I hope this unusually warm, wet, cool and hot weather has not affected you too much. But as Washingtonians, we should be accustomed to the unusual.

JAVA took part officially in the national observance of Memorial Day at the Arlington National Cemetery amphitheater along with the other organization colors. Joe Ichiuji carried the national flag and Grant Hirabayashi the JAVA colors, which were proudly displayed in front of the amphitheater during the ceremony along with the other organizations' colors. Phil Ishio and Norman Ikari were also members of the JAVA color guard. This was the first time that a Nikkei veterans organization was present with the colors at this ceremony at which the President, his cabinet, and other national dignitaries observed Memorial Day. It was heartening to see many JAVA members also attending the JACL observance of Memorial Day at the Columbarium on Sunday, 27 May.

Plaques recognizing the key roles played by those who worked so hard to bring the idea of a national memorial to the Japanese American experience in WWII to fruition were presented by the President of JAVA during the gala dinner reception on June 30 at the Regency Hotel. Those receiving the honor were Tom Masamori, President of the Go-For-Broke National Veterans Association which originated the concept of a memorial (Flo Miyahara accepted the plaque for Tom who passed away recently), Judge Bill Marutani and Rear Adm. Mel Chiogioji, Chairman Emeritus and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Memorial; and Cherry Tsutsumida, the Executive Director of the Board. These individuals were honored for their tenacity of purpose and dedication to the completion of the Memorial through many years of fund-raising and a myriad of difficult problems.

One of the most gratifying developments for the Nikkei community was the making of a quilt depicting the WWII experiences of the evacuation of Japanese Americans from their homes on t he West Coast and the remarkable military exploits of the members of he 100th Bn/442nd RCT and the MIS. This quilt was displayed prominently in the dining hall where the grand dinner was held on the occasion of the official opening of the National Japanese American Memorial. The students who made the quilt were inspired by their teacher, Leila Meyerratkin, who described the Japanese American experience during the war to her class. The initial reaction of the students was one of derision and anti-Japanese comments such as "We nuked them," but after listening to their teacher's story, they were so impressed that they decided to make a quilt to portray the trials and accomplishments of the Japanese Americans.

The quilt was made entirely by students with money they raised washing cars and working after school hours. Various aspects of the Japanese American experience are depicted in unique and original ways on the quilt by the students. JAVA members Grant Ichikawa and Dave Buto, among others, worked many hours to help bring the quilt to Washington and finance the transportation and lodging for Ms. Meyerratkin and her students. Grant, in addition to handling the logistics for the students, took care of the difficult job of getting the quilt hung up against the wall in the dining hall of the hotel.

There has been a tremendous response on the part of Nisei veterans and others throughout the country to support this project. Contributions sent to JAVA will be forwarded to the Indiana middle school authorities after deductions for expenses incurred in its transportation and for that of the students have been taken care of. Mike Okusa, our JAVA treasurer, will have a complete accounting of the donations received and their disbursement which will be reported in the next JAVA newsletter.

In answer to requests by the students that a Japanese American veteran to come and talk to them, I drove with my wife to LaFayette, Indiana, to spend a whole day with four different classes and to observe and talk with volunteers who came after regular class hours to work on the quilt. These students came of their own free will. It certainly renewed our faith in the younger generation of America. Ms. Meyerratkin is a most remarkable teacher. She was presented with a plaque of appreciation at the dinner for her work in inspiring the students. A check for $1,000 from JAVA was presented to her to defray the cost of transporting the quilt.

On the occasion of the official opening of the National Japanese American Memorial, the documentary on the MIS, "Uncommon Courage," was shown to an overflow audience of more than 200. The documentary was written and produced by Gayle Yamada, the daughter of JAVA member Gordon Yamada. It took 20 months to complete and involved the interviewing of numerous MIS veterans throughout the country. It is one of the most thoroughly researched and authoritative works on the MIS. A comment by Peter Jennings of ABC appears as an introduction. Ken Kashiwahara, the well-known TV reporter, was the master of ceremonies. Following the showing a panel consisting of Peter Okada, Warren Tsuneishi, Grant Hirabayashi, Gordon Yamada, Joe Ichiuji and Phil Ishio answered questions and added their own comments. Little in the way of a documentary on the MIS alone has been done before, and the questions asked indicated that the audience, which included not only the Nisei veterans but members of such organizations as the National Military Intelligence Association and the Military Order of the World Wars, indicated considerable interest in and desire for more information about the Nisei MIS service in the Pacific War. We are grateful to Ms. Yamada for this excellent documentary and hope that it will be given wide showing throughout the country so that the MIS will finally receive its due recognition.

The opening of the 2001 Salute to Veterans is drawing near. We have sent notices during the past seven months about this important event in Los Angeles sponsored by the Japanese American National Museum and the veterans associations of Southern California and we would like to see the local Washington area veterans and families well represented. This should be one of the last, if not the last, occasion for Nisei veterans to gather for a reunion. If you have not sent in your application, there is still plenty of time. Registration forms are available at (301) 460-0401.

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Eighth Grade students from LaFayette, IN stole the show at a gala dinner marking the official opening of the National Japanese American Memorial on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C..

Nine students and their teacher from Sunnyside and Tecumseh Middle Schools of LaFayette along with a huge 19-by 41-feet quilt honoring Japanese American veterans of World War II were the center of attraction as Nikkei political and civic leaders met for a gala banquet following the opening.

The quilt, which covered an entire wall of the banquet hall and then some, is hung with 120,000 tassels, each hand-made tassel representing the approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans internees of the barbed wire enclosed "Relocation Centers" of WWII. The nine students and their teacher, Ms. Leila Meyerratken, represented the hundreds of students of the two schools and their parents who worked on the project. Few, if any, of the students at the two schools are of Japanese ancestry.

Ms. Meyerratken , a recipient earlier of a $35,000 Christa McAuliffe Foundation award which she could have used in any way she wanted such saving it for her daughter's college education or fixing her house, instead used that money to finance the making of the tapestry and its tassels.

Hanging the quilt was a project by itself. The hotel had nothing to support the quilt from the ceiling so six stands 17 feet high had to be made and for hanging the quilt a collage of lawyers, doctors, university professors, computer specialists and other volunteers pitched in.

Some $7,500 in voluntary contributions were sent to JAVA but the cost of transporting and displaying the quilt and having it trucked back to LaFayette was only an estimated $4,000. A small contingency fund will be kept by JAVA but the remainder is being sent back to LaFayette for helping fund possible future displays of the quilt.

The quilt can be seen on JAVA's website: www.javadc.org.

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(Editor's note: Grant Ichikawa, unofficial honcho of the many volunteers who helped bring and put up the quilt, has sent letters of thanks for donations and for "the labor of love" which went into the display of the quilt.)

Two non-JAVA members topped the list of those who donated funds for transporting and displaying the quilt. They were Seiko Oshiro from Minnesota, who contributed $1,000, and Harry Akune of Los Angeles who sent in $600.

Others who contributed $500 each were Ken Iseri, Dr. Raymond Murakami, Toshiko Nishida, Mike Okusa, and Julia Kuroda. Sus Toyoda and Sho Nomura, both of Los Angeles, contributed $400 and $300 respectively. Paul Tani, Dr. Henry Abe of New York, and Chiyoko Hoshide contributed $200 each; other contributors included Dr. James Furukawa, Maggie Ikeda, Grant Hirabayashi, Hisao Matsumoto, Joe Ichiuji, Dye Ogata of Vallejo, CA, Dr. Wayne Minami, Allen Meyer of Chicago, Hank Wakabayashi, Terry Shima, Warren Tsuneishi, Jack Tashiro, Kintaro Hamashige, Mary Toda, Arthur Kaneko, Fred Murakami, Calvin Ninomiya, Richard Yamamoto and Kenneth Williams of Silver Spring, MD.

Many of the contributions came after "Wake Up Call" letters were sent by Paul Tani to approximately 80 JAVA members who do not have e-mail. Volunteers who gave their "labor of love" in assembling the stands for displaying the quilt, taking down the quilt after the dinner, and disassembling the stand included Vic Abe and his two daughters Vicki and Verna, David Asai, Dr. Wayne and Arlene Minami, Paul Tani, John Tagami, John Kiyonaga, David Buto, Gene Thompson, Frank Nekoba, and Bryan Ichikawa. Larry Shaw of LaFayette made the rods and trucked the quilt from and back to LaFayette.
Those who helped transport Ms. Meyerratken and her students to and from the airport were Grant Hirabayashi, Jack Tashiro, David Buto and Grant Ichikawa. Shiho Thompson was the main contact for coordinating the events with the memorial foundation while Sam Chu Lin of Fox News organized the various photo sessions.

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Memorial services for and the dedication of a monument to Japanese Americans killed or missing in action during the Korean War were held last May 15 before ranking Korean and U.S. government and military officials and relatives of the dead.

The black granite monument, with the names of 247 Nikkei who gave up their lives carved on its polished surface below the American and Korean flags, stands amid other similar monuments in the hills at Imjin-gak, Paju City in Kyonggi-do, a few miles south of the demilitarized zone on the still divided peninsular country.

Dedication remarks were made by Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamoto, Medal of Honor winner for action during the war; General Russel L. Honore, Commanding General of the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division; Dal Yong Son, Mayor of Paju City; Kap-chong Chi, chairman of the UN Korean War Allies Assoc.; Charge d'Affaires Edmond J. Revere of the U.S. Embassy, and Col. Henry Furuya of the Japanese American Korean War Veterans (JAKWV).

JAKWV Vice-President Edward M. Nakata and Korean War Memorial Committee Chairman was master of ceremony, while JAKWV's President Minoru Tomai opened the ceremonies with Chaplain Sam Seno giving the invocation and benediction.

The monument was unveiled by Yeiki Oshiro, Herbert Ogasawara, Hideo Sasaki and Alley Watada, family members or next of kin of those who died. Honored guests included Philippine Ambassador Janito P. Jarasa, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Turkish Embassy Cinar Ergin, Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama of the Japanese embassy, ROK Maj. Gen. Dong Ho Kim and Brig. Gen. Huh Kyo Yull, and delegates and officials from Kyonggi-do Province and Paju City.

The 247 Nikkei who lost their lives were among more than 3,500 Japanese Americans who served in the Korean War.

The monument in Imjin-gak is the second such monument established through the efforts of the JAKWV with support from the Japanese American community. The first stands on the grounds of the Japanese American and Community Center's Veterans Memorial Court in Los Angeles.

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(Editor's Note: during the dedication ceremony, Alley Watada (PhD), who lost a

The monument is in memory of the 247 Japanese Americans killed in action; however, the monument is also in memory of many Japanese American soldiers wounded from their heroic action during the Korean War. Some of those Purple Heart veterans are among us at this gathering today.

The 247 heroic US soldiers listed on the monument were only about 20 years of age when they lost their lives. They never had a chance to participate in family activities as an adult, which is very sad. They are truly missed by their families and friends. At family gatherings of these soldiers, we have many things to talk about with siblings; however, even after 50 years, we still reminisce about our lost ones and truly miss them.

Mothers of these soldiers suffered the most when these soldiers went into the military service. In our family of 12 children, we had family members serving in the military during World War II, the Korean and the Vietnam Wars, and I noted how my mother suffered as we left home for the military service. Her heart, like all other mothers', ached with concern over our safety and return. My parents received the dreadful telegram in early 1951, stating that their son Andrew was killed on January 11, 1951 while serving with the 7th Division Intelligence Detachment of the U.S. Army. The news was devastating to the family and my mother never recovered from the loss of our brother Andrew. When she was 86 years of age, she told me that she had in her heart, an empty feeling and loneliness for Andrew throughout her life. I believe all mothers of those killed or missing in action suffered similarly and had an empty feeling throughout their lives for the lost ones. I am certain my father, like all other fathers, also suffered emotionally; however, my father, as an Issei, did not express his emotional feelings to us.

Families of the soldiers listed on the monument are grateful and find it most appropriate that this memorial monument stands here in South Korea, the country where they lost their lives. The monument will be a vivid reminder to all tourists, particularly those from South Korea, that Japanese Americans fought heroically and valiantly in the Korean War where many were wounded, killed or missing in action. I emphasize tourists from South Korea, because I have several friends and colleagues here in South Korea, born after the war, who were not aware that Japanese Americans were part of the United Nations Forces in the Korean War.

On behalf of all the families and friends of Japanese Americans killed or missing in action in the Korean War, I wish to thank the Board of Directors and members of the Japanese American Korean War Veterans for establishing this memorial monument and thank the South Korean government and regional officials, particularly Mayor So for giving permission to place this memorial monument at this site.

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…Two brothers, Hiroshi and Isamu Tanabe. The Tanabes survived two wars -- the great war abroad; a dishonorable battle waged at home…

Isamu (Sam) served with the celebrated 442nd Regiment, an all-Nisei company, which fought in Europe and suffered enormous casualties. Though there was never any thread of evidence to the contrary, the 442nd indisputably proved, with blood, sacrifice and acts of heroism, Japanese American loyalty in World War II.

Hiroshi (Harold) served in WWII, too. He slogged through the malarial jungles of New Guinea, trying to flush out desperate Imperial troops. He had the unenviable job of poking his G.I. nose inside the dark, coral caves and declaring, in so many words, in perfect Japanese, with polite forms, "Guys, why don' t you come out and surrender with your hands up?"

For his efforts, Hiroshi earned a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a focused hatred of the enemy. Once a Japanese sniper had PFC Tanabe dead in his sights.

Hiroshi's military valor in WWII isn't as widely known as Isamu's, but it was no less valuable. He was never awarded a unit badge, because his unit never officially existed. Hiroshi served in a hush-hush group called Military Intelligence Service, whose exploits during the war weren't declassified until 1972.

The 6,000 Nisei soldiers in the MIS, all individually recruited and trained at a secret base in Minnesota, were dispatched to the Pacific Theater, where they translated captured documents, interrogated Japanese POWs, intercepted radio transmissions, even rode on bombing runs over Japan, ears perked to pick up any ground defense chatter.

And when the war was over, MIS participated in the occupation of Japan, in both demilitarizing the country and rebuilding the ruined economy. No less than Gen. Douglas MacArthur saluted the MIS, saying its harvest of intelligence shortened the war by two years. But its work remained locked in files, without official acknowledgement or public appreciation.

Now comes a documentary called "Uncommon Courage: Patriotism and Civil Liberties," which, for the first time ever, explores the vital role of the MIS. The documentary also probes the painful paradox of Nisei (native born, or second generation) loyally fighting an ancestral relation abroad, while family members were held in internment camps back home….

The documentary … is ultimately a tale of loyalty, injustice, vindication.

But Hiroshi Tanabe has his own story to tell…

######

JAVA's "fearless foursome" recounted their WWII experiences before scores of listeners with the roar of WWII vintage bombers and low-flying (probably illegally low) fighters accompanied by the explosive sounds of artillery, machine guns, rifles and other automatic weapons in mock combat ringing in their ears.

The four, Joe Ichiuji, Norman Ikari, and Phil and Connie Ishio, were on the program for the 11th Annual World War II Commemorative Weekend June 8 - 10 at the airfield in Reading, PA, the third time the JAVA team has taken part in the event. It is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum.

The three ex-GI's spoke of pre- and post-Pearl Harbor days as Japanese Americans before audiences of 75 to more than 100 visitors each day in the Briefing Tent, then fielded countless questions while Connie monitored a JAVA display of posters and photographs and gave moral support.

(A highlight in the two earlier appearances was Grant Hirabayashi's description of life as a Ranger with Merrill's Marauders in the Burma Theater, but Grant, unfortunately, was unable to attend this latest gathering.)

Phil had numerous nostalgic conversations with veterans of the war from every service in the Pacific. Joe, who helped liberate inmates from a Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, was greeted by Dr. Arnold Rist, a veteran of the 20th Armored Division who also encountered Jewish inmates from a Dachau sub-camp.

A special visitor to JAVA's display was Art Kitagawa of Ardmore, PA, who served with Company M, then the 2nd Replacement Group of the all-Nisei 100th Combat Battalion.

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Members of JAVA's Speakers Bureau took another significant step forward in educating local school areas' educators recently on Japanese American history by appearing at Prince William County's Summer Multicultural Institute at Potomac High School in Dumfries, VA.

At a two-day session, the group -- Carol Izumi, Jean Kariya, Yukio Kawamoto and Norman Ikari -- spoke to four difference audiences of teachers, educators and school program administrators not only of the wartime camps and the part the Nikkei played in World War II, but of the earlier history of Asian immigrants in America.

Following their presentations, many of the teachers expressed interest in including a Japanese American portion in their history and social sciences curricula.

The Institute's program this year drew speakers and participants not only from Prince William County, but from other school systems, giving wide dissemination of the

various multicultural subject matters.

In her matchless style, Carol Izumi, who took time off from her heavy academic schedule at the George Washington Law School, laid the historical foundation for the later JAVA speakers by covering the early Japanese and Chinese immigrants, the developing war clouds of the 1930's and 1940's, the anti-Asian prejudice and discrimination and the ultimate evacuation of the Nikkei from the West Coast after Pearl Harbor.

She also discussed the legal implications of the evacuation, something covered in her new book, Race, Rights and Reparations, Law and the Japanese American Internment.

Jean spoke of her incarceration in different camps and her post-war life. Yukio gave a fascinating account of his Pacific War experiences while Norman reviewed his combat days with the 442nd RCT.

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Editor's note: JAVA's Speakers Committee remains busy spreading the word

on who, what and why we are. The following includes various appearances in May and June by JAVA and JACL speakers:

-- May 9: Yuka Fujikura and Joe Ichiuji before EPA employees in Crystal City about AJA camp experiences and AJA military partcipation.

-- May 10: Writer and Harvard graduate Bom Kim interviewed Joe Inchiuji, Norman Ikari and Kelly Kuwayama about their experiences with the 442nd RCT during WWII.

-- May 17: Doris Hoshide, Joe Ichiuji and Norman Ikari appeared before 10th-12th graders of the Barrie School in Silver Spring; the video "Days of Waiting" was shown.

-- May 22: Joe Ichiuji was interviewed on his wartime experiences by Cheryl Lu-ien Tan of the Baltimore Sun.

-- May 23: Yuka Fujikura and Norman Ikari addressed Terri Hata Stowe's group at the EPA in Crystal City; the video "Days of Waiting" was shown.

-- May 25: Joe Ichiuji was interviewed by Doug McKelway of NBC Channel 4 for Joe's reaction to the film, "Pearl Harbor."

-- May 27: Phil Ishio and Norman Ikari were interviewed by Bill Prasaad of Fox Channel 5 on their reaction to the film "Pearl Harbor."

-- May 31: Grant Hirabayashi and Norman Ikari were invited to comment on the film "Beyond Barbed Wire" at a showing of the video at the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs in Crystal City. The invitation came from Terri Hata Stowe, whose mother Yuri Hata told about her camp experience.

Kristine Minami of the JACL coordinates JAVA's speaking engagements -- handles requests, makes the contacts and is the intermediary for press and TV interviews, and, among other things, successfully pushed the late Senator Spark Matsunaga's name for a Germantown school.

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The JACL Education Committee has invited anyone interested in participating in the Speakers Bureau's activities to attend a workshop 2 - 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 at the Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, 6601 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD. The Bureau is composed of volunteers who talk to students at all levels, teachers, churches, government agencies and civic and community groups in the greater Washington, D.C. area to educate them on the Japanese American experience. Anyone interested in attending the workshop should contact Jean Kariya at (301) 231-8062 or jkariya@aol.com, or Fumi Nishi (301) 871-7289 or hhnishi@aol.com.

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JAVA members have been invited to attend two events in August honoring their military services to the nation, the first in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 5, and the second in Honolulu, August 11.

In Los Angeles, the veterans of WWII, the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars are invited to march in the "SALUTE 2001" parade celebrating their contributions in service to the country and to hail Japanese American Congressional Medal of Honor recipients as well as all who may have died in battle.

The parade, part of the 61st Annual Nisei Week in Little Tokyo, starts at the corner of Third Street and Central Avenue in downtown Los Angeles at 4 p.m. Participants are not required to register, but are asked to fill out and send in the attached form to estimate the expected number of participants.

In Honolulu, the Military Intelligence Service Veterans of Hawaii have scheduled a luncheon at the Hawaii Convention Center to mark the award of a Presidential Unit Citation for the key part they played in the Pacific during World War II.

The form for those wishing to attend the MIS event also is attached at the end of this newsletter.

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D-DAY MUSEUM TO DEDICATE PACIFC WING; MIS WAR ROLE CAN BE SPOTLIGHTED

The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans has picked next December 7 to dedicate a new Pacific wing during a weekend of festivities and is seeking artifacts and memorabilia of World War II in that part of the world.

The wing will honor veterans of the Pacific invasion forces and observers said the museum's quest offered veterans of the MIS an opportunity to spotlight the key role Nisei played in the Allied victory in the Pacific.

The dedication will be part of a three-day program (December5-8) during which the Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs and the three armed services will appear. Veterans of the Pacific war will have the opportunity to talk to various news media reporters and visitors to give a first hand account of their experiences.

Also featured will be a parade through the city and Pacific War films including documentaries on the MIS.

######

Benjamin Dyer, a graduate student in U.S. History at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, has appealed to JAVA for first-hand accounts from Nikkei WWII veterans of on their experiences during the war.

He is writing his Master's thesis on "just what motivated men of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service to fight so bravely and so honorably while the United States was turning its back on them."

Though he has found several key motivators such as the desire to prove themselves as loyal and true Americans, their heritage and their bond with each other, he said he is having great difficulty locating primary sources such as letters and diaries which reflect these feelings.

His E-mail address is: dyer97@hotmail.com or bdyer@brandeis.edu.

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The newly appointed head of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress' American Folklife center stresses need to collect and preserve oral histories and documents from America's war veterans.

Ellen McCulloch, director of the project, said on her appointment that "With 1,500 veterans dying every day, their stories die with them. We need to capture these memories so that future generations may learn from those who served."

All major veterans service organizations have been invited to particpate in this first national collection of video- and audio-taped and written accounts, as well as letters, diaries and photographs from war veterans and those who support them.

JAVA members who wish to add their stories to this national effort can get information on how they can participate at www.loc.gov/folklife/vets.

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Place: Little Tokyo, check-in corner of Third St. & Central Ave.; Time -- by 3 p.m.

Dress: Military cap, white upper and dark trousers.

Send form to: Hitoshi Sameshima, Parade Chair.

244 South San Perdo St.,

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(Phone: 213-687-7163, ext. 346; Fax 213-687-6510)

1.) Contact Information:

Name: __________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________

2.) Association (Please circle)

World War II Korean War Vietnam War Gulf War

Are you responding as an individual or for a unit? If unit, please list and indicate total number.

Unit/War____________________________________________

Number of participants_____________________________

Request vehicle transportation in lieu of marching. Yes, number________. No____

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Name:________________________ Spouse: ____________________

Guests:___________________________________________________

$35 per person X number______ = $___________________

Send checks payable to M.I.S. Veterans Club of Hawaii, P.O. Box 3021, Honolulu, HI 96802.

Names of Persons Attending (10 per table)

___________________________________ ____________________________________
___________________________________ ____________________________________

___________________________________ ____________________________________

___________________________________ ____________________________________

___________________________________ ____________________________________

GENERAL'S TABLE -- $3,000 DONATION

COLONEL'S TABLE -- $1,000 DONATION

FOR INFORMATION, CALL: ROBERT K. HONKE (808) 373-4146 or IWAO YOKOOJI (808) 259-7566.

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