PACIF C CITIZE ication of the Japanese American Citizens League 2 JUNE 19-JULY 2, 2009 COMMENTARY/SPRING CAMPAIGN PACIRC 51 cmZEN NAT'L DIRECTOR'S REPORT •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • ••••• + •••• +~ : P.C. Receives $15,000 to Preserve Its History PACIFIC !SCmZEN Busy Times in Washington HOWTO REACH US By FLOYD MORI E-mail: [email protected] Online: www.pacificcitizen.org Tel:(800) 966·6157 The national JACL staff continues to work hard in •. Fax: (213) 620-1768 administering the programs of the nation's Oldest and • Mail: largest Asian American civil and human rights organi­ 250 E. First Street, Suite 301 zation. los Angeles; CA 90012 . Plans are being finalized for the National JACL STAFF youth Conference and the Collegiate Leadership Executive Editor Conference. And plans are underway for the JACL The Pacific Citizen has been awarded a $15,000 grant from The Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom Gala in September. Fundraising is an ongoing effort. California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) to pre­ Assistant Editor The sniall staff in the Washington, D.C. office, serve and digitize a portion of its unique history. 'lynda Lin which currently consists of myself, one fellow, two This newspaper has been chronicling Japanese American and Asian Office Manager part-time interns, and one volunteer (the director of public policy position Pacific American issues from the Great Depression to the election of Brian Tanaka remains unfilled because of budgetary issues) has been busy. our first minority U.S. president. The P.C. is the oldest continuously Circulation Crystal Xu, the JACL Mineta fellow, and Mai Suzuki, a student intern published English language chronicle of the Japanese experience in Eva Lau-ling from Japan's Meiji Gakuin University by way of the University of California, America. Santa Barbara, just completed their assignments with the JACL. And until now, the P.C. archives have faced the threat of disintegra­ The Pacific Citizen newspaper (ISSN: Lona Loudon, a student intern from the University of Utah, just started tion, and with it, its rich history. 0030-8579) is published semi-monthly working in the JACL D.C. office. She joins Shirley Tang, the JACL fuouye The CCLPEP grant will fund the effort to digitize the P.C. between (except once in December and January) by the Japanese American Fellow, and Ide Viriya, a part-time intern from the University of Maryland. 1936-1943, a tumultuous period in the lives of JAs. Issues of the P. C. Citizens League. The D.C. staff recently attended a conference hosted by the Asian Pacific during that time period will be digitized and placed online at Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), a national health policy organ- \ www.pacificcitizen.org for readers like you to read and research. .: JACl ............................................................ ~ ........ 1765 Sutter SI. See MORVPage 13 San FranCiSCO, CA 94115 JACl President: larry Oda SPRING CAMPAIGN National Director: Floyd Mori Pc. BOARD OF DIRECTORS I • P.C.: Support the Spring Campaign Margie Yamamoto, chairperson; Paul Niwa, EDC; Lisa Hanasono, MDC; By NAOMI OREN INSIDE Kathy Ishimoto, CCDC; Judith Aono, NCWNPDC; Justine Kondo, Recently, I was watching correspondent Jason Jones PNWDC; Jeff ltami, IDC; Ted Namba, on '''The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" visiting the PSWDC; Naomi Oren, Youth New York TImes offices and his mterview with execu­ tive editor Bill Keller and assistant managing editor SUBSCRIBE Richard L. Berke. Although '''The Daily Show" is not Get a one-year subscription to the a "real" news show, Jones ridiculed the TImes as if the Pacific Citizen newspaper at highly respected newspaper headquarters were a relic www,pacificcitizen.org or call (800) 966-6157 from the past. He labeled Keller as "the last of a dying ' breed." He even blurted that only his grandmother ADVERTISE would enjoy newsprint. To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, Many of us have heard it and others have seen it. The Los Angeles TImes call (800) 966-6157 or e-mail: cut roughly 300 jobs and reduced its news coverage to cut costs. N.Y. TImes [email protected] plans to eliminate about 100 newsroom jobs this year. With ad revenues for PHOTO: ELIZABETH KIM newspapers replaced by free online listing sites like Craigslist, not only have LEGAL mainstream newspapers been forced to go smaller in size but its content has Praying for Laura and Euna No part of this publication may be repro­ downsized as well. JACLers respond to the news of the APA journalists' fate. duced without the express permiSSion of the Pacific Citizen. Newsprint may be a disappearing form of receiving news but the Pacific Citizen doesn't have to go that way. Personally, I love feeling the newsprint Befriending Heroes Reuniting Families Editorials, news and the opinions expressed by columnists other than the between my fingers as I tum the pages of the P.c. to read abOut the ''Prop. 8 The Hardwick sisters count many APA lawmakers, groups push for 442nd veterans as frie(lds. » Page 3 immigration reform. »Page 10 national JACl president or national Fallout" or "Mixed-race Patients Struggle to Find Marrow Donors". I can't director do not necessarily reflect JACL help but think that there is a sense of legitimacy, of feeling the hard work the Saving Angel Island A Belated Honor policy. Event and products advertised in APA groups fight to keep the state park the Pacific Citizen do not carry the See ORENlPage 13 Taky Kimura, a friend of Bruce Lee, implicit endorsement of the JACL or this open and its history alive. » Page 4 finally gets his diploma. » Page 11 publication. We reserve the right to edit JACL Nat'l Board News articles. Missed the June 12-13 meeting? Catch Help the Pacific Citizen continue its award-winning coverage. up on ali the news, » Page 5·6 '. JACL MEMBERS BONUS: Adonation of $150 or more makes you eligible to sail Change of Address away on a dream cruise! A New Beginning Columnist Peter Shigeki Frandsen If you've moved, please For faster service, donate online: WWW.PACIFICCfTlZEli.ORG send new information starts a new !ife chapter, » Page 8 I to: Q$50 0$100 Voucher donated by : National JACL National JACL : New Media Filmmakers Honoring Akaka 1765 Sutter SI. .'~ty.. 0$150 OOther ____ I • •• ( ,~, Credit Union , More APAs are making high quality JACL will honor the Hawaii lawmaker at San Francisco, CA ~ . www.jaclcu.com :, films for the Web. »Page 8 its September gala. » Page 11 94115 NAME: " , Allow 6 weeks for address changes. ADDRESS: RULES AND RESTRICTIONS: ALSO ON " www.pacificcitizen.org CITY: avoid interruptions in' delivery, please STATE: ZIP: Pacificcitizen.or your postmas­ TELlEMAIL: tMy Re.' to include periodi· cals in your change MAIL TO: PACIRC CITIZEN, 250 E. RRST STREET, SUITE Download this issue now. Browse bonus pho-- of address (USPS 301, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 Read at your leisure, los from this issue. Form 3575) ~-------------~--------------------------- PACIFIC iI CrnZEN TOP STORIES JUNE 19-JULY 2, 2009 3 A .Friendsl:1ip With Heroes Janet Hardwick Brown (pictured, far left) and Susan Hardwick with 442nd veteran Art Iwasaki at a recent veterans reunion. Iwasaki's sons had approached the Hardwicks to introduce them to their father who was a part of the rescue of the 'Lost Battalion.' Susan (above) with the 'Note of Heartfelt Thanks' the ·sisters left at the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington, D.C. more than two years ago. At the time, it was their only way of thanking the JA soldiers who had rescued their father during World War II. Three years ago the Hardwick sisters set out on as well." and the 100th Battalion are the most decorated unit for its size a journey to find the 442nd soldiers who saved Sgt. Hardwick passed away in 1972 at the age of 51 before and length of service in U.S. military history. their father during WWll. Now they count he was able to personally thlffik the 442nd. He had always Many of these men chose to fight even while their families many of these men as their closest friends. wanted to let them know that because of their heroics he was were being held in internment ~amps. But even though they are able to return to Indiana to see his two daughters grow up and called heroes, the 442nd veterans who returned from the battle­ By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM enjoy 28 more years of marriage with his love Pat. Now, Janet fields ~e humble, preferring to remember their buddies who Executive Editor and Susan are passing on that message. didn't return home to their families. It was over two and a half years ago that the Hardwick sis­ Jim Yamashita, 85, is no different. The Hardwicks' "expres­ Editor's Note: In February 2007 the Pacific Citizen ran li ters left a note of thanks to the 442nd soldiers at the National sion of gratitude has been extra ordinary. I try to imagine the story about the Hardwicks and their quest to find the 442nd vet­ Japanesy American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, echoes of their voices are being heard by the gallant young men erans. We recently revisited the sisters to see where their jour~ D.C. At the time, the sisters did not have any other way of con­ who went down while saving the~e trapped men," he said. ney has taken them. tacting them. In their quest to find their personal heroes, the Hardwicks Shortly afterwards, their s~ory ran in the Pacific Citizen . have been embraced by the children and grandchildren of the Penny Webster, 44, had been trying to call her mother all day newspaper and before long they were receiving e-mails and 442nd vets.