The Japanese Language School Project The Interpreter Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries Number 49 òRemember September 11, 2001ò July 15, 2002

The Japanese Language coach for 1960-61. Oscar two sons, Steven of Heathrow, soldiers and civilians to Japan. I School Archival Project Robertson, one of Fla., and and Kenneth of do not recall his unit designation, history’s outstanding players, Gainesville, Fla., two daughters, but he recalls that his teams had just graduated, and Jucker Judy Pregler of Memphis and regularly exchanged gunfire with In the Spring of 2000, the abandoned a successful Karen Rettig of Atlanta, a sister, the Red Chinese army as the Archives continued the origi- racehorse offense and Doris Flaig of , and trains moved back and forth. nal efforts of Captain Roger emphasized defense. five grandchildren. Many of the repatriating Pineau and William Hudson, His first team started with a 5- In Jucker’s early years at Japanese had NEVER lived in and the Archives first at- 3 record. Then it won 22 Cincinnati, when he also Japan, since their families had tempts in 1992, to gather the consecutive games, culminating coached the baseball team, he settled in Manchuria papers, correspondence, with a 70-65 overtime victory recruited a left-handed pitcher (Manchukuo) in the late twenties photographs, and records of over Ohio State in the national from Lafayette High School in and early thirties (I used this graduates of the US Navy championship final. The next Brooklyn and signed him to a experience as reference Japanese Language School, season, it extended its winning basketball scholarship. After one material for a research paper University of Colorado at streak to 37 games and went on season, that pitcher, Sandy when I was in college). By the Boulder, 1942-1946. We to a 71-59 triumph, again over Koufax, signed with the way, it was also during this time assemble these papers in Ohio State, in the tournament Brooklyn Dodgers. period that Harry Pratt, author of recognition of the contribu- final. the article mentioned above, was tions made by JLS graduates The following season, [Ed. Note: We checked the student one of the interpreters at the war to the War effort in the Pa- directory and found an Edwin L. Cincinnati ranked No. 1 in the Jucker amongst the Navy staff, so the crimes trials. Harry and my cific, the successful occupa- nation in defense. In the names appear to be almost identical. father still stay in touch. tion of Japan, the creation of N.C.A.A. final, it led Loyola of Only someone who has his military After the China stint my Japanese language programs Chicago by 15 points with 14 records would be able to tell father mustered out of the across the country, and the minutes left, only to lose in exactly.] Marines, but was recalled for the development of cultural rec- overtime, 60-58. After two more ______Korean War. He was again onciliation programs after seasons, Jucker resigned, saying Yet Another Aspect stationed in Japan and attached World War II. the job pressure was affecting his of Later JLS Grads to division intelligence and health and his family. doubled in civil affairs because Ed Jucker, 85, “I hardly know my family,” he My father was a Marine of his language skills. Some Cincinnati said. “I have four children Captain while enrolled at the years later, while living and Basketball Coach, growing up who hardly know JLS. He is mentioned in The working in Seattle, he arranged Dies me. They have to come first.” Interpreter, no. 26, July 15 2001 for the first direct shipment of His five-year record was 113- article titled "Another Take on steel between Japan and Alaska, {I am almost certain this is the Ed 28. His N.C.A.A. tournament Late JLS Graduates" written by negotiating on behalf of his Jucker I knew at the JLS in record was 11-1, the best ever. Harry Pratt. He retired from the employer at the time York Steel, January 1943 where he was a chief He explained his success this Marine Reserves as a Lieutenant and a division of the Mitsui athletic specialist (along with Chief way: Colonel. One minor update to Company. Hodge, Chief Barefield and Chief “I wanted us to run only when Today my father still studies Brelsford and later Chiefs Harry's article is that my father Thompson and Macgill and Friels). we had the advantage, but to should be included in the few Japanese today and has The age 85 is right and the fact that concentrate more on a half-court who had combat experience interested my son in the subject he was in the Navy is strongly game, press and power the ball against the Japanese before as well. suggestive I am on the right track. inside because of the makeup of attending the JLS in Boulder. Bill Croyle for William Croyle Early on, he was promoted to our team. I firmly believe that Initially deployed to Am. Samoa, Ensign Jucker and sent to Norfolk, LTC, USMCR (ret.) their chances of making a 1-foot where he attended an ad hoc also in early 1943. OLS 1946 shot inside were better than those language school. He arrived on ______of hitting a long shot.” -William Hudson Guadalcanal in October 1942, as JLS 1943] Edwin Louis Jucker was born a second lieutenant with the 8th Reprise On July 8, 1916 in Norwood, Ohio. Marines. “Tony” Komesu Ed Jucker, who coached the He played on the basketball, My father and mother were May I add a postscript to the baseball and golf teams at married in Boulder while letter which Glen Slaughter basketball team to three Cincinnati and served in the enrolled at the JLS. They lived in received from Uchizono Yozo, consecutive N.C.A.A. Navy in World War II. a small house on Spruce Street published in the 15 May 2002 tournament finals died Saturday Before his Cincinnati tenure , that still stands today. They The Interpreter. My husband, at his home on Callawassie he was an assistant coach at the visited that location a couple of Roger Pineau, arranged a Island, S.C., near Hilton Head United States Merchant Marine years ago when they stayed with reunion in Okinawa several years Island. He was 85 and had Academy and head coach at us in Littleton. After graduating ago of the Marines Glen prostrate cancer, his wife, Rensselear Polytechnic Institute. from the program in Stillwater, Slaughter, Glenn Nelson, Jim Joanne, sa id. Later he was coach of the my father deployed to Japan and Jefferson and “Tony” Komesu, After seven years as an Cincinnati Royals of the N.B.A. worked in civil affairs and also the Okinawan/Japanese aide, a assistant at Cincinnati, his alma and . In addition spent considerable time in north sentimental journey overseen by mater, Jucker became the head to his wife, Jucker is survived by China repatriating Japanese Masatoshi Uehara. Roger learned that Komesu’s favorite sport, know that Glen found him still $Donations Accepted Contact indeed his obsession, was alive. His cooperation with the There are those of you who may David Hays, Archivist II, baseball. A trip to the United Marines and his trip to not have papers to donate to the Archives, States, with a Washington, DC Washington, DC are still fresh Archives, but who may wish to University of Colorado at Boulder destination, was suggested and memories for me. support the Japanese/Oriental Campus Box 184 Komesu readily accepted. I Sincerely, Language School Archival Boulder, Colorado, 80309-0184 remember his dining in our home Maxine Pineau Project in other ways. We are on a meal which he declared setting up a cash account to fund Phone (303) 492-7242 “good”, but mostly the memories [Ed. Note: I would like to take this opportunity to again thank Mrs. Archives activities regarding the Fax (303) 492-3960 of his trip linger on a visit to Pineau and praise the late CPT JLS/OLS Project. To date, the Email: Baltimore to see the Orioles play Pineau for expending so much effort Archives has spent in excess of [email protected] and to enjoy seeing his name to keep the JLS grads together, hold $10,000 of its own funds on the appear on the scoreboard with reunions and to develop research project. If you wish to donate, New JLS Website: accompanying applause and a materials for his history of the JLS. make your check out to The http://www- standing ovation. I am glad to His efforts are the centerpiece of our US Navy JLS Archival Project.] University of Colorado and mail libraries.colorado.edu/ps/arv/col/ it to our contact address. jlsp.htm