The US Navy Japanese/Oriental Language School Archival Project The Interpreter Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries Number 223 Remember September 11, 2001 [email protected] September 1, 2016

Our Mission programs and established funds developed a lifelong love of the Mr. Lehner worked with his at schools such as Harvard sport, which he passed down to brother and his father to build the In the Spring of 2000, the University, Smith College, and his children and grandchildren. business, which became Leigh Archives continued the origi- Buckingham Browne & Nichols At the end of his freshman Fibers, into an international nal efforts of Roger - died of congestive heart failure year, he enlisted in the Navy and presence in the textile and fiber Pineau and William Hudson, January 5, 2013 in his Hingham was sent to Boulder, Colo., for a reprocessing field. Until and the Archives first at- home. He was 88. one-year program studying recently, Mr. Lehner was tempts in 1992, to gather the In the 1970s, while two of his Japanese. His family said he chairman of the company’s papers, letters, photographs, sons and his brother, Peter of picked up languages easily and board of directors. and records of graduates of Hingham, were helping to run also spoke German, French, and His job required plenty of the US Navy Japanese/ Leigh Fibers, Mr. Lehner started Spanish. international travel, which he Oriental Language School, Grasas y Acceites with a couple relished. In 1948, he was University of Colorado at of Central American friends he returning from a business trip Boulder, 1942-1946. We had met in Boston. aboard the Queen Elizabeth assemble these papers in Along with Grasas y ocean liner when he met recognition of the contribu- Acceites, which became a Monique Brancart of Belgium, tions made by JLS/OLS cottonseed oil mill in , who was traveling with her instructors and graduates to Mr. Lehner pioneered other family from Cairo to the United the War effort in the Pacific businesses in the region, among States so she could attend Smith and the , to the them several that are considered College. creation of East Asian models of “ecologically sound They married in 1951 at Mr. language programs across management,” said his son Peter Lehner’s parents’ home in the country, and to the of . Hingham, where the couple later development of Japanese- Alfonso Robelo, a settled. American cultural rec- Nicaraguan businessman and “They were both very worldly onciliation programs after founder of the Nicaraguan and loved to travel,” their son World War II. Democratic Movement, said the Peter said. “And my mother was companies he and Mr. Lehner an extraordinary host, so we got Philip Lehner, 88, helped launch succeeded because “He was phenomenally to grow up with people from all Entrepreneur and of Mr. Lehner’s leadership and intelligent and phenomenally over the world around our dinner Philanthropist management style. good at languages,” Peter said. table.” “We were always following While stationed in Mr. Lehner, who worked hard An adventurous entrepreneur Philip’s ideas,” Robelo said. “I during the war, Mr. Lehner and traveled often, also “was a with a gift for languages, Philip learned so much from him, not translated Japanese messages very loving father,” son Carl Lehner began achieving early, only about business per se, but that had been intercepted. He said. “He certainly enjoyed entering the US Navy and about how to treat workers, how also analyzed ship and troop taking walks and going fishing serving as an intelligence officer to respect nature, and how to be movements and was promoted to with us. And he enjoyed the during World War II when he loyal to the country where you 11 days after his 20th successes of his children at every was barely in his 20s. were establishing a business.” birthday. stage of our lives.” Mr. Lehner went on to create In Hingham, international “My father didn’t talk much After recovering from an and lead businesses that thrived guests often were present at the about the war,” Peter said. “He illness in the 1960s, Mr. Lehner in Nicaragua and elsewhere in Lehner home. didn’t like war, but he chose to began jogging every day, even Central America, despite “One of the wonderful things enlist, I think, because he knew while traveling. political strife. about our childhood was getting he could contribute more in “If he had a 6:30 a.m. flight to He also helped build his to know so many of our father’s intelligence than as a line soldier catch, he would get up and jog at father’s business, now called friends from around the world,” or sailor.” 3:30,” Peter said. Leigh Fibers, into one of the Peter said. “His view of the In 1945, Mr. Lehner Mr. Lehner loved sailing in largest companies of its kind and world, from knowing all these interrogated Japanese prisoners Hingham and Scituate harbors did so by giving “people people, was a very generous and captured during the Battle of and in Maine and skiing with his freedom to do the best possible hopeful perspective toward Okinawa. family. job,” said his son Carl of humanity.” He worked as a translator In a eulogy, Peter recalled Holderness, N.H., who in 1990 Born in Boston, Mr. Lehner when Japanese naval forces that his father “would lay out succeeded Mr. Lehner as grew up in Cambridge and surrendered and was part of an five snowsuits in a row and have president of the company. Hingham. His father had intelligence team that traveled us lie on them. He went down “He set high expectations, emigrated from , his through to determine the the line, zipping us up, and then and he led by example in terms mother from France. country’s military capacity. laced 10 ski boots.” of working hard and focusing on He graduated from what was Returning to Harvard after the A service has been held for what was important,” Carl said. then Browne & Nichols School war, he graduated in 1948 with a Mr. Lehner, who in addition to Mr. Lehner - a philanthropist in Cambridge. In 1941, he began bachelor’s degree in economics his wife, two sons, and brother who contributed to attending Harvard College, and joined what was then called leaves two daughters, Christine environmental and educational where he rowed crew and the Leigh Textile Co. of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., and Brigitte Kingsbury of Cape School. Many never answered. Some (Task Group 51.2), whose Shortly after this, I was Elizabeth, Maine; another son, exchanged lengthy correspondence. mission was to serve as a decoy transferred down to a navy base Philip Lehner wrote this reply.] Michael of Boston; 15 force working in conjunction in Southern Korea and was lucky grandchildren; and two great- June 22, 1981 with the Southern Attack Force to come away alive, as an grandchildren. (Task Force 55) commanded by ammunition depot there Dear Captain: “If you want to find someone Rear John L. Hall while exploded just a few minutes after I would like to acknowledge who fits the description of a the Western Islands Group (Task I had gone by it. The explosion your letter of May 12 and want gentleman, that was Philip,” Group 51.1) under Rear Admiral was purely accidental. to wish you good luck on your Robelo said. “He was very clever Ingolf N. Kiland and the 77th I think that base was called project of writing a history of the and very positive, always saying Infantry Division secured Chinkai and was a rather Japanese Language School in the nice things about people. He had Kerama Retto and other offshore pleasant former naval base [The Navy. I am afraid I an outstanding analytical mind, islands before landing at Ie Chinkai Guard District (鎮海警 cannot be too helpful as I do not which is unusual in a person who Shima. Task Group 51.2 would 備府 have any old copies of orders, or Chinkai Keibifu?) was the was also so kind and gentle, and subsequently serve as a floating many photographs left. major navy base for the Imperial such a very good friend.” reserve for the U.S. Tenth Army Japanese Navy in Korea under As far as my own activities (Task Force 56), commanded by Kathleen McKenna are concerned, as best as I can Japanese rule before and during Lieutenant General Simon B. [email protected] remember, they were abaut as World War II. Located in Buckner, USA, before returning The Boston Globe follows: southern Korea (at present-day January 21, 2013 to . Jinhae, Republic of Korea, After leaving Boulder I was http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jera ****** assigned to the Advanced Coordinates: 35°11′N 128°34′E), uld_Wright]. When the war was May 12, 1981 Intelligence School in Manhattan the Chinkai Guard District was coming to an end, if I recollect responsible for control of the Dear Phil: for 2 or 3 months. From there, I correctly, I was transferred to a strategic Straits of Shimonoseki The enclosed squib tells what went to Hawaii and was attached large battle and then a and for patrols along the Korean I am trying do. All I know about to JICPOA [Joint Intelligence squadron for a while, coastline and in the Sea of you is that you registered at Center Pacific Ocean Area]. I followed by the Peace Ceremony Japan. Boulder 19 April 1943, were was with them for more or less a with Admiral Wright (the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chin graduated in a class of fifty-six year and then went to sea with, I destroyer and kai_Guard_District ]. on 27 May, 1944, #298449. Your believe, Amphibious Group 5 experience could have come While we were there, we did home address was at Boulder, which was Admiral Wright’s after the Peace Ceremony in a certain amount of hunting up in i.e. your given residence was in Task Force and I believe we Seoul) [Cruiser Division Six - the mountains, which was quite Hiingham, Mass., but when you were on a ship called the Ancon USS (1945) - pleasant. registered with NAVTECHJAP [USS Ancon], or some such Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright For some reason, after this I it was 185 Summer, St., Boston. name, which was an amphibious took command of Cruiser seem to have gone to Shanhai Also, Admiral Jerauld Wright command ship. We were Division Six (CruDiv 6), with the and then up to Tensing, where I tells me that you were his involved in activities in USS San Francisco (CA-38), a was associated with one of the interpreter at Admiral and also spent a lot of time New Orleans-class cruiser heavy Marine divisions [I believe the Yamaguchi’s surrender of the sailing around the ocean cruiser, serving as his . 6th MARDIV was sent to naval base in South Korea, and [Amphibious Group Five - In early October 1945, CruDiv 6 ]. From there we went to JW says you were a damn good Operation Iceberg - Kerama was assigned to assist the post- Southern Japan in an LST and I interpreter, too. He also tells me Retto (1945). In November 1944, surrender activities and general- was with a group that was doing that Memaguchi brandished his Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright purpose peace-keeping duties postwar analyses of what prewar sword before handing it over to took command of Amphibious throughout the and preparations Japan had made in JW. Group Five, a newly created unit Gulf of Bohai region as a unit of some of its equipment, Please fill me in on what you of the Amphibious Forces, U.S. the U.S Seventh Fleet under the particularly merchant ships. I left did between Boulder and Pacific Fleet, commanded by command of Vice Admiral Japan somewhere around Yamaguchi, where you were Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Thomas C. Kinkaid. Wright's February or March and was assigned, who you served with, Turner. Wright's group would be force showed the flag, making stationed in Washington with a under, and anything that you involved in the invasion of the port visits at, Tientsin, Tsingtao, naval office until I had enough found interesting about the (Operation Port Arthur, and Chinwangtao. points to leave the Navy which experience, your colleagues and Iceberg), the island of Okinawa At the final port call at Inchon, was May or June [1946]. the like. You may be certain that being the key objective. Once Wright acted as the senior- The only Boulder graduate I anything you found of even taken, U.S. forces would use ranking member of the have kept in contact with is passing interest will be of great Okinawa as a staging area for committee that accepted the Frank Ecker, who lives at 607 interest to me. If you still have the eventual invasion of Japan, surrender of Japanese naval Astor Blvd. Rockville, Maryland copies of your orders I’d like a and a base for the B-29 forces throughout Korea. 20850 [Frank A. Ecker, 89, a copy of them. Tell me anything Superfortress bombers of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jera former Central Intelligence you can about your colleagues U.S. to attack uld_Wright]. Agency budget examiner who then, and what you know of the Japanese home islands. I remember the Peace was mayor of Rockville from them since. Amphibious Group Five would Ceremony where I interpreted, transport the 2nd Marine 1962 to 1968, died in 2010]. He Best Wishes quite well. One side note, is that Roger Pineau Division, Major General Thomas has been mayor of this city and the poor Japanese Admiral who CPT, USN E. Watson, USMC, commanding, he might be able to give you was delivering his sword and some interesting anecdotes. He [Ed. Note: Roger Pineau sent such with Wright flying his flag from signing the surrender documents, the USS Ancon (AGC-4). worked with the State notes from the mid-1970s through was so upset that he actually the 1980s, seeking information for a For Operation Iceberg, Department or CIA for a while threw up in his hankerchief in book he was intending to write on the and has been with the Wright's force was designated the corner of the room. USN Japanese/Oriental Language Demonstration Group Charlie government since leaving the navy. Another Boulder graduate French, and Spanish. A research In an interview before he “She sent one of her was Chris Dixie and he is a labor foundation in his name was went to Washington, de Bary to Columbia, who lawyer in Texas but I regret I founded at the U. of Granada. said, “I suppose the main feeling knew that I had been active in have no address for him Dave attended South Kent I have upon receiving this medal the neutrality movement,” de [Christian James Dixie]. School and at Princeton was a is that it is something I can share Bary recalled. “The First Lady At one time, if I remember member of Campus Club and the with my family, friends and knew that I could possibly be correctly, Jerauld Wright was the Oriental Club as well as colleagues in recognition of how persuaded to join in a student youngest Admiral in the Navy president of the German Club. much I owe to them.” effort that would support Britain and at that same point in time, I He graduated in June 1949 in At the age of 94, de Bary undergoing attack from Hitler.” was one of the youngest modern languages and received continues to teach Columbia During World War II, De Lieutenants. He was always very his MA from Penn in 1951. students and publish a steady Bary was engaged in intelligence nice to me and we had many In the mid-1960s Dave stream of books, the most recent work with the Marines and Army interesting conversations married Ursula Cook Kingsmill, one last year. Come fall, he will on combat missions in the together. At the end of the war, an Englishwoman who lived offer Asian Humanities to Aleutians and Okinawa. A future he urged me to stay in but I with him among the Berber undergraduates, and he will also at the State Department lay decided to go into my family’s tribes. She, too, was a prolific teach an upper level course on before him, yet he has no regrets business and go back to college. author. Ursula died about two “Nobility and Civility.” Based in bypassing the diplomatic field. When you do see Admiral years ago. The class will miss on classics of the East and West, “I’m fully satisfied that I Wright, please give him my best this illustrious scholar. it will discuss key values of returned to Columbia.” and I wish him all good health. leadership, raising questions Today, De Bary still has The Class of 1948 With Kind Regards, Princeton Alumni Weekly such as “What does it mean to be something to offer Washington. Philip Lehner October 24, 2001 a true leader?” and “What is Foreign policy experts might be ______nobility?” well advised to read his 2013 [Ed. Note: Roger Pineau and his “Ted de Bary is a Columbia book, The Great Civilized associate and fellow JLO Bill President Obama Hudson never completed their book Bestows National icon,” said Columbia University Conversation – Education for a before his death, but donated their Humanities Medal on President Lee C. Bollinger. “As World Community (Columbia research files to the Archives, a scholar, teacher, mentor and University Press). University of Colorado Boulder Wm. Theodore de Bary citizen his influence has been felt “For peace, you have to find Libraries, where they became the common ground. This depends core and impetus of the US Navy on being able to converse and Japanese/Oriental Language School exchange views with each Archival Project. Professor Irwin other,” he said. “One way to do Selsnick and his wife Carole used the collections and others we acquired to that is through direct conversation or discussion. But write their book Kanji & Codes, their splendid introduction to Japanese if you consider that you have to language training in the military bridge traditions and cross during WWII. Professor Roger cultures, then it means not only Dingman used the USN JLS/OLS having a common language like collections here to write his highly English, but means also regarded book, Deciphering the understanding where others are Rising Sun on the CU Boulder USN JLS/OLS trained Japanese Language Photo by Philippe Cheng/ not only on our own campus and coming from.” Columbia College Today in his field of East Asian studies, De Bary has served Columbia Officers in the Pacific Theater during WWII. So if Roger Pineau While Columbia has long but across higher education and in a number of capacities: chair and Bill Hudson never finished their revered Prof. Wm. Theodore de our society at large. For many of Columbia's Department of own book, their research files Bary (CC’41, GSAS’53) as one decades, there’s been no more East Asian Languages and assisted others to write them of its own, America now regards compelling voice for the Cultures from 1960 to 1966; as instead.] ______him as a national treasure. transformative power of the the first to chair the executive On July 28, 2014 President liberal arts and humanities as a committee to the newly created David Montgomery Hart Barack Obama (CC’83) guide to meaningful life than University Senate in 1969, and ’48, OLS 5/10/45- presented the noted Columbia Ted. So it is entirely appropriate then as University Provost in scholar, the John Mitchell Mason that he be honored by our nation, 1971, a position he held until Dave Hart, a noted Professor Emeritus and Provost and by our Columbia-educated 1978. He also established the anthropologist and expert on the Emeritus, with a 2013 National president, with the National Heyman Center for the tribes of the Rif Highlands of Humanities Medal celebrating Humanities Medal.” Humanities, the Society of Morocco, died on May 22, 2001, his lifetime’s work. The awards, The ceremony with President Senior Scholars and Society of after a lengthy battle with liver were bestowed on 10 recipients Obama marks a return for de Fellows in the Humanities. cancer. He resided in Garrucha this year, honor extraordinary Bary to the after The Humanities Medal joins (Almeria), . achievement in the humanities. seven decades. The year was de Bary’s many other honors: he During the 1950s and 1960s, The White House 1941, and Franklin Roosevelt is an honorary member of the Dave lived for many years announcement cites how de had sought to marshal support Japan Academy and a member of among Berber-speaking peoples. Bary’s “efforts to foster a global from those who backed the American Academy of Arts He wrote a number of books on conversation have underscored neutrality or peace. First Lady and Sciences. He has also his Rif experiences. He also did how the common values and Eleanor Roosevelt invited a garnered just about every award field work in Pakistan and experiences shared by Eastern group of student leaders to the Columbia can offer: Honorary archival research in several and Western cultures can be used White House that included the Doctor of Letters (1994), Award European countries. He was to bridge our differences and young de Bary, who had been of Excellence, by Graduate fluent in two Berber languages build trust.” chair of Columbia College’s Faculties Alumni (1983), John as well as Arabic, German, Student Governing Board. Jay Award, Columbia College (1971) Lionel Trilling Book 12 Navy College Training Nashville, Jim was offered a Chester Shelby Holcombe Award (1983), Mark Van Doren Program (Georgia Tech), then position on the faculty of Prize (1987), and Great Teacher 1915- 1987 Naval ROTC (Rice Institute) and Willamette University in Salem, Award (1969). He twice won the finally the Naval School of Oregon. He gladly accepted the Chester Shelby Holcombe was Alexander Hamilton Medal, in Oriental Languages (Stillwater, "call of the West" and transferred born on 21 October 1915 at 1994 and 1999. OK), with an emphasis in his Methodist affiliation to the Rochester, NY. He was the son For all his accolades, De Bary Japanese, for training as a Oregon-Idaho Conference. For of Chester Frank Holcombe and would like to be known most for translator/interpreter. This last the next 24 years he relished his Louise Shelby. Chester Shelby his early work in introducing experience was the seed for his career in academia at Holcombe was graduated in Asia to the Core Curriculum. later interest and further study of Willamette, advancing to 1937 at Syracuse University, The coming 2014-2015 Japanese language and culture. Professor of Religion and Syarcuse, Onondaga Co., NY. academic year will be de Bary's Jim's professional career was Department Chairman. Jim He married Ada Elizabeth 78th at Columbia and his 62nd built on a love for learning and retired in 1988 to travel, study, Slaughter, daughter of Samuel on the faculty. the cause of Christ. Upon be with his children and McTeer Slaughter and Mary De Bary told those assembled returning to civilian life after grandchildren, and further serve Helen Mills, on 25 June 1942 at at the White House, “Now, at the WWII, he graduated Phi Beta his Lord. He cherished keeping Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., age of almost 95, I thank God Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts in touch with former students CA. Chester Shelby Holcombe that I am still able to teach Core degree from the University of and colleagues, many of whom died on 9 July 1987 at Santa courses myself, and participate Alabama in 1948. He then went on to choose Christian Barbara, Santa Barbara Co, CA, in many activities supportive of pursued graduate study at Union missionary service or related at age 71. the Core, and now, finally, to Theological Seminary in New pursuits that he delighted in Graduated from Syracuse receive this wonderful award York City. Mentored by such supporting. He loved classical University, NY; worked as from NEH and President great resident theologians as music, hymnology, as well as the newspaper reporter at age 14 Obama.” Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul works of Gilbert and Sullivan. A years, editor at 17, in world Gary Shapiro Tillich, he thrived in what was committed Conservative, he was travel (encircling the globe); Columbia News considered the "golden age" of a devoted patriot who loved his visited 5 continents and 14 July 28, 2014 Neo-Orthodoxy and earned his Country and its exceptionalism. countries as newspaper man, [Ed. Note: Professor De Bary Master of Divinity degree in His last 17 years among caring radio commentator, lecturer, remains a consistent supporter of the 1952. Jim's ministry in the friends and neighbors at Capital before the mast, big game USN JLS/OLS Archival Project.] Alabama-West Manor Retirement Community ______hunting; was under fire in Conference of the Methodist in Salem were happy and full, a Chinese war, being in the midst James Albert Hand Church spanned ten years. As a true blessing. Jim is survived by of swift moving events in newlywed pastor, he began with his devoted wife Jean, son David and Japan from 1939-1942; OLS 3/12/45- a circuit of three small churches (Mary Dan) and grandchildren served with Federal in coastal Mobile County, Wesley, Jared, and Kara Hand of Communications Commission, June 3, 1925 – June 11, 2014 Coden-Irvington-Heron Bay. Columbia, Maryland, daughter Washington, DC; spent 1 year in The Reverend Doctor James After seminary, he was Sarah (Sean) and grandchildren Tokyo in US Naval Reserve, Albert Hand, beloved husband, appointed to Mt. Vernon. Trevor and Erin Murphy of assigned to further study of father, pastor, theologian and Following his Ordination in Atlanta, Georgia. He was uncle reading and writing the Japanese professor, died peacefully in the 1953, he had pastorates in to beloved surviving nieces Jane language, which he spoke; embrace of His Lord and Savior Livingston and Citronelle. Hand Dukes (David), Allison stationed at Navy School at the Jesus Christ on June 11, 2014 in During those years, Jim and Jean Hand Peebles (John), both of University of Colorado. He Salem, Oregon. He was 89 years were blessed with two children, Mobile, Virginia Hand Hollis worked for thirty four years at old. Jim was raised by strong and David Brevard and Sarah (Bill) of Germantown, the Santa Barbara News-Press loving parents Irma Weems and Elizabeth. In 1960, Jim traveled Tennessee, Helen Hand (Michael as a reporter, but left his mark on Charles Connor Hand of Mobile. to hear his mentor Paul Tillich Bender) of Denver, Colorado, Santa Barbara also as a frequent He joins them in the company of deliver the Cole Lectures at and predeceased by beloved speaker at club meetings, as a Heaven now with his three Vanderbilt University's Divinity nephew John Hand, Jr., also of morning radio commentator on brothers, Charles Connor, Jr., School in Nashville, Tennessee. Denver. A celebration of life KTMS an as Santa Claus in the John Weems, and William The event inspired him to pursue service will take place at Capital annual downtown Christmas Brevard. His Southern heritage a doctoral degree there with the Manor in Salem on Saturday, parade. and Methodist formation goal of a new career in August 9th at 2:00 p.m. A later equipped him with compassion, theological teaching. It became private interment will be at Pine http://www.holcombegenealogy.com/ data/p181.htm#i9009 humility, a zest for life and "academia for all" in the Music Crest Cemetery in Mobile. Gifts ______learning, as well as a great sense City as Jim then enrolled at in Jim's memory may be directed $Donations Accepted of humor. The employment of Vanderbilt, Jean at adjacent to any of the following: The his keen intellect and devoted Peabody College in pursuit of a Capital Manor Foundation; First If you wish to support the JLS/OLS heart was never more evident graduate degree in Library United Methodist Church, Archival Project you may contribute to our US Navy JLS/OLS Fund. To than when he married his Science, and David and Sarah in Salem; St. Timothy's Episcopal sweetheart, Emma Jean donate, make your check out to the elementary school. Jim went on Church, Salem. University of Colorado, writing US Williams, also of Mobile, 63 to earn his Doctor of Philosophy Mobile Register and Baldwin County Navy JLS Fund on the memo line to years ago. The last fifty of their degree and his thesis was titled from June 20 to June 22, 2014 the bottom left of your check, and wonderful years together were "Theological Aspects of - See more at: mail it to our contact address. spent in Salem, Oregon. After Creation: A comparison of the http://obits.al.com/obituaries/mobile/ David Hays his graduation from Murphy Concepts of Being and Meaning obituary.aspx?pid=171428878#sthas Archives High School in 1942 and an in the Theologies of Jonathan h.iOgOdxxX.dpuf University of Colorado at Boulder ______initial year at the University of Edwards and Paul Tillich." In 184 UCB Alabama, Jim enrolled in the V- 1964, his final year of study in Boulder, Colorado 80309-0184