Remembrance
A PAC I F I C H I S TO R I C PA R K S P U B L I C AT I O N SUMMER 2017
President & CEO Ray L’Heureux
Board of Directors Neil A. Sheehan, Chairman Alan Mattson, Vice-Chairman Clif Purkiser, Secretary Jeff Bell, Treasurer James M. Boersema Noel W. Bragg Giorgio Caldarone Alma M. Grocki Colette J. Higgins Patricia A. Lucas Mark Y. Matsunaga Alby L. Saunders George E. Sullivan James E. VanDerKamp Kwai S. “Sunny” Young
Directors Emeritus James K. Sylva Geoffrey M. White
Legal Adviser Joachim P. Cox
Editor Elaine Simon esimon@pacifichistoricparks.org
Editorial Advisers Gail Ann Chew Chandra Kim Edean Saito
Contents
94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd. Waipahu, HI 96797 www.pacifichistoricparks.org (808) 954-8726 Toll-free: (888) 485-1941
Chairman’s Message....................................................3 First Impressions from Diamond Head’s Newest Park Ranger.............................................4 Welcome Home, Hōkūle`a...........................................5 Learning About River Ecosystems..........................6 Active Trails: Åmot yan Nengkanno’.........................7 The Historic Chief Petty Officer Bungalows........8 PHP Visits Elementary Schools on Tinian and Rota to Donate Books.................................10 Donation of Artifacts Preserve Our Legacy.......11 Pearl Harbor Gram: Celebrating the Life of a Pearl Harbor Survivor.....................................12 William Henry “Bill” Muehleib (1922-2017).......13 Prayer for the Dead....................................................13 PHSA Report of Death............................................13 You Make it Happen!.................................................14
AT PEARL HARBOR — We were happy to share Pearl Harbor in virtual reality with a group of children, ages 11-12, during a recent Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) field trip at World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. Our virtual reality tours show the attack on Battleship Row, the USS Arizona the day before she was attacked and the USS Arizona Memorial. To learn more about our VR tours, visit our website, or search for “Pearl Harbor VR Tours” in iTunes or Google Play. Photo by Ricardo Babauta
Mission Statement
Pacific Historic Parks supports the National Park Service through research, preservation, restoration, fund development, education and interpretive programs of WWII in the Pacific and other Pacific historic sites. Remembrance is published four times a year as a benefit to members of Pacific Historic Parks. 2 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017
ON THE COVER — Pearl Harbor Survivor Alfred Rodrigues provides details on the attack on Pearl Harbor to Maxwell Bestvina of Illinois, age 16, on the USS Arizona Memorial. The tour was made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Wish children, ranging in age from four to 20 years old, come to visit Pearl Harbor from all across the United States. In fiscal year 2015-2016, Pacific Historic Parks was given the privilege of fulfilling the wishes of 188 children and their families. Archive photo.
Chairman’s Message As a busy summer season passes by, we
pause for a moment to share another edition of Remembrance with you. The theme of this issue is the important work of interpretation and education at our five parks throughout the Pacific. At its core, interpretation and education represent the human connection of storytelling, combining history and science, that strengthen the bonds between each of our parks and the public. As defined by the National Park Service, “Interpretation is driven by a philosophy that charges interpreters to help audiences care about park resources so they might support the care for park resources. Interpretation establishes the value of preserving park resources by helping audiences discover the meanings and significance associated with those resources.” Education and interpretive programs are a vital part of our mission at Pacific Historic Parks, and as you’ll learn through the stories in this issue, our mission is achieved through the thoughtful and compassionate generosity of our many supporters like you. You also enable the innovation of new resources, such as the virtual reality app of the USS Arizona Memorial, to be introduced, sharing history with not only the younger visitor but with people around the world who might not have the opportunity to experience Pearl Harbor in person.
Thank You
NIOC Hawaii! We are so thankful for our military volunteers who fly flags on the USS Arizona Memorial on major holidays. Pictured here is the group from NIOC Hawaii, based at Schofield Barracks. They flew more than 400 flags on Independence Day. The flags are then sold to raise funds for research, preservation, restoration, education and interpretation at World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. Photo by Chris Castaneda
Inside this edition, we are proud to share news and highlights of the successful education and interpretive programs happening at our parks throughout the Pacific. Learn about the chief petty officer bungalows on Ford Island and what is currently being done to preserve these significant structures (formerly family homes) located within a stone’s throw of historic Battleship Row. Read about the experiential learning programs on Guam that are educating youth about environmental stewardship and caring for park resources. Meet the new interpretive park ranger at Diamond Head who is helping visitors from around the world understand why Leahi is unique and culturally significant. Learn how artifacts, items of historical significance (including photographs), help fulfill our mission of preserving and presenting our rich military history, and how you can make a lasting impact through a planned gifting arrangement with The Legacy Society (page 15). We thank you for your support in preserving the legacy and heritage of the Greatest Generation and helping us keep history alive for future generations to Remember, Honor and Understand.
Neil A. Sheehan Chairman
First Impressions From Diamond Head’s Newest Park Ranger BY EMILY HAUCK, DIAMOND HEAD INTERPRETIVE TECHNICIAN, HAWAII STATE PARKS
When I moved to Hawaii in 2016, Diamond
Head State Monument was one of the first places I hiked. Like most visitors, I was drawn to her majesty. She is an enigmatic figure that casts her long, magnificent shadow over Waikiki. Leahi acts as an unspoken representation of the Hawaiian culture, military history and geological stages on Oahu. Always present. The more locals I talk to, the more I realize that people who live here have forgotten Leahi exists. To them, she has become another part of the picturesque backdrop we take for granted daily. This is extremely sad to hear, because, from what I can tell, most people who visit Diamond Head leave with a sense of peace, gratitude and unity. For those of you who remember your last Diamond Head hike, the trail up to the summit is essentially a time machine. There is evidence everywhere of the 300,000-year-old explosive eruption that formed the tuff cone of Leahi as you hike your way through geological phases. Due to erosion and heavy foot traffic in the park, the trail does have some wear and tear that adds to the authenticity of the experience. Built in 1908 as part of Oahu’s coastal defense system, the hiking trail snakes along the crater edge and ultimately rewards visitors with stunning views of Waikiki, downtown Honolulu and surrounding valleys. It never fails to take my breath away — literally, it’s 761 feet above sea level. Now, how did I get lucky enough to call Diamond Head crater my new office? I started my biology career as an undergraduate in Connecticut by spending my spare time interning for a marine-based research laboratory. My bachelor’s degree, however, was in psychology, so you can imagine my parents’ surprise when I went back to school for my master’s in biology, specifically ecology. In 2014, I was suddenly promoted to director of Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory by day and continued my graduate studies at night. A few months into
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my graduate program, I was offered a part-time job as a teacher’s assistant, and I quickly added that to my resume as well. I taught botany and zoology labs while continuing my research and striving toward graduating with a 4.0 GPA on time. In 2015, I finished my master’s after only one and a half years in the program. Then I moved to Florida and, within the next year, was offered a position as a park ranger at Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, N.Y. Today, I am the interpretive technician, or park ranger, at Diamond Head State Monument. As an interpretive park ranger, my purpose is to help visitors understand why Leahi is so unique. I strive Hauck discussed service projects with a potential to establish volunteer at the latest Manu O Ku Festival at Iolani a personal Palace. Photo by Noel Dunn connection between each visitor and this beautiful crater so they may learn to appreciate and ultimately preserve it for future generations. I am just a single piece of an extremely complex machine. I work with interns, maintenance and managers to help the park run smoothly on a daily basis; however, we do need help. If you are looking for a way to give back and get involved in the long-term preservation of this iconic landmark, then join us at Diamond Head for an afternoon of protecting one of Oahu’s most important cultural and natural resources. You can find more information on how to volunteer through the Hawaii State Parks volunteer website at dlnr.ivolunteer.com.
Welcome Home
Hōkūle`a BY MIKI`ALA PESCAIA, INTERPRETIVE PARK RANGER, AND KA`OHULANI MC GUIRE, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, KALAUAPAPA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
Kalaupapa was the last official
port of call on Mālama Honua, a three-year worldwide voyage that culminated with a huge celebratory welcome on Oahu. It was a magical moment when, 41 years after her historic maiden voyage to Tahiti, the Hōkūle`a accompanied by the Hikianalia and the Tahitian canoe Fa`afaite sailed around the point into Awahua Bay at Kalaupapa. The next day they were joined by Maui canoe Mo`okiha and the newly completed Okeanos that was birthed in Aotearoa (New Zealand) just five days before the long return began. The wa`a (canoes) were greeted at the historic Kalaupapa landing with the sound of the pu (conch), traditional chants, protocol exchanges and speeches. Kalaupapa residents and friends had spent several days making lei to present to each of the 80-plus crew members and each wa`a, including a thick 40-foot lei kukui for Hōkūle`a. When the Tahitian crew learned they would be stopping at Kalaupapa, they made a special trip to Orofara Valley, the home of a former Hansen’s disease settlement. There they selected a gift for the Kalaupapa patient community – a pohaku (rock) that they named Mafatu, which means “heart” in Tahitian. It
was a very fitting gift given the similar histories of Orofara and Kalaupapa. Most of the crew slept on the wa`a at night and came on land during the day to help with service projects and engage with the community. Damien Tours owner Gloria Marks provided a free historical tour for the crew members so they could learn about Kalaupapa’s unique history. “It’s for all the community. I really appreciated them being here,” she said. Over the course of their four-day visit, there was much sharing of food, music, stories and laughter. Kalaupapa also was honored to host the leadership of Mālama Honua, master navigators Nainoa Thompson and Bruce Blankenfeld, along with Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley, University of Hawaii President David Lassner, Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott and Okeanos Foundation founder Dieter Paulmann. The visit culminated with a dinner for the crew members hosted by the Kalaupapa community. The closing ceremonies ended the following day with a powerful and moving `awa ceremony before the five wa`a sailed away into the horizon. In the welcome home theme
At top: The Hōkūle`a at Awahua Bay, Kalaupapa (photo by Miki`ala Pescaia). Bottom left: Miki`ala Pescaia receives the pohaku from a Fa`afaite crew member; bottom right: the pohaku, Mafatu (photos by Ka`ohulani Mc Guire).
of Lei Ka`apuni Honua – the lei that encircles the world – Kalaupapa was the last flower strung into this magnificent lei. Hōkūle`a traveled thousands of miles and weathered many storms and precarious situations. She was beat and tired from the long sail up from Tahiti. Coming to rest at Kalaupapa was like having a quiet respite at tutu’s (grandparent’s) house. Finally, Hōkūle`a could exhale and stretch just for a bit before engaging with the crowds of people she had to thank for helping her accomplish this major feat of circumnavigating the globe. Hōkūle`a will be spending the next eight months visiting each community in Hawaii so that everyone, especially the children, will have a chance to learn and spend time with her. REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017 | 5
Learning About River Ecosystems BY KINA-DOREEN GUZMAN LEWIS, EDUCATION COORDINATOR
O
n March 25 and April 1, the third annual River Ranger environmental education program was held. A total of 56 youths registered to participate in this unique experiential learning opportunity. At each of the River Ranger sessions, third and fourth graders learned about freshwater ecosystems at Masso River, located in the Piti Guns unit of War in the Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA). The curriculum objective was for the River Rangers to learn about the importance of our river ecosystems. We emphasized the fact that freshwater resources are limited and that freshwater is essential for human, plant and animal survival. One activity illustrated how precious freshwater is and introduced participants to the rivers and other freshwater resources that we have here on Guam. This activity proved to be effective, because the youths were not aware of how limited clean freshwater actually is. During the river walk, the River Rangers were split up into groups and visited three stations. The first station featured a kick-net that National Park Service employees use to survey freshwater creatures in Masso River. This station was manned by agency partner Brent Tibbatts from the Guam Department of Agriculture. The River Rangers collected creatures like freshwater shrimp and snails and learned about each of them and how they contribute to the river ecosystem. The second station, managed by Anna Simeon of the Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans’ Coral Reef Watershed program, involved walking around the river and learning about native plants and animals that live there as well as invasive plants. During the second session a change had to be made, because the presenter was ill. Another partner, Jane Dia from the Guam Department of Agriculture, talked about native birds that should be living in and around the river; but, because of 6 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017
Top: River Rangers explore Masso River and use hand nets to catch freshwater fish and shrimp (photo by Zachary Taisacan). Middle: River Rangers search for freshwater shrimp and snails (photo by Jazmyn Carlisle). Bottom: River Rangers learn about extinct or endangered native and endemic birds of Guam and their decline due to the invasive brown tree snake, with Jane Dia from the Guam Department of Agriculture (photo by Kina-Doreen Guzman Lewis).
Anna Simeon, from the Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans’ Coral Reef Watershed program, shows the River Rangers native and invasive plants that can be found around Masso River. Photo by Kina-Doreen Guzman Lewis
the invasive brown tree snake, we no longer have those native birds. At the third station, the River Rangers used hand nets to try and catch fish and shrimp. Then our presenters — Pacific Historic Parks Education Coordinator Tanya Sortor and Sean Moran of the University of Guam Sea Grant Program — talked about different freshwater fish and eels that can be found in the river.
The River Ranger environmental education program was largely supported by the maintenance division at WAPA. The maintenance crew, under the direction of Christopher Cruz, cleared the trails prior to the event and even assisted during the program. The 2017 River Ranger sessions were a huge success as seen in the evaluations from the participants and their parents. The following are some of the youth’s responses. One said: “My favorite part about River Ranger was catching snails and shrimp.” Another said: “My favorite part about River Ranger was going in the river and climbing the rope up and down.” Other River Rangers replied that they can help Guam’s freshwater by “not polluting the water with trash,” “not spilling chemicals or other liquids that do not belong” and “by taking short showers.” In an online evaluation sent to parents, all responses indicated that they were very happy with the curriculum. They asked for more sessions and were happy their children got this exposure to a fun and engaging environmental protection program.
Active Trails
Åmot yan Nengkanno’ BY LISA MARIE AGUON, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR/ VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA MEMBER
Pacific Historic Parks (PHP) has collaborated
with the Department of Interior/Volunteers in Service to America (DOI/VISTA) to assist at-risk and underserved communities in our nation, with the mission of engaging the next generation in addressing the concerns and causes of poverty and protecting America’s natural resources, heritage and cultures. War in the Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA) in Guam serves as a sponsoring site for my position as this year’s DOI/ VISTA member. One of the most recent programs I led with WAPA’s Chief of Maintenance Theo Chargualaf was titled “Åmot yan Nengkanno’,” a Chamorro phrase meaning “medicine and food.” At the Asan Beach unit of WAPA, along the trails and walkways are found plant species that traditionally
Group photo of the youth from the DYA Haya Youth Center who participated in Åmot yan Nengkanno’. Photo by Devin Sortor
have been used for medicine (åmot) and food (nengkanno’). This program, held April 4-13, encouraged and educated our youth of the importance many plants hold for island cultural uses in food, medicine and the day-to-day lives of island people across the Pacific. (continued on page 10) REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017 | 7
The Historic Chief Petty Officer Bungalows BY JO FULLER, RESOURCE TECHNICIAN
The U.S. Navy chief petty officer (CPO), known
to all as the chief, holds a revered position as the vital link between officers and enlisted personnel. The chiefs are esteemed for their knowledge as highly proficient technical experts with superb supervising skills in their respective ratings. In the Navy, they say: “When the going gets tough, and the task seems impossible, the call goes out to the chief.� For those few married chiefs stationed at Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor prior to World War II, a limited amount of on-base quarters were available for their families. Five historic homes remain on Belleau Wood Loop, Ford Island, remnants of the the historic CPO neighborhood built nearly 100 years ago. The bungalows, built in the 1920s and 1930s by the Navy, are located along the shoreline of historic Battleship Row, near where the USS Arizona and USS West Virginia were moored on Dec. 7, 1941. These houses were close enough that sailors on board the USS Tennessee bounced potatoes off the roofs of the houses in 1941.1 These military homes were utilized until the 1990s, then sat vacant for nearly 10 years. In 2008, the Navy gave these homes to the National Park Service (NPS) at World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (VALR). 8 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017
Above: The bungalows in 1924 Photo courtesy of the NPS, History Services, VALR
This bungalow neighborhood witnessed families moving in and out every two to three years, children playing in the yards, and aviators and Navy personnel training nearby. The CPO bungalows also created a critical safe place for sailors and families during the attack on Pearl Harbor. These homes stopped shrapnel in its tracks; many of the homes were riddled with shrapnel holes after the attacks.2 The CPO bungalows were 300 yards away from the USS Arizona when she violently exploded. The bungalows protected families from the sites of war and destruction, and they sheltered men, women and children during the attacks. Many sailors swam to shore along Ford Island and took shelter or received aid in these homes. The value of these buildings can be heard in the stories from those who survived as children to the sailors who sought refuge during the air raid. One such story comes from an interview with Davalee Behrens. Her mother, Dixie-Lee Ledford, was just seven years old at the time of the attack. Dixie-Lee and her parents, Vada-Lee and Chief Petty Officer Oscar Ledford, lived in CPO Bungalow No. 28 and were fearful for their lives on
This aerial view of Battleship Row, on Dec. 10, 1941, shows (from left) the USS Arizona, the USS Tennessee with the USS West Virginia sunk alongside and the USS Maryland with the USS Oklahoma capsized alongside. Outlined in red is the CPO neighborhood, where five historic homes remain today. U.S. Navy photo, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command
the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. During the attack, Dixie-Lee and her mother Vada-Lee huddled in a corner of their CPO bungalow hiding behind a wingback chair, waiting to hear word from Chief Ledford.3 Another story comes from an interview with Tom Davey. With his two brothers, mother and grandmother, he waited out the first wave of the attack under mattresses on the floor of their home. Once the first wave of the attack was over, they all headed for Adm. Patrick Bellinger’s residence to take cover in an abandoned gun emplacement, known as the “bunker,” a designated shelter for Navy families on Ford Island.4 VALR is working with the preservation community on Oahu to preserve what remains of the Belleau Wood neighborhood. This year, two of the five historical bungalows will receive emergency stabilization so they can be tented for termite treatment. Additional work will occur at all five historical bungalows: a Cultural Landscape Inventory, Historic Structures Report and Cultural Landscape Treatment Report are being done to document the structures and the neighborhood. These reports will assist VALR and Pacific Historic Parks with restoring these structures to their pre-1941 appearance.
Dwight “Lee” Cobb Chief Petty Officer Bungalows Restoration Fund With his passing in May 2016, a fund was established in memory of Lee Cobb to support the NPS’s efforts to restore the CPO bungalows on Ford Island. Lee was a sailor, at one time a chief petty officer, whose career and retirement were dedicated to the remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Contributions to this significant historic preservation project may be made by donating online at pacifichistoricparks.org, by calling (808) 954-8726, or by completing this form and mailing it in the enclosed envelope.
Part of the mission of the NPS is to conserve historical places. These structures are a part of history that surrounds Ford Island. Each bungalow tells a story both about the naval aviation experience and the attack on Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. These homes are now part of the historical inventory of VALR and will be preserved for future generations — so their story can continue to be told. The CPO bungalows provided shelter in peace, protection from war and a home for many Navy families from the 1930s to the 1990s. They are now in need of your assistance to preserve them so that they can continue to bear witness to their historic past. In doing so, that history can be shared with future generations of visitors who come to visit this National Park Service site. Davalee Behrens (daughter of a civilian survivor), interviewed by Jo Fuller at Nob Hill, Ford Island, Hawaii, Dec. 4, 2016, transcript, USS Arizona Memorial Archives, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 2 Tom Davey (civilian survivor), interviewed by Jo Fuller at Fort DeRussy, Waikiki, Hawaii, Dec. 3, 2016, transcript, USS Arizona Memorial Archives, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 3 Behrens 4 Davey 1
Please make checks payable to Pacific Historic Parks or fill out the credit card portion of the form on the enclosed envelope.
Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone:
Donation Amt.: REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017 | 9
PHP Visits Elementary Schools on Tinian and Rota to Donate Books Education Specialist Jovannalyn Mafnas and Education Manager Jaclyn Balajadia represented Pacific Historic Parks (PHP) in donating 100 copies of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and origami paper to Tinian Elementary School and Sinapalo Elementary School. For the past year, American Memorial Park on Saipan has been sharing the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped near her home. Sadako’s story has made her a symbol of victims of nuclear warfare. The sharing of this story and its connection to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands has
Sinapalo Elementary School vice-principal, teachers and students with their new books and supplies inspired many to work toward a more peaceful world. During the visit, books and supplies were donated and more than 200 students were given presentations about National Parks in the United States, including American Memorial Park. After students read the book, they are asked to fold paper cranes, which American Memorial Park will collect and send to be displayed at the peace park in Hiroshima in late summer in honor of Sadako and World Peace Day.
(continued from page 7)
Program objectives included: • Youth understood the importance of their history, traditions and culture with presentations by WAPA, PHP and community partners. • Youth cultivated awareness on the amount of care and handling the park must ensure in order to properly preserve and conserve historical objects in cultural management that includes but is not limited to learning, inspiring, preserving and conserving. • Youth understood the importance of community stewardship in natural and cultural resource management through science, history and culture. This grant-funded program allowed for multiple partnerships with the community, bringing together participants from the Guam Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) Haya Youth Center with educators from Åmot Farm Inc. and nonprofit Pa’a Taotao Tano’. The youth center’s mission 10 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017
is to “improve the quality of life on Guam for all people by development and implementation of programs and services that promote youth development, decrease juvenile delinquency and status offenses, strengthen the family unit and communities of these juvenile offenders, and protect the public.” Participants from the youth center benefited from the National Park Service’s goal of educating students about environmental stewardship, career opportunities and historical, cultural and traditional aspects of WAPA. The DYA youth worked alongside park rangers to learn about and how to maintain public lands. Åmot Farm Inc. assisted in educating participants on traditional medicinal plants of Guam and other islands. Suruhana Bernice Nelson’s medicinal plant farm at Swamp Road, Dededo, Guam offers tours with a presentation on the cultural, traditional and medicinal plants/herbs. The farm’s mission is to protect and preserve Guam’s native
medicinal plants and perpetuate the Chamorro tradition of healing. Pa’a Taotao Tano’ is a nonprofit cultural organization with a mission to preserve, perpetuate and promote the cultural traditions of indigenous people of Guam and the Marianas through weaving, chanting and dancing. PHP Education Coordinator Kina-Doreen Guzman Lewis gave an educational and informative presentation on invasive/native species on Guam, in partnership with the Guam Department of Agriculture’s Kontra I Kulepbla program. This program raises “public awareness of the problems associated with the brown tree snake and impacts on native birds and other wildlife, and the innovative approaches being applied to combat the invasive species.” Thanks to your generous donations and support, PHP was able to provide lunch to our DYA Haya Youth Center participants during the Åmot yan Nengkanno’ program.
Donations of Artifacts Preserve Our Legacy
BY EDEAN SAITO, SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER, AND SCOTT PAWLOWSKI, CURATOR, WORLD WAR II VALOR IN THE PACIFIC NATIONAL MONUMENT AND HONOULIULI NATIONAL MONUMENT
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World War II touched the lives of nearly
everyone across the world, and its impact has echoed throughout the years and through generations of families. The date that launched the United States into global war, Dec. 7, 1941, proved to be a turning point in history. At the USS Arizona Memorial, we commemorate the attack on Pearl Harbor and the people who died defending our freedom. Since 1980, the National Park Service (NPS) — which operates the Memorial, the Visitor Center and the museum — has ensured the preservation and interpretation of the tangible historical resources associated with the attack. In 2008, President George W. Bush created World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (VALR) to consist of nine historical sites in Hawaii, Alaska and California — including the USS Arizona Memorial. These sites contribute to telling a comprehensive and broad story of the Pacific War, where citizens can expand their understanding of World War II in the Pacific, hone their research and share legacies with younger generations.
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The full story of the Pacific War cannot be told solely by the sites of VALR. The story must also be told with tangible artifacts, such as diaries, memorabilia, personal effects, photographs, letters and books. These items help tell the human side of war.
Citizens like you have donated more than 95 percent of the 60,000-plus artifacts curated by the NPS at VALR. Some of the artifacts need to be encased in an environment that will preserve and protect them when on display, and your monetary donation could be used to acquire these protective display cases.
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How can you help? Key reasons to consider donating heirlooms, artifacts and materials to the NPS include: 1. Your family’s past will enrich our nation’s history. 2. The U.S. government manages artifacts for future generations. Artifacts will be around indefinitely and available for everyone. 3. The NPS, with its partner Pacific Historic Parks, strives to use collections for learning and appreciation. We make our collections available for exhibition, publication, research and education.
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4. Your donation is fully tax deductible. To get a complete understanding of our museum, please read our Scope of Collections Statement, available online at www.nps.gov/valr/learn/ historyculture/preservation.htm. If you are interested in donating, please call the museum curator’s office at (808) 422-3333 and ask for the Donor Information Packet.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1) Nearly 50 letters tell the Pacific Theater experience of Alban Varnado to his parents. 2) USS Arizona crew member Ensign Eppes received permission from his commander to use his personal 8 mm movie camera to document the equator crossing ceremonies and events. This original movie footage was recently donated to us by Eppie Azzarretto. 3) As the Pacific War progressed, it was clear to the Allies that all countries could contribute to the war effort. In 1943, New Zealand trained around 2,000 Tongans who became part of the Tonga Defense Force. 4) Lorey Duffy donated this silver side-handle coffee pot to the USS Arizona Memorial. The object was originally salvaged by diver Joel Aubrey who recovered it from the Ward Room aboard the USS Arizona. 5) This West Virginia name plate is in the middle of being accessioned into VALR’s museum collection. All accepted donations must be accessioned, cataloged and stored properly for future generations. The first step is to establish an object’s provenance and ownership through research, interviews and observation. REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017 | 11
Celebrating the Life of a Pearl Harbor Survivor
The Weatherwax family
BY EDEAN SAITO, SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER PHOTOS BY LIZ KEIZER
What a glorious Hawaiian day. As preparations
were being made for the Celebration of Life of Herb Weatherwax, there was a light sprinkling of rain, a light mist of liquid sunshine, which we all knew was our beloved Uncle Herb showering us with his blessings. With the passing of Herb Weatherwax on Dec. 12, 2016, we lost a Pearl Harbor survivor, but more importantly, we lost a treasure of a man. A gracious and elegant man, who always had a smile and gave the best hugs. About 350 family members and friends, whose lives were touched by Uncle Herb, gathered to celebrate his life on what would have been his 100th birthday on June 3, 2017. In grand procession, led by Kahu Loko‘olu, with the blowing of the conch shell and chanting of the oli, the Knights of Columbus carried in a portrait of the ever-smiling Uncle Herb, which was followed with the recitation of Herb’s genealogy. Grandson Mac and granddaughter Laie kept the evening alive as they shared many stories of their papa. It was an evening filled with so much love, laughter, and lots of music and hula. It was truly a celebration of the life of such a remarkable man. Herb Weatherwax was a humble and selfless man. He had a heart of gold and loved to share his stories with the many visitors he met while volunteering at the Pearl 12 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017
Uncle Herb’s widow, Lehua Weatherwax, dances the hula in his honor.
Harbor Visitor Center. He loved to “talk story” with visitors, sharing his personal interpretation of the events surrounding the Pearl Harbor attack. He always felt that “it is up to survivors to perpetuate the history until we are gone. I am always learning from others and thought that someone might pick up one or two little things from what I have gone through.” His last wish would be working at Pearl Harbor as a volunteer forever. We have been blessed to have had Uncle Herb in our lives.
William Henry “Bill” Muehleib (1922-2017)
William Henry “Bill”
Muehleib, of Virginia Beach, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2017. He served his country as a member of the Army Air Corps and was stationed at Wheeler Field on Dec. 7, 1941. After Pearl Harbor, he was part of the newly formed Night Fighter training group in California and later served in the U.S. Air Force. Bill Muehleib served the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association as a district director on the national board, then as national vice president and finally as the last national president when the association disbanded in 2011. He also played a key role as the association’s representative in the veteran service organizations in our nation’s capital.
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD “Eternal rest grant unto them and let perpetual light shine upon them and may they rest in peace.” Dempson A. Arellano USS West Virginia Antioch, Calif.
Amos Lavern Peterson Wheeler Field Blanchardville, Wis.
Richard Franklyn Corder USS Oglala Torrance, Calif.
Samuel Powell, Jr. USS Helena Goldsboro, N.C.
Eugene Erlandson Wheeler Field Adrian, Minn.
Jiles Rex Riggs USS Honolulu Booneville, Ind.
Guy H. Hall USS Phoenix Lenoir, N.C.
Francis N. Scholtz Wheeler Field Jacksonville, Fla.
William Houston Haynes, Sr. USS Conyngham Eagleville, Tenn.
Thomas C. Talbott 3rd Defense Battalion - USMC Baltimore, Md.
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS ASSOCIATION REPORT OF DEATH Unit or station on December 7th:__________________________________________________________ Name:________________________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________________ Date of death: _________________ Services: ______________ Funeral Home:_____________________ Interment: ____________________________________ Continue sending Remembrance? Yes No Next of kin: __________________________________ Relationship:______________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________________ Remarks:______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Form prepared by: _________________________ Relationship:____________________Date:_________ Address:______________________________________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________ PLEASE INCLUDE AN OBITUARY NOTICE, IF POSSIBLE
This form is available online at grams.pacifichistoricparks.org/PDFs/Report-of-Death.pdf Please complete and mail to: Edean Saito, Special Projects Manager Pacific Historic Parks, 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd., Waipahu, HI 96797 REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017 | 13
You Make it Happen! Your contributions help us meet our mission to ensure that the legacy of the valiant, courageous men and women who served our country during World War II are never forgotten. We would like to recognize and thank the following donors for their recent contributions.
IN MEMORY OF
IN HONOR OF
Lawrence L. Boyer, U.S. Army, World War II Veteran Ashley Chandler
Herbert Weatherwax, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Schofield
James Anderson, Jr. James Anderson, Jr.
Beverly Au
Gardner J. Brown Brian Glass
Gaye K Beamer
Nestor Arevalo, U.S. Navy Nestor Arevalo
Dewey H. Chew Gail Ann Chew
Raynette Bowman
Warren Borror
Paul Raymond Brown, U.S. Army Zoric Adamovsky Joachim Cox Stacey Gaudnola
Daniel Del Monte, Jr.
Dwight “Lee” Cobb Noel Bragg
Lovey-Ann DeRego Kathleen Dudevoir
Col. Lloyd Fraser David Fraser
Tarah Estabillo-Albano
Michael Galajdik, USS Oklahoma George Sternisha
Lilana Golden
Gerald Ernest Gartin Peter Garton
Helena Enos Colette Higgins
Barbara Fields Brian Gomolski Chandra Kim
Lawrence A. “Lonnie” Goldman Ellen and Mario Paredes
Harold L. Evans, U.S. Navy, WWII Veteran Debra Hill
Stephen Fiorelli, U.S. Navy Rosemarie Andreano Charles Grey Rob Wilkins
Pilialoha Lee Loy Merrily Mahon Tina Matano
Edwin H. Hatt Tim Student
Kehaulani R Medina
Robert “Roy” Hauer Karen Davenport
Ronald Quong
Richard Hopkins, U.S. Air Force Melissa Hopkins George E. Russell Sandy Russell
Martin Pe’a
Pasquale “Pat” Joseph Librie, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Schofield The Ernest DeLaura Family John Librie Michael J. Moynahan, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Gail Ann Chew
Cheryl Anne Rente Alfred Rodrigues Kalani Rodrigues Leona Seto-Mook
Isaac Schkloven Lawrence Friedman Frank Silva, U.S. Army Frank & Linda Silva Robert Hugh Starling, U.S. Navy Lee Allen Bowen Timothy Student, II Tim Student
John Steslow Adriana Tirado
Joseph N. Robinson, U.S. Army Deborah Manning
Brenda Vadovich
Col. Kristen Thomspon, U.S. Air Force Donna Thompson
Unknowns Troy Kaneshiro
William Yout Brendan Yout
Murray Toombs, U.S. Army Tim Brady
Toni Turner
To donate, call (808) 954-8726 or visit www.pacifichistoricparks.org. 14 | REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2017
Aliamanu Elementary School Combat Artist Collection Komatsu Electric Industry, Co., Ltd. Mutual Publishing, LLC Pacific Islands Institute, Ltd. Ronin Design Warrior Truist Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign James Adams Patrick D. & Patricia E. Allen Robert Barker Steven & Gail Bauer Carl Beale Estelle Becker Jeff Bell Willie Bender Carl Blankenship Francis Bonesteel Walter Burke Edgar Burroughs, III Giorgio Caldarone Albert Caporaso David Caputo John Case Michael Champion Steven Chapel Daniel Cisneros David A. & Louise R. Coleman Thomas Cuff Charles & Mary Culp Rebecca Curtis Leo Czajkowski Alice Davis Kristin DeCoster Frank DeNave Ann Dixon James Dodd Nam Duong James Edmonds Robert Ehrhart Edward Ellis Robert Evans Robert Fekete Kathy Follett Edward Funkhouser Arnie & Claire Garbade John Garrity Samuel Godsall Georgetta Gregory Nancy Gremli Robert Hamman Stephen Hatfield Karl & Kathleen Heeren Alvin Hey Debra Hill August Hock Robert Holmbeck Gary Hooper William Howell Kenneth Jobe John Johnson Edwin Judisch Linda Kennedy Robert Kilthau John Kogut Karl Kraemer R. Douglas & Margaret A. Krawczyk
Shaleena Kumar Randy Lamb Ronald Lance Laurence Lapomarda James Larsen Dana Lasater Alan Lau Dan Lee Theresa Leister James Liddell Lee Lowenson Patricia Lucas Mark Matsunaga Gary Maynard Larry McCown Joseph P. & Mary A. McPhillips David Moore Anthony Moy David Mueller Donald L. & Mary L. Muhlnickel, Jr. Kathleen Nawn Joseph Noddin Michael Oakes Michael O’Brien Robert C. and Tara K. Oda Mark O’ffill Yoshishige Onuma Gail-Maree Oslington Robert Otto Kenneth Perkins Wayne Pfeifer Jovi Phillips Lee Pierce David Pikop Henry Plain, Jr. Michele Porak James Power, Jr. Barton Proger Dale Ranck Brian Romias Phillip Ronish David Russell Albert Sahakian Edean Saito David Sakai Paul Sanborn Leo Sattler Neil Sheehan Takeshi Shimana Nathaniel Shoemaker Gary Sitzmann Edward Socha Carolyn Sparks Celia St. Charles John Stevens Ruth Stirnkorb Mary Stone William Strynkowski Michael Tanguay Timothy Twigg Michael Velasquez Thomas & Annette Walters/ Stelk , III Charles Waters Merris Welge Viktor Weyand Cynthia Winkler Brian Witt Kwai “Sunny” Young
The Legacy Society Create a legacy that will ensure history will never be forgotten
Since 1980, millions of people from every state of our nation and from 40 countries around the world have seen, experienced, and been inspired by the valor and sacrifices of the Greatest Generation at Pearl Harbor and throughout the Pacific Basin. The Legacy Society was created to acknowledge and celebrate family and friends who desire to keep history alive and to honor the sacrifices of the World War II generation. Members have affirmed PHP in their estate plans or through other planned gifting arrangements. Planned gifts provide a unique opportunity to preserve our country’s military heritage through supporting Pacific Historic Parks while possibly receiving tax benefits on income. TYPES OF PLANNED GIFTS Charitable Bequest Life Insurance Life Income Gifts Charitable Gift Annuity Charitable Remainder Trust
I’m interested in discussing my options for a planned gift with Pacific Historic Parks. Please contact me at the number listed in the form below. I already have a planned gift set up for PHP. Please specify type: __________________________________ PHP may recognize my membership in The Legacy Society in its publications. _________________________________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip _________________________________________________________________________ Phone _________________________________________________________________________ Email Established in 1979, Pacific Historic Parks is a 501(c)(3), tax exempt cooperating association committed to preserving the legacy of our historic heritage by providing support of research, preservation, restoration, education and interpretive programs to the National Park Service at World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (Pearl Harbor), War in the Pacific National Historical Park (Guam), American Memorial Park (Saipan), Kalaupapa National Historical Park (Molokai) and Diamond Head State Monument (Oahu).
94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd. Waipahu, Hawaii 96797
Tony Barcinas of Las Vegas, Nev., shared this photograph with us, which he calls “1177 Love from Beneath.” In an email, he shared, “As an eight-year Army veteran it gives me the chills to think that the lives lost 75 years ago would channel their love in the form of an oil slick; that was my first thought.”