchildren; a great- NY, to find out about getting in Boulder, 1942-1946. We was a director of the Bank of grandchild; step-children; his the Navy. They gave me various assemble these papers in Maine, the Kennebec Savings brother, John M. Sanborn of tests, said I could be recognition of the contribu- Bank and the Augusta Federal Augusta; and sister, Margaret S. commissioned an Ensign and tions made by JLS/OLS Savings Bank, becoming Hodgdon of Boothbay. gave me orders to report to instructors and graduates to chairman of the latter. Indoctrination School in the War effort in the Pacific Boothbay Register Mr. Sanborn served as July 1, 1999 Plattsburg, NY, August 1, 1944. and the Cold War, to the director of the Augusta Board of Vol. 123, No.26 While I was there (only 2 creation of East Asian Trade, the Boothbay Region ______months) they asked a few of us if

language programs across YMCA, the Indian Point we would like to go to the the country, and to the Association, the Barter's Island My Wife Liked the Communications School at development of Japanese- Association, the New England Way It Went . My wife and American cultural rec- Carriage Association and the I had been married in August onciliation programs after Maine Standardbred Breeders Your two letters dated January 1943 and this sounded very nice, World War II. and Owners' Association. He 24, 2007 were certainly so we went to Cambridge, MA. Richard B. Sanborn was a member of the Maine Bar surprises. It is 62 years ago that I And while at that school they Association, the Republican was in Boulder at the Navy asked me (possibly others, I OLS (Russian) 1945 State Committee, the Litchfield Language School (Russian). don’t know) if I wanted to go to Planning Board and trustee of I didn’t know that the the Russian Language School at Richard B. Sanborn, 80, of the South Parish Congregational language school started in 1942, the University of Colorado. That Brunswick, died Wednesday, Church of Augusta. while I was there I don’t sounded good to us so we went, June 23, 1999 at Maine Medical He held memberships in the remember seeing or even hearing arriving in January 1945. During Center in Portland. Born in Brunswick Rotary Club, the about the other languages [good our eight months there, President Augusta on August 16, 1918, he Litchfield Lions Club, the security?]. We had our class of Roosevelt died, the war in was the son of Walter M. and Kennebec Yacht Club, the 19 (?) members, met from 8 to Europe ended, and the war in the Nita L. Sanborn. Abenaki Ski and Outing Club, 12 five days a week, had a test Pacific ended. Just after Labor He attended Cony High the Augusta Country Club, the every Saturday morning and free Day we were sent to School for two years and Kennebec Valley Bowdoin Club to do whatever the rest of the Washington, DC and I worked graduated two years later from and the Friends of Bowdoin. time. Study in the afternoons for the National Security Phillips Exeter Academy. At In 1965 the Franco-American usually, but we played some Agency, which I recall was Bowdoin College he was Calumet Club made its first golf, too. My wife began to learn located then at Arlington Hall in president of his fraternity, Alpha award to him as the Outstanding golf some of the afternoons and Arlington, VA. (to be cont’d) Delta Phi, a varsity track man, Citizen of the City of Augusta. years later we went on many and Marshall of his class. He Lynn Edward Gleason He greatly enjoyed the trips and played fine golf courses OLS 1945 Russian graduated in 1940 Phi Beta outdoors, including extensive (including St. Andrews). ______

Kappa and summa cum laude. mountain climbing in his early The only reason I went to He then attended Harvard Law years, skiing from his chalet at Boulder was because the Navy Questions About School where he was treasurer Sugarloaf, sailing and scuba asked me if I wanted to go. I the ’42-’43 and an editor of the Harvard Law diving at least once a year from didn’t know that the Navy had Summer Group Review. various Caribbean islands. this school. After Pearl Harbor he After his retirement he First, let me give a little Dear David, volunteered in the U.S. Navy and operated a 200-acre farm in background. I am a native of Des Thanks for the info about pay for served four years until the end of Litchfield from which he bred Moines, Iowa, went to Iowa July 43 JL group. Why does World War II. He received his and raised Standardbred harness State University (back then it Dan say "most renown?" L.L.B. from Columbia Law horses and competed in carriage was Iowa State College of Seriously, I would like to know School. driving contests in the New Agriculture and Mechanical how many were in that group, Returning from the war he England states. At one time he Arts). I graduated in engineering did they all stay and get practiced law with his father and had a collection of 65 antique in June 1942 and went to work commissions, and what was the later formed the firm of Sanborn, carriages. for the Aluminum Company of size of the group before, which, I Moreshead, Schade and Dawson. believe, Marshall Green belonged to and which may have mess hall and then headed for the Paul F. Boller in 1951-52, before completing started in Monteray [sic]? POW camp, where I was JLS 1943 his studies at Harvard. In 1955, Dallas Finn working with some of the he joined the American

[Ed. Note: I gave Ms. Finn the prisoners preparing leaflets to [Ed Note: Admiral Nimitz has had Universities Field Staff, an background history of the Tokyo- drop on . I hadn’t gone far, the singular compliment of having educational foundation dedicated Harvard/Berkeley, Berkeley, Boulder when to my consternation, been played by Henry Fonda in Otto to providing in-depth studies of and Stillwater JLS/OLS and Admiral Nimitz and Admiral Preminger’s In Harm’s Way and contemporary foreign societies. recommended the Slesnicks’ book as Raymond Spruance loomed on Midway. He seemed to be portrayed He lived in Japan for most of the a primer. I corrected the Monterey as described here. Frank B. Huggins the horizon with their aides, and became a writer, it seems. I found an next twelve years, serving first as notion and told her that Monterey I instantly snapped to attention a staff associate with the did not become a center of language article by him: "Girls, Girls, Girls," until after the War, and then, for and saluted as best I could, with The New Yorker, April 5, 1952, p. organization and, from 1962 to decades, only for the US Army. As my hopelessly unmilitary ways. 125, about an American boy in 1966, as a senior staff associate. for the fame of the “Summer Group”, Ronald Reagan could have done Japan. I am looking for more He and his family also I supplied some suggestions. But Dan better, of course, but I think I did information.] maintained a home in ______will have to answer that question.] pretty well. The Admirals and Manchester, Massachusetts, ______the other officers gravely Obituary: during those years. Levinson & Bryson returned my salute and it may Lawrence Olson Olson wrote many articles well have been my finest minute and reports on Japanese social, Reprise (1918-1992) in the Navy. political, and economic issues Thank you for sending me the There were two other officers Lawrence Olson, a widely that were important reading for splendid obituary of Joseph for whom I worked when I was known authority on Japan and U.S. government officials and Levenson. It is exactly right. overseas, and I remember them retired Professor of History at others concerned with Japan. He You might have noticed what I with respect and appreciation. , died of also lectured extensively on wrote about Joe in my Daily One was Commander John W. cancer at his home in Japan. Yomiuri Online serial [Your Steele, my boss at JICPOA. He Washington, D.C., on March 17, In addition to his new book, serial has been in the was a tough, salty, and hard- 1992. Decorated in 1987 by the he was the author of Dimensions newsletter]. working officer who translated Government of Japan with the of Japan (1963) and Japan in In the last (I think) issue of along with the rest of us and Order of the Sacred Treasure in Postwar Asia (1970), as well as a The Interpreter, there is mention usually worked two shifts. He recognition of his role in book of poetry, The Cranes on of John Bryson [Issue #112, sent me to Guam as senior spreading knowledge of Japan in Dying River and Other Poems under new recruits]. He was translator, but I ended up the , Olson was (1947). unique among the students in working with the Japanese responsible for developing the Lawrence Olson was a man of that he played the bagpipes and prisoners and he didn’t seem to program in Asian studies at the world and of the word. He on occasion wore a kilt. For mind a bit. “Just don’t let ‘em Wesleyan University, knew the importance of language some reason, he was dropped screw us,” he admonished me, Middletown, Connecticut. He and history for the study of East from the school, probably referring to people in other served on the faculty at the Asia and drew upon these for his because he had too many Nisei departments at Nimitz’s school from 1966 until his own vivid writing and teaching friends for the Navy to accept Headquarters. retirement in 1986. He continued about Japan. As my colleague at [this was not an unusual reason My boss at Guam was Frank his scholarly work after Wesleyan, he never tired of for Navy discomfiture]. I have Huggins [Huggins, Frank B. retirement, and his new book, warning me about the burden of often wondered what happened June 1942 N, Berkeley Class 1], Ambivalent Moderns: Portraits "bearing witness" to my field in to him. I am glad he is who spoke fluent Nihongo and of Japanese Cultural Identity, a largely Western-oriented apparently in good health. warmly supported my work with was published in the month he academic community. That the prisoners. He also took me died. burden became lighter in the Donald Keene on special assignments to Tinian Born on May 7, 1918, in company of this large-hearted JLS 1942 and Saipan, and acquired Memphis, , Olson was man. permanent travel orders for us in raised in and Few of us who knew him well [Ed. Note: I have sent Professor the Pacific Ocean Area. Every or read his works will forget the Keene John Bryson’s address.] received his undergraduate ______time we disagreed on something, education at the University of deep, brooding voice of the poet, he reminded me, “Who got you Mississippi, graduating in 1938. of the Mississippi-bred word Encounters with permanent travel orders in the He earned a master of arts degree craftsman, who continued to Nimitz Pacific?” “You did,” I’d say, at Harvard University in 1939 inspire the scholar of Japanese “And I hope to get to Australia and his doctoral degree there in intellectual life. Lawrence Olson (Cont’d) Several months later, I some day.” Neither of us actually 1955. During World War 11, was-to borrow some lines from saw the Admiral the second time, got to use the travel orders. I saw Olson graduated from the U.S. one of his favorite writers, after I was transferred (along Frank from time to time in Navy Japanese Language School Marianne Moore-one "who sees with Boulderites like Alfred Occupied Japan, but lost all track in Boulder, Colorado. He served deep and is glad, who/accedes to Ferguson and George Romani) to of him after the War. For me, he in naval intelligence as a mortality/and in his his Advance Headquarters on was, like Admiral Nimitz and lieutenant with the Pacific Fleet imprisonment rises/upon himself Guam. Soon after taking over his Commander Steele, Radio Unit (FRUPAC) at Pearl as the sea in a chasm, struggling command there, Nimitz asked to unforgettable. Even more so, of Harbor, Hawaii, the unit that to be/free and unable to be/so in meet everyone on his staff, course, were my Boulder deciphered the Japanese military its surrendering/finds including the linguists, and I got buddies: Ed Whan, Griff Way, codes. From 1948 to 1950, he continuing.” to have a short, but pleasant Carl Bartz, Wendell Furnas, and worked at the Central Vera Schwarcz exchange with him. Carl Nelson [All are on our Intelligence Agency in The Journal of Asian Studies The third time I saw the address list [Mrs, not Mr. Bartz], Washington, and he served as Vol. 51, No. 3. (Aug., 1992), Admiral was more formal. One but Nelson did not want to be cultural attaché at the U.S. pp. 731-732 morning I ate breakfast in the disturbed]. embassy in , , ______of the darkroom’s safe light I Michigan to the extravagant good. And neither did you all at Bit Part in a beheld what would become one doors of the University of JLS. Big Theater of the most memorable images Southern California. What else Thank goodness for of the 20th century: the did she have to spend her hard wonderful, fond, and loving It was summer of 1945. The mushroom cloud rising over the earned teaching salary on than memories. Thanks mom, you did fighting was over in Europe, city of Hiroshima. There was a her beautifully spoiled daughter, swell. Japan was on the brink of collective gasp and mutterings of me? Did I say beautiful, the collapse, and I was on the island wonder from the group. My own modesty apparently from my of Tinian in the Marianas [where reaction included bewilderment, dad’s side of the gene pool? a bunch of JLS/OLSers were], since I had not been in on the At any rate, Grayce, born in putting out a mimeographed atomic secret. The airmen, of Los Angeles, California, and newspaper and worrying the war course, were members of the having graduated from Foshay might end before I got anywhere crew of the Enola Gay, fresh High School, learned early on in near the action. But in the from their historic mission. The the 20s how cruel life could be coming weeks I found myself an 393rd Bombardment Group was by taking grandma when she was obscure player in three immense part of the 509th Composite just eleven. Of course, she and events: the birth of the nuclear group, and the date was August Henry could always have moved age, the surrender of Japan, and 6, 1945. (to be cont’d) to Japan and have her mean old- Navy students in the Japanese the start of the Cold War. Language School at the University of James Holton in fashioned Japanese aunt torture, One afternoon early in I mean raise them, sister and Colorado learn to write by dictation. August, I sat sweating in a “My Brush with History: Language instructor, Grayce by the Readers”, brother. But she was quickly Quonset hut complaining about Nakasone, corrects blackboard American Heritage, reminded of the realities of life writing as she dictates Japanese distribution problems of the April 2000, 36-40 when her little brother, Henry, Tinian Times to Captain Joe passages. Grayce, a former Los Sent to us by Euan Davis, JLS 1944 was so meaninglessly yanked Angeles college student, spent Buscher, an intelligence officer ______from Grayce’s temporary safety several weeks at a war relocation with the 393rd Bombardment Grayce Nakasone in Japan. center after evacuation of West Coast Squadron, a somewhat Mom was overly defense area. -- Photographer: mysterious B-29 outfit. Buscher Scott: independent, how could one not Parker, Tom -- Boulder, Colorado. seemed preoccupied , and he 2/3/43 be after all of that? As probably interrupted our talk with a A Daughter’s View many of her colleagues War Relocation Authority strange suggestion, “If I remember back in the Language Photographs of Japanese-American suddenly have to leave, why Evacuation and Resettlement Series School, how curious was her don’t you follow me, stick right attitude and how enormous was 12: Relocation: new homes, etc. with me, and if anybody asks (various places) her intelligence. Teaching in the Bancroft Library, University of who you are, tell them you’re Los Angeles Unified School with me. It’ll be something California, Berkeley District from the early 1960s you’ll never forget.” through the 1990s was I sure hope The Interpreter A few minutes later Buscher will publish some of this letter, personally rewarding and a stiffened, grabbed his cap, and wonderful outlet for her though my donation was small, bounded for the door. I was right hers was everlasting. creativity. I know. That is, if you behind him as he rushed up to a do not mind inner city “lock- Ms. Terry L. Scott truck that was discharging a Assembly Center, Santa Anita 1942 Left to Right: Grayce Nakasone, downs”, undisciplined children, Loving daughter of Grayce N. Scott group of men in flying gear. Out Haruko Itow, and Osamu Nagai a serious lack of materials and Sensei, USN JLS/OLS of the corner of my eye I noticed ______West Side Church of Christ just plain old basic poverty. She a gaggle of US Army Air Forces loved teaching, though, perhaps brass greeting the fliers and Pepperdine University Reprise on the Shivelys as much as she enjoyed the recognized one of them as Carl I regret to inform you that one of luxury of world traveling. She I was very sorry to learn of the Spaatz, commanding general of your greatest US Navy JLS/OLS journeys took her from the Great passing of John and Don Shively. the Army’s Strategic Air Forces instructors, and my dearest Wall of China, to Machu Picchu, I served with both of them in the in the Pacific. Buscher pounced friend in all the world, my Aberdeen, Australia, Turkey, Pacific during WW II. Don was on one of the airmen, who was mother, Grayce Nakasone Scott, Greece and Italy. We traveled with me in the 2nd Marine carrying a bulky instrument that passed away April 14, 2007. I Asia together when I was about Division, and I met John in proved to be a camera, and am connected in some ways to fifteen. I remember getting drunk Hawaii while at JICPOA with hustled him away from the group the Archives, University of on Singapore Slings and she was Elmer Stone, plowing through in the direction of another Colorado at Boulder Libraries, as angry. But what was she going to the material we brought back Quonset hut. I was two steps my white father, William A. do? Ground me? Sure she would, from Tarawa. I saw John behind them as they entered Scott, taught at the University of in the middle of Manila, in the frequently during the 2 years I what turned out to be a Colorado in the 60s and 70s Philippines, on an Asian tour for was Naval Attaché in the Tokyo darkroom. The man with the [William Abbott Scott, 1926- teachers. Embassy and John was camera quickly unloaded the 1991, OLS 1946, Oklahoma My Nisei mom was strong, MacArthur's G-5. Both of these film and deposited it in a tray of A&M, Stillwater, Psychology reticent, and yet ethereal, refined men were outstanding Marine chemicals. Everybody crowded Professor, CU 1955-1960s?]. and delicate. I remember when Corps officers, and contributed around him. No one spoke as the I’m Terry, Eurasian or I guess Trigger, our 13 year old cat died, greatly to the post war U.S.- film was developed, dried and since the Vietnam War and though 39 years old myself, Japan relationship. The Corps put into an enlarger. Amerasian, and I owe this it was the first time I had ever did a good job in locating and Finally the airman held up an significant genetic mixture to my seen my mom cry. Can you acquiring outstanding BIJ 8X10 print, still dripping with mom who raised me from believe it? I can’t. The Land of personnel, both before and after developer. In the faint red glow infancy in Willow Run, the Rising Sun never had it so Pearl Harbor. They were the type of men who could do both family gatherings – particularly 1939, and had worked as a Evacuation, was a Sensei at the military research work and at his beach home near teaching assistant from 1939 Boulder during my time there in perform well in the field. Bremerton. He also visited his until May 1941. The Department 1944-45, and we became good

Harry D. Pratt nephews, niece and of English decided that I was not friends. She was an OLS 1945 grandchildren at college. making enough progress toward accomplished pianist, and I ______“He made people feel good a Ph.D. and terminated my enjoyed many hours at her

and tried to raise us that way, teaching assistantship in May of apartment listening to classical Willard White, 81, too,” said Reed. “He gave us an 1941. The only job I could find records. I kept in touch with her Dies; Legacy of allowance for showing was on the trains. The Key during and immediately after the consideration to others, as well System employed Berkeley War but eventually lost Service to Others as for chores. I would get 57¢ for graduate students during contact. I have not seen her or

So well did Willard Jurey Wright kindness. But you couldn’t brag morning and evening rush hours heard from her for more than [JLS 1944] guide community about your kindness, or you [Wow! MAs driving trains; not sixty years, but I remember her groups and legal clients through wouldn’t get your money.” what I would have expected.]. as a charming person and an taxes, estate and financial Mr. Wright made his children One of them told me that Cmdr. excellent teacher. planning that the law firm he co- keep account books, Reed said. Hindmarsh was at the St. Francis Morris Cox founded in Seattle offers an “He still had his account book Hotel in San Francisco recruiting OLS 1945 ______annual award in his name. from seventh grade …. But he students for a Japanese language “He insisted by his demeanor also taught us how to cheat on school run by the Navy. Mind Over Matter on standards of civility that are those, because he told us his I thought he would certainly father didn’t notice when he but accept me because I had grown Charles Latimer 1944 tremendous models,” said Bradley Diggs, managing partner down under expenses, ‘One up in Peking, spoke Peking (Cont’d) In the spring of 1943, his of Davis Wright Tremaine. “Our bucket of air.’” Chinese with no trace of a life changed. World War II was firm has a Willard White Award His affiliations include foreign accent and knew raging, and America’s involvement service, as a trustee of Princeton, something of the written was increasing. Like many college- for the lawyer who best age men, Latimer took an officer’s exemplifies Bill Wright’s spirit president of the Seattle-King language. When I went to see County Bar Association, trustee Cmdr. Hindmarsh in his hotel placement test. Unlike many of as a lawyer active in the those men, he aced it, receiving a community.” of The Seattle Times board of room, I began to tell him about Directors and President of the my fluency in Chinese. He was perfect score on the exam. The And so well did Mr. Wright U.S. Navy allowed him to finish cultivate friends and family that Seattle Urban League. He was not in the least interested. As I also a delegate to the 1952 remember it, the conversation his degree that summer before people as far away as Spain were sending him to midshipman expected for his funeral. Mr. Republican National went this way: CH: “What did Convention. you major in?” THB: “English.” school at Notre Dame. Within Wright died November 26, 1997 the Navy’s vast training of cancer. He was 81. Other survivors included his CH: “How well did you do?” wife of 27 years, Katharyn THB: “I graduated with highest program, he worked as an editor, “His theme was service to taught classes in mathematics, others,” said daughter, Susan Wright of Seattle, children Alice honors, am a member of Phi Hyde of Wilmington, Del., Beta Kappa and have an MA in navigation and personnel Wright Reed of Santa Rosa, administration, studied Chinese California. “He was involved in Rosemary Steven of Seattle, English.” CH: “You’re In!” (to Raymond Wright of San Diego, be cont’d) at the Oriental Language School their lives, inside their problems, and went through naval not afraid of that …. He had a Anne Little of Seattle, T. Howell Breece Gwendolyn Brinkley of Seattle, JLS 1944 intelligence officer school. As it large family, but made everyone ______happened, the war ended before and Kathy Gildea of Jackson else feel like family too.” he saw action. Born to Seattle lawyer Hole, Wyo.; sister Elizabeth Note on Massie of Moraga, Calif., and 13 After the war, Latimer turned Raymond White and Elizabeth down a regular commission, and McPherson Wright, he was grandchildren. His first wife, Grayce Nakasone instead, enrolled at Harvard proud of his Scots ancestry, Alice Wright, died in 1969. I read in the latest University, where he earned a played Scots golf courses and Carole Beers Interpreter [#116, October 1 master’s degree in education and displayed the McPherson tartans Seattle Times 2007] that Sensei Grayce a master’s degree in counseling on everything from towels to November 30, 1997 ______Nakasone (Scott) has died. Do and psychology. He then took a ties. you have any other job as a seventh- and eighth- He graduated from Lakeside The JLS Experience information? Could you dig grade teacher in nearby School in 1932, Princeton up an obituary or something Brookline, Mass., and did double University in 1936 (BA in of T. Howell Breece that might tell me of children or duty as the school system’s political science) and the In November of 1942, when I other surviving relatives to community relations director. University of Washington Law was almost 26 years old, I whom I might send Given a sabbatical after only two School in 1939. In World War II, realized that I was going to be condolences? I would years of teaching, Latimer he studied the Japanese language drafted soon unless I could find appreciate whatever earned his Ph.D. in education and served in Naval Intelligence some alternative to the Army. I information you can gather. I and psychology in 1951 from in China [He served with T. had been married for a year and would be interested in knowing Columbia University. (to be Howell Breece, who sent us this was working as a conductor on about her life and history after cont’d) obituary]. the Key System trains that ran leaving Boulder [I sent him the Mike Berry Mr. Wright was deeply across the Bay Bridge between obit above and Ms. Terry College of Charleston Magazine involved in civic groups and his San Francisco and the East bay Scott’s address, Ms. Terry L. Fall 2004, Fall 2, family. He was a longtime Page 27 to support myself and my wife. I Scott, 1218 Armacost Ave., #2, ______trustee of Lakeside School, a had graduated from the Los Angeles, CA 90025.] supporter of the Seattle Art University of California in 1938, Miss Nakasone, a veteran of Museum and an organizer of obtained an MA in English in the Santa Anita Racetrack