WWW.PACIFICCITlZE:\.ORG WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG Memories of Topaz Spring Campaign During his incarceration, Dave Historic Pilgrimage Help support the P.C. Tatsuno secretly filmed his Tule Lake is hosting its Web site with your bleak world. Now his son pilgrimage in time to generous donation. celebrates his life & work. celebrate its historic designation. COUPON PAGE 2 ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 9 NATIONAL NEWS PAGE 6 Not Funny: Air Balloon Bomb An artist models a hot air balloon since1929PACIFIC CITIZEN after the bomb dropped on Nagaski during World War II. mmr.:.mmm:mmThe National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League APA Disabled War Vet Hopes Next Step Will be Congress The Army major proved legs. But if she wins her bid to rep­ has won the vocal support of Vice she could hang with the resent illinois' 6th District in President Dick Cheney. '] could've died ... boys in uniform, but what November, she will also be the frrst But then again, Duckworth says frankly, I'm dam lucky. about the men in the female Asian Pacific American fed­ she's used to challenges. At the end of the day, nation's capital? erally elected official from the land The Democratic candidate, who yeah, my legs are gone, of Lincoln. was born in Thailand, is also used but there are triple "I will be the fIrst," said to being a pioneer. When she was By LYNDA LIN amputees out there, ' Assistant Editor Duckworth, 38, from her Lombard fIrst commissione4 for service, she said Tammy headquarters. And without missing chose to become a pilot because it Duckworth, Illinois' L. Tammy Duckworth knows a beat she adds, "TIus district is was the only way to get into combat Democratic candidate she's making history. Since her ready for a change." at the time. For her, the decision for Congress. March 21 primary win enabled her A win for Duckworth would was a matter of fairness - male to vie for a seat in the U.S. House of usher in a stark change of leadership soldiers in the same position had If she wins in Representatives, the media has been for Illinois' 6th District, a suburban the choice to enter combat, she sim­ November, the Iraqi transfixed on her physical disabili­ area long represented by ply wanted the same choice. war vet will make APA ties. An Iraqi war veteran who lost Republican Henry Hyde, who is "I didn't want to face less danger history. both legs in a grenade attack, retiring after 32 years. In November, just because I'm female," said Duckworth hits the campaign trail Duckworth will face Republican Duckworth, who grew up with dual in a wheelchair or on prosthetic Peter Roskam, a state senator, who identities. Her father, Franklin See DUCKWORTHIPage 12 Groups Hope to Save 'Obasan' Finding Old Friends in Faded Pictures By LYNDA LIN Author's Childhood House . Assistant Editor With less than a month to 'It was my paradise, not just a house. '- Joy Kogawa, Editor's Note: The typewritten go, $1.25 million needs to author of 'Obasan,' talks about her childhood home in Marpole, letter addressed to the PacifIc Citizen contained one dramatic be raised to preserve the Vancouver pictured below. plea: "HELP." Dick Marquette home where renowned spoke about his search for a group author Joy Kogawa spent of Japanese prisoners of war he her childhood. befriended while stationed in the Philippines during World War II LOST UNKS: Looking for POWs. By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM and never forgot. Now in the twi­ in the last throes of WWII. Back Executive Editor light ofhis life, the veteran is hoping then, he said, prisoners weren't to reestablish contact with some treated as badly as they are today, so Peering over the white picket unlikely friends. fence that encircles the simple, despite the odds the Japanese POWs and the American soldier wood-framed house, renowned The details are cloudy, but mem­ became friends. Japanese Canadian author and ories remain etched in his mind: a poet Joy Kogawa instantly recog­ These days the American veteran, group of at least 20 friendly faces Dick Marquette, 80, is doing what nizes the front door from her smiling at him despite being cap­ childhood memories and a cherry tured and held by American forces See OLD FRIENDSlPage 6 tree, now much taller, that still blossoms in the backyard. After and a backyard peach 'tree are what fanrily were sent to Slocan City, more than six decades, Kogawa Kogawa, 71, remembers of her time British Columbia and after the 'J-Lile Project' Puts JA Youth in Focus feels like she is fInally back home. here and are chronicled in her war the fanrily eventually settled Until the age of six, tlris small award-winning novel "Obasan." in Toronto. Best friends Eric bungalow located on West 64th But as in her famous novel, real In 2003 Kogawa made her way Yamamoto (left) Avenue in Marpole, Vancouver life changed abruptly for Kogawa back to her childhood home but and Kirk Iwasaki was home for Kogawa, her older after Pearl Harbor when the govern­ her reminiscences Were interrupt­ are collaborating brother TImothy and their parents. ment evacuated all Japanese ed by the red "For Sale" sign on on a documen­ A bustling household, sunny Canadians on' the West Coast to the house's front lawn. Although tary project that views from the front windows, internment camps. Kogawa and her See KOGAWAIPage 4 takes a closer look at today's COMMENTARY Japanese Phoenix :QJsing: American youth Leadership ror a New That J-Word Again I culture. generabon By JOHN TATEISID JA CL Executive Director Two Yonsei best friends New Year's dinner. I was talking with someone sit­ travel across the country to Sound fanriliar? ting next to me on a plane the other find out what's on the minds Raised in Los Angeles and cur­ day who thought I was overly sensi­ of today's JA high school rently attending the Art Institute of tive because I and college kids. Chicago, Yamamoto didn't tlrink informed him much of his JA roots while living in that the word diverse Southern California. But By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM "Jap" is offen­ Executive Editor after a move four years ago to the JACL National Convention sive to me, to Windy City where Asian Americans June 21-24, 2006 Japanese Yonsei Eric Yamamoto, 21, may are much smaller in number, Chandler, Arizona Americans. be an ideal conduit for today's Yamamoto suddenly felt like a He was talk­ Japanese American youth. He likes minority for the fIrst time. ing about how much he adnrired the hip-hop music, fast cars, and fusion Now Yamamoto, an aspiring fIlm Japanese (I noted that he meant cuisine. He also keeps his shoes on student, and his best friend Kirk 10 those others, you know, the I Iwasaki, 22, are collaborating on the WEEIiS in his Sansei parents' home and has See TATEISHlJPage 8 never tried a traditional Japanese See J-LlFE PROJECTlPage 4 2 LEITERS/NATIONAL PACIFIC ClTIZEN, APR. 7-20, 2006 ~ PACIAC CmZEN ~ LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? 2005 WINNERI -t!~~u U ~ Editor -------------www.pacificcitizen.org GMEirlA Launch the Web site into the next online ~ Awards In Wrttlng ..,J Personal Stories Rejuvenating the of the Nisei JA Community PACIFIC CmZEN This letter is in response to the It may not be the fault of the pres­ ent membership chair but there has 250 E. First Street, Ste. 301, Pacific Citizen article in the March been a lack of efficiency and imagi­ Los Angeles, CA. 90012 3-16 issue titled "School Collects nation. There is no listing of costs of Tel: 213/620-1767, Stories from wwn Camps." 800/966-6157 individual memberships in the Every year since 2003, the 7th Fax: 213/620-1768 renewal forins or in the recent mem­ graders at the Harmon Middle E-mail: [email protected] bership contest. www.pacificcitizen.org School plan, organize, and conduct Also, if JACL initiates projects of an all-day event to hear the personal interest for Japanese Americans Executive Editor: stories of Nisei who were impris­ instead of protesting discrimination Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom CHAPTER: -----" oned only because they looked like against Asian Pacific Americans Assistant Editor: MAIL TO: PACIRC CmzEN, 250 E. Lynda Lin the enemy. and Muslim and Arab Americans STREET, SUITE 301, LOS ANGELES, CA Office Manager: These stories have been captured there could be a sharp increase in Brian Tanaka in mini booklets that were designed membership. .. Circulation: Eva Lau-Ting SPRING_------ CAMPAIGN and written by the students. For example, why not commem­ Publisher:Japanese American Seventeen Nisei from the greater orate the triumphant return of the Developing P.C.S Online Vision Citizens League (founded 1929) Cleveland area volunteered to share 442nd ReT from the battlefields of 1765 Sutter Street, San their personal experiences. Each is France and Italy on July 15, 1946? By LARRY GRANT a foothold on the Internet. The next Francisco, CA 94115, tel: uniquely different. The 442nd received its seventh step is to further develop the P. e. 415/921-5225 fax: 415/931- Would this be another way for the Presidential Distinguished Unit Web site. 4671, www.jacl.org I get my first news of the day on Citation from President Harry JACL President: Ken Inouye Nisei to tell their personal stories to . the Internet. Whether at home or at The goal of the P. e. is to become Nat'l Director: John Tateishi middle school studenl$? Would this Truman on that day. His statement: work, I can read my local newspa­ a viable Internet news source.