2018 Fall Remembrance

A PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS PUBLICATION

FALL 2018

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CONTENTS

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16 President & CEO Aileen Utterdyke

94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd.

Waipahu, HI 96797 www.pacifichistoricparks.org (808) 954-8729 Toll-free: (888) 332-1941

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Board of Directors Neil A. Sheehan, Chairman Alan Mattson, Vice-Chairman Clif Purkiser, Secretary Jeff Bell, Treasurer James M. Boersema Noel W. Bragg

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President’s Message

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Junior Ranger Program Expands at American Memorial Park

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Explore – Learn – Protect

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World War I in Hawaii

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One AJA’s Story

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Preserving Our Past by Inspiring the Future

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Rendezvous with History

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AMVETS National Commander Shoreside Dock Project

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Park to Schools Program on Molokai

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Pearl Harbor Gram, Hickam Highlights, Prayer for the Dead

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You Make It Happen!

MISSION STATEMENT To support the USS Arizona Memorial and other Pacific historic locations through education and interpretive programs, research, preservation, and restoration, to perpetuate the memory of events and honor the people involved in these sites.

Remembrance is published four times a year as a benefit to friends of Pacific Historic Parks.

Board of Directors (cont.)

Alma M. Grocki Patricia A. Lucas Edward J. Lynch Mark Y. Matsunaga Alby L. Saunders James E. VanDerKamp Kwai S. “Sunny” Young Directors Emeritus James K. Sylva Geoffrey M. White

Legal Adviser Joachim P. Cox Editorial Advisers Aileen Utterdyke Edean Saito Gail Ann Chew Chandra Kim Sarah Walsh

President’s Message “Education is not the means of showing people how to get what they want. Education is an exercise by means of which enough men, it is hoped, will learn to want what is worth having.” - Ronald Reagan

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ince its founding in 1979 by men who had served their country and understood the loss of friends in combat, Pacific Historic Parks’ (formerly the Arizona Memorial Museum Association) mission has been education, interpretation, and preservation of the history and legacy of the USS Arizona.

From its inception, PHP has been resolute in its commitment to investing in programs and activities for all of its visitors, and today nearly 1.9 million people from around the world join with us in remembering, honoring and understanding the impact of what took place on this hallowed ground.

And through the years, with the support of friends like you, education is active and vibrant through interpretive programs that share the legacy of the battles in the Pacific theater at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park.

In this edition of “Remembrance”, we are highlighting the enhancement and expansion of our education programs. Through the programs implemented by our experienced Education Department, we ensure that the history of World War II battles extend beyond book reading, through interactive learning (pages 10-12).

We will hear the story of our keiki on Molokai learning of the life of Bernard Punikai`a, a child who was sent to live in Kalaupapa because he had contracted Hansen’s disease. What was originally a lesson of future career options, quickly turned into a lesson taught

not by the prepared script, but instead by how the keiki reacted to the park ranger (page 16).

In our continuing mission to share and perpetuate the learning of history, read how World War I impacted the Hawaiian Islands (page 7). You’ll also meet Jack Rogo, who at the young age of 97, is still very active, traveling the world to share his war experiences at Pearl Harbor and life after serving his country (page 13).

The USS Arizona Memorial has frequently been featured in recent news stories, first with the Memorial dock damage, then most recently with the shoreside dock flooding. We empathize with visitors who look forward to visiting the Memorial, and we are working very closely with the National Park Service and its engineers to repair the issues on hand. However, even though the Memorial is closed the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center, two museums, theater, museum store, and virtual reality tours remain available and open! As well, Pearl Harbor survivors and witnesses are available to answer any questions visitors may have.

We believe that education is one of the most critical investments we can make to contribute to positive changes in the world by never forgetting what came before. Thank you for your continued support!

Aileen Utterdyke

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Junior Ranger Program Expands at American Memorial Park

By Angelica Cruz, Interpretation Park Ranger at American Memorial Park

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ver the summer, we hosted our annual Junior Ranger Camp at American Memorial Park.

Through funding from the National Park Service and Pacific Historic Parks, we were able to offer not just one, but four Junior Ranger sessions. The program offered participants the opportunity to learn about the park’s mission and the island’s history, all while having fun along the way.

The 2018 Junior Ranger Camp was an exciting one.

In order to ensure all interested youth were able to participate, transportation was provided for campers from various parts of the island. Each morning campers were greeted at their village site and brought to the park for a day filled with fun and learning. Campers toured American Memorial Park, learned about the mission, visited

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the Northern Mariana Islands Museum of History and Culture, explored Saipan’s World War II historical sites, and made friends along the way.

The Junior Ranger Camp was an overall success, bringing over 80 campers—a record for American Memorial Park’s Junior Ranger program! The success of this summer program is largely due to the support of the park’s dedicated volunteers, our summer Youth Conservation Corps participants, and the continued support of PHP’s education team. The park’s interpretation and education team are already thinking ahead for next summer and how we can continue to grow and strengthen this exciting and important summer experience.

Explore – Learn – Protect B y Ta n y a Ta i t a n o S o r t o r , E d u c a t i o n C o o r d i n a t o r a t W a r i n t h e P a c i f i c N a t i o n a l H i s t o r i c a l P a r k

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uam’s beautiful coral reefs get a lot of attention, but another unique and fascinating ecosystem hides in plain sight. This past April, during the 4th annual River Ranger program hosted by Pacific Historic Parks (PHP) and War in the Pacific National Historical Park, third and fourth grade students got up close and personal with one of Guam’s less visited ecosystems: freshwater rivers!

The River Ranger program is an exciting and free educational program that connects Guam’s youth with park educators to expand their knowledge of the natural world.

Three half-day sessions were offered this year, and 50 youths registered to participate.

Each program session began with a lively discussion of the importance of freshwaters, including fascinating facts about some of Guam’s streams. For example, did you know that all 101 of Guam’s named rivers are on the southern half of our island? The larger rivers are on the east and smaller rivers on the west, and Talafofo River is Guam’s largest river system. Guam’s freshwater is a vital resource and clean freshwater is critical to the health of the environment and people.

River Rangers did a jungle nature walk to Masso River, which is located in the village of Piti. They learned about the power of plants and how native and non-native plants impact our fragile environment. The vital role of native birds in seed dispersal was emphasized, and the students helped do the job of native birds by making seed balls, which were composed of clay, compost, and seeds. Once dry, the seed balls will be spread throughout the island to help promote the growth of native plants.

At the river bank, just before entering the water, River Rangers were encouraged to take a quiet reflective moment to appreciate the awesome river world at their national park. To fine tune their senses, they took turns describing what they heard, saw, and even smelled.

“Freshwater is important because we need it to survive and we have little of it, so we need to protect it” - 2018 River Ranger, 10 yrs. old

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“I can help freshwater by not putting or making dirt loose because that causes erosions which cause sedimentation.”

- 2018 River Ranger, 8 yrs. old Then they grabbed a net for a hands on exploration of the shallow river system. River Rangers discovered a wide variety of freshwater animals, such as flagtails (Kuhlia rupestris). Flagtails are a type of native freshwater fish and are a dominate predator in lower streams. They also found a tiny native freshwater shrimp called Caridina variabilis.

Caridina variabilis was long mistaken for another shrimp, and was just correctly described as a new species this year!

River Rangers took a closer look at each of their finds, learning interesting facts about them, the special value they hold, as well as some ways they can care for these precious creatures.

River Rangers also conducted a fun scientific experiment.

They determined flow velocity (a measurement of how fast the water in the river is flowing) by floating toy animals downstream. By observing differences in toy animal speed, River Rangers were able to observe different flow rates in different sections of the river. During this activity, River Rangers learned how water flow affects the ecosystem and how different animals and plants need different flow rates to survive. For example, some shrimps and fishes need to live in fast flowing water, while other species prefer calmer pools of barely moving water. River Rangers also learned about threats to a healthy stream flow, such as sedimentation and pollution, and what they can do to reduce those threats.

Guam’s rivers are a fragile and often overlooked ecosystem, despite their importance to the island. PHP and the War in the Pacific National Historical Park hosted this engaging experience in the hopes it will inspire youth to become lifelong stewards of Guam’s waters and natural wonders. If you are interested in this program, other park programs, or volunteering with the park, please email educationspecialist@pacifichistoricparks.org or call 671-482-1234.

Volunteers in Parks Four adult volunteers and eleven high school volunteers from the Preservation Rangers Academy assisted with the River Rangers program. Preservation Rangers have been specially trained to serve as youth mentors, working directly with the PHP Education Team to lead hands on activities and lively group discussions, and to assist in providing a safe learning environment for youths to explore. Our dedicated volunteers are essential members of our team, bringing not just their valuable time, but also their unique experiences and knowledge to our programs.

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World War I in Hawaii the Centennial Observance 1918-2018 B y D a n i e l M a r t i n e z , C h i e f H i s t o r i a n a t Wo r l d W a r I I Va l o r i n t h e P a c i f i c N a t i o n a l M o n u m e n t

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hundred years ago America entered into its “first world war.” Perhaps lost to many was the role Hawaii played in the arena of conflict. Recently, Col. Arthur Tulak, Chairman of the World War I Centennial Task Force wrote, “As we look back a century ago to a moment in history when the United States was a declared neutral as war waged in the European and Pacific Theaters. Although neutral the United States prudently improved its defense capabilities. Along with the rest of the nation, the territory took steps to ensure for the preparedness for war, if it came. During this time, Hawaii stood up its Naval Militia, under the command of the Territorial Adjutant General as a Territorial military force alongside the National Guard of Hawaii.”

The Hawaii Naval Militia was placed aboard the cruiser USS St. Louis for purpose of naval training on the vessel in order to be proficient in a variety of drills concerning fire, safety, General Quarters and inspection. This cruise of the Hawaiian Islands commenced on September 14, 1916, lasting 12 days. When the cruiser sailed into Honolulu, it had covered 886 nautical miles.

The growing importance of these militias was front page news in the Honolulu Star Bulletin on February 14, 1917 when the paper reported plans for the Hawaii Naval Militia to undertake a combined cruise with the naval militias of California, Oregon and Washington.

During the year 1917, the Pacific was an active front of the war. An auxiliary windjammer and German raider named the SMS Seeadler prowled the Pacific for prey.

She captured several ships and the members of their crews (most of them American). The Seeadler’s luck ran out when she ran aground on the abandoned island of

Mapella. Located in French Polynesia this beached crew of Germans and Allied prisoners (most of them American) created a compound for survival. Eventually the German captain Luckner found one of the ships lifeboats and set sail with his crew bound for Fiji, leaving behind his prisoners, who were later rescued.

Luck for Luckner ran out again when the French ship Lutece that he captured ran aground on a reef off Easter Island. Chilean navy officials captured the crew and interned them till the end of the war. The Americans on the island of Mapella were later rescued after the Chilean integration of Captain Luckner revealed the plight of the American prisoners.

There are many stories connected to Hawaii’s role in World War I. Take for instance the islands contribution of her American Red Cross initial 7,500 members. In September 1917, a drive to increase membership was initiated by A.L. Castle. The slogan that moved them was “the Army that you can join.”

The membership drive was intended to expand the raising of money to support donations for the care of American soldiers overseas. Queen Liliuokalani and Representative to Congress J. Kuhio Kalanianaole were strong and vocal supporters of this effort. Their message was “No True Hawaiian Will Avoid It!” A thanks from President Woodrow Wilson was carried in an ad in the Honolulu newspaper. The result was a staggering 16,330 membership for the Hawaiian Red Cross.

In November 2018, the Hawaii Centennial Task Force hosted a special commemorative ceremony themed “The Bells of Peace” at the Natatorium located on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki Beach. Details regarding that ceremony can be found at www.worldwar1centennial.org WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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One AJA’s Story

By Mark Matsunaga, Pacific Historic Parks Board Member soldiers from Hawaii chose as their motto “Remember Pearl Harbor,” ignoring the Army’s recommendation, “Be of Good Cheer.”

The unit went overseas in August, sailing in a convoy from New York to Oran, Algeria. There, the 100th was attached to the 34th Division, and they soon departed for the invasion of Italy.

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eventy-five years ago September, the 100th Infantry Battalion, a segregated unit from Hawaii, entered combat in Italy. It was the first bloody step on a journey of heroism and vindication by Americans of Japanese ancestry in World War II. The 100th Battalion was originally drawn from the 2,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJAs) or “nisei” – children of Japanese immigrants – who were drafted or enlisted in the Army in Hawaii before Japan’s December 7, 1941 attack on Oahu. Most of the nisei served with the 298th and 299th Infantry regiments, former Hawaii National Guard outfits that had been federalized in October 1940. They answered the call to arms on December 7 alongside their fellow Americans and spent the next six months guarding Hawaii against a feared invasion by Japan. Hawaii’s large Japanese American population was the subject of widespread rumors that they had aided the December 7 attack, but numerous investigations found those rumors to be groundless.

Nonetheless, in May 1942, those AJA infantrymen were removed from their units, reorganized as the Hawaiian Provisional Battalion, and on June 4 quietly shipped to the U.S. mainland continent. There were 1,432 members in the overstrength battalion. They were nisei, except for a few haole (“white person”) officers and a handful of Native Hawaiians who claimed to be part-Japanese so they could go off to war with their AJA pals.

Upon arrival at Oakland, the battalion was renamed the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate). The men called it the “One Puka Puka.” The unit was sent to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, then to Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The 100th Battalion received its official colors in July 1943. The

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The 100th entered combat on September 29, 1943, leading a regimental thrust north of the Allies’ Salerno beachhead.

After a night of torrential rains, the 100th slogged through the hills toward Chiusano until it ran into heavy fire from a German strong point of three machine guns supported by armored vehicles.

Sergeant Joseph Shigeo Takata led his squad to try to outflank the enemy. “First time, so I’ll lead,” he said.

Takata grew up on Waialua sugar plantation. At age 14, he was named to the rural Oahu all-star football team as quarterback, one of five all-stars from what was then Andrew Cox Junior High School (later Waialua High and Intermediate). Takata was also a forward on the plantation basketball team. But he really excelled in baseball. Takata attended McKinley High School, leading the Tigers to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball championship in his senior year. He went to work for Castle and Cooke as a stevedore, but continued playing baseball, for Waialua and Azuma in the AJA leagues and for Asahi (later called the Athletics) in the Hawaii League, the highest level of baseball played in prewar Hawaii.

Takata was drafted into the Army on November 15, 1941, three weeks before Pearl Harbor. At Camp McCoy, he was one of the stars, usually batting cleanup, for the 100th Battalion’s Aloha baseball team, which broke down barriers as it vanquished teams from other units and the community.

At age 24, Joe Takata was struck down by enemy fire in Italy, the first of more than 350 members of the 100th Battalion to die in action. Takata was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. The citation said he “personally led his support squad through intense artillery, mortar and machine gun fire in an effort to outflank the enemy position.

With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sgt. Takata took a position in front of his squad and led them in the flanking movement. He exposed himself in an effort to locate the enemy machine gunners and was mortally

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii, March 1945: Seian Hokama of Honolulu receives the Bronze Star from Lieutenant General Robert Richardson, U.S. Army Forces Pacific Ocean Areas commander, for bravery in combat on Bougainville while serving with the 37th Infantry Division language detachment.

Hokama, a prewar draftee and original 100th Battalion member, was one of several dozen nisei who were transferred to the Military Intelligence Service to fight in the Pacific. U.S. Army Signal Corps photo

Italy November 1943: Some members of the 100th Battalion’s Company E, shortly after the first crossing of the Volturno River.

Back row, from left: Yozo Yamamoto, Henry Shiyama, Yoshikatsu Matsumoto, Kaoru Yamamoto, Charles J. Okimoto, Takeshi “Lefty” Kimura. Front row, from left: Kunio Fujimoto, Susumu Kunishige, Raymond Yokoyama, Katsumi Jinnohara, Kaoru Yonezawa.

U.S. Army Signal Corps photo

wounded by an enemy artillery shell. Although he lived only a few minutes after being struck, Sgt. Takata called for his platoon sergeant in order to give him the situation. Sgt. Takata’s devotion to duty and extraordinary gallantry in the face of intense enemy fire is commendable and a distinct credit to the armed forces of the United States.”

Takata was married only a week before he shipped out of Honolulu in June 1942. After his death, rather than buy the customary tea and coffee for his mourners, his widow, Florence, and his parents donated $100 each to the Red Cross, Army relief fund, Navy relief fund and the Honolulu Community Chest.

In 1955, at a service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, his wartime battalion commander, Farrant Turner, recalled Takata as “a master solider…a great athlete, a great leader.” Turner, who was now the secretary of the Territory of Hawaii, said, “he would have gone on to great things if he had not died. His personal war lasted five minutes…” Turner stopped and shook his head, overcome by emotion.

The Army renamed the baseball field at Fort Shafter in Honolulu Takata Field in 2003. On September 30, 2018, the 100th Battalion Veterans held a memorial service to honor their fellow fallen soldiers at the National Memorial

Cemetery of the Pacific. Since 2006, the service has been combined with those of the other World War II AJA units: Military Intelligence Service, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion.

The 100th’s exemplary service helped convince the War Department and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to establish a larger AJA unit in 1943. This became the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which joined the 100th in the summer of 1944. By then, the One Puka Puka had proved itself in battle at such great cost that it had been nicknamed “The Purple Heart Battalion.” After the war, veterans of the 100th, 442nd and, in the Pacific, the Military Intelligence Service came home and changed Hawaii.

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Preserving Our Past by Inspiring the Future

By Jaclyn Balajadia, Education Manager, Pacific Historic Parks

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ver the past seven years, Pacific Historic Parks has placed a special emphasis on outreach and education in our locations in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan. As a non-profit organization with a special mission, we recognize that youth are key to perpetuating the history and memory of events and people who lived through and died during World War II in the Pacific.

Approximately 17,000 students’ and teachers’ lives are touched every year by PHP education programs. Education Specialists and a team of Education Coordinators implement immersive place-based learning programs at three national parks: War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, American Memorial Park in Saipan, and World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument on Oahu.

The PHP Education Department is a team of experienced, dedicated, and passionate educators who utilize national parks to teach youth and PreK-12 classroom teachers about the lessons and values learned from war. Park sites not only provide a unique opportunity for learning about the past, but the memorials and stories found here also serve as icons of enduring peace and reminders of the healing that is still ongoing. The PHP Education Department is at the forefront

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of making continual efforts of engagement between our young visitors and the resources found at each historic site. As educators that work with youth on a daily basis to commemorate the past, we strive to be dynamic and apply innovative methods and techniques that make the subject of history relevant and meaningful. We help kids answer the vital question: What does this park and its history mean to me? After visiting the park with their school or in a special program, kids are able to craft their own personal answer to this essential question.

Education programs hosted by PHP takes place in the form of guided Visitor Center tours, outdoor learning programs, in-class presentations, workshops, and conferences. Each park has a specific set of education programs that are tailored for the local community where the historic site is located. Here is a sampling of the exciting programs we have in store for the coming year: War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam War in the Pacific National Historical Park commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of those participating in the campaigns of the Pacific Theater of World War II and to conserve and interpret outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects of Guam.

Park Pals Adventure Camp | Kindergarten and first grade campers learn unique stories from World War II, discover a diverse array of plants and animals, and learn about national parks through songs, stories, crafts and games.

Guahan Heritage Academy | Guahan Heritage Academy brings history to life for junior high school (sixth through eighth grade) students by encouraging passion for knowledge of Guam’s World War II history through historical activities and tours.

Education on Wheels | A cooperative agreement with the NPS provides PHP to take the lead in hosting an educational program that covers the cost of busing and educational supplies for two public junior high schools to visit their national park. Our park educators work closely with teachers to provide an educational experience that transforms the national park into their outdoor classroom.

T.E.A.M. PHP | Students in high school participate in an unpaid internship program called TEAM PHP (Teaching teens to exemplify Excellence And Memorialize at Pacific Historic Parks), where they gain comprehensive community outreach training that promotes volunteerism and the mission of the park. Teens engage in workshops focusing on leadership, public speaking, preservation and conservation, and civic engagement with World War II survivors, veterans, memorials & monuments.

American Memorial Park, Saipan American Memorial Park was created as a living memorial honoring the sacrifices made during the Marianas Campaign of World War II. Reading Ranger | Reading Ranger opens doors to second through eighth grade students with stories that take them to another time and place. World War II children and young adult books and corresponding lesson plans are available as a resource to students and teachers. This year, PHP received a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) “Big Read” grant. It provides funding to expand last year’s program.

Soldier Skills | Soldier Skills teaches youth in third through fifth grades about the soldiers who fought in the Marianas Campaign of World War II. The program gives students a glimpse of the type of skills and knowledge that soldiers need to survive in battle. Youth participate in orienteering scavenger hunts and geo-caching activities. They learn about soldiers of the past and meet soldiers of the present.

Junior Ranger Camp | Sixth through eighth graders are taken to historical sites around Saipan to explore places many residents have not visited and are tasked with activities that build on essential teamwork skills.

Art-in-the-Park | Art sessions led by local artists bring the community to the park to participate in art lessons inspired by the grounds and its history. Previous sessions have included pastels, acrylic, watercolor, beading, and photography.

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Oahu World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (USS Arizona Memorial) preserves, interprets, and commemorates the history of World War II in the Pacific from the events leading to the December 7, 1941 attack on Oahu, to peace and reconciliation.

Sadako Paper Crane Project | PHP continues to host the Sadako Paper Crane Project. One Saturday a month, we honor Sadako Sasaki and her peace mission by sharing her story as we teach our visitors from all corners of the world how to fold an origami paper crane and the significance of this crane. Students from various parts of Japan have sent over 30,000 cranes to the Pearl Harbor with short messages of peace written in English and Japanese under their wings.

These cranes are shared with visitors by students and teachers from state and private schools.

A Witness to History: Pearl Harbor’s Legacy | PHP intends to add more stories that resonate with local youth.

Park educators will use themes that align with curriculum standards within the Hawaii State Department of Education Benchmarks and Standards. This year, PHP received a grant from the National Park Foundation that will allow us to bus over 1,000 fourth grade students from Waianae and Nanakuli. Through this grant, we plan to make tangible connections for youth so that they understand how the USS Arizona Memorial embodies the lessons of our past, our vision for the future, and focus on the meaning of legacy how the events of Pearl Harbor affected the people of Hawaii.

Virtual Reality App | PHP values the importance of history – it needs to be protected, researched, preserved, and passed on to future generations. Our education programs reach students of all ages and all walks of life. Our efforts touch the lives of millions of park visitors, school children, and veterans each year. It is imperative that we leverage current technologies, emerging communication platforms, and conduits to reach a larger global audience, preserve critical resources, and expand access to these resources.

Our Virtual Reality app of the USS Arizona Memorial enables the sharing of history to not only the younger visitor but with people around the world who might not have the opportunity to experience Pearl Harbor in person. This includes interactive educational exhibits available onsite, online, and through mobile devices; as well as an interactive guided tour, and a smart searchable online national database.

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Our PHP Education Team is assisting with the mapping and modeling of the updating of this Virtual Reality app.

Through our Virtual Reality app, we will provide future content management, provide public access, and ongoing interpretation and education.

Education in Action With an array of diverse education programs, PHP is ensuring that World War II battles transcend to something more personal for youth. Through actively engaging in historical resources with park educators, youth make connections to help them better understand the magnitude of this worldwide event.

A common strand found on all of our parks is stewardship. A key component in educating about the past and for the future involves opening up avenues for individuals to take action and be part of the preservation of historical sites.

Depending on which park you visit, stewardship might take the shape of being a docent at the visitor center, showing others how to fold paper cranes, manning a volunteer donation table, reading to younger children, or picking up debris around the monuments. Whatever the action may be, PHP encourages and celebrates stewardship.

Stewardship is the culminating goal of all of our education programs because it opens doors for youth to donate their time and energy to honor what happened at these very special places. Stewardship is education in action.

When youth from within the community are inspired to honor by playing an active role to protect and preserve their national treasure, we are ensuring the stories are passed down to the next generation.

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Rendezvous with History – Jack Rogo

By Amanda Carona Thompson, Contributing Writer at Pacific Historic Parks

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You had your delis and you had your chickens. It was Depression years, but you were brought up with it and you took nothing for granted. You came home, and your mother had a meal prepared. You didn’t ask how she did it, but it was prepared and that was the upbringing. I went to school and I went into service right after high school.”

t 97 years old, Jack Rogo is a light-hearted, friendly, knowledgeable man. He’s both traditional and modern. He worked in the same building for nearly 30 years and still lives in the same house he built with the GI Bill in 1947. He is a man on a mission. That mission is to teach thousands of junior high, high school and college students about the events of the attack on Pearl Harbor and relating the importance of remembering history as he recounts his experiences on December 7, 1941. Here are some excerpts from his oral history.

When did you enlist in the Navy and where did you attend boot camp?

“February the 14th, 1940. The boot camp was in San Diego.

Boot camp was typical of boot camps. First thing you basically were quarantined and all you did is you march, you march and march. And they taught you cleanliness and how to work and then, of course, they taught you more seamanship—how to row a boat, how to tie knots, procedures and things of that nature. I took a lot of tests at that time, aptitude tests, to see what you were qualified for.”

Jack’s adventurous life began in Boston, but when his father decided to move closer to family in Los Angeles, the family loaded up their 1929 Chevy and drove across country.

“We drove out and there were some incidents I remember. I remember stopping at this farmhouse and the lady wanted to know if I wanted a glass of milk and I said, “Sure,” but she took it right out of a cow. It was warm, not the cold milk you get out of the refrigerator. I remember that incident and of course I can say, I don’t remember all the details. You don’t remember, but I was the one who handled the route on the map for my father.”

What was your first assignment?

“I was an Aviation Chief Petty Officer. Everything I did involved aviation. I served no sea duty other than for transportation. I went aboard the USS Bridge, a refrigerator ship. That’s how you ship all your cold storage and I knew that was transportation to Hawaii, but I didn’t know where I was going, just that I was going to Hawaii. Once you are aboard the ship, they keep you occupied and for the eight days I was aboard—eight days I peeled potatoes and I helped to cook. Once we arrived at Pearl Harbor, there was a whale boat that picked me up and took me over to the Naval Air Station, Ford Island. That’s when I realized this is going to be my duty station.”

Can you share a little about growing up in Los Angeles?

“I sold newspapers at the corner and magazines. We played on the streets. We had the games, we rode our bicycles and the grammar schools’ grounds were open after hours so you would usually hang around at the playground. We were raised and brought up in the Temple Street area. They had the street car and I went to Custer Avenue grammar school.

It was a typical, what you would say, Jewish neighborhood.

Where were you assigned to on Ford Island?

What was your unit?

“I was assigned to the supply department. I started doing many different functions. I started with bookkeeping and wound up with the most important part was, after the war broke out, the movement of aircraft aboard the aircraft carriers. And when the carriers came in with damaged planes you had to get them off, you had to get them new WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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planes. When the carriers were out, ships would come in with new airplanes and you had to take them off and store them. It was a revolving situation that kept you very, very busy and that was my prime occupation when the war started for the next year or so”.

Take us through December 7, 1941.

“On December 7, that morning, I was having breakfast.

I had on my undressed whites. That was the uniform of the day. All of a sudden you could hear the cacophony of noise; the concussion of the building vibrating and you were alerted that something was happening. It came over that, don’t concern yourself, the Army is on maneuvers. So, I kept on.

I finished my breakfast, I mean, after all, I was going to finish my meal and I went out to the lanai where my bunk was located. At the end of the lanai there was an open screen door. When I looked out the screen door, that is when I got a catastrophic sight that you would never believe. The Arizona had just blown, the Oklahoma was now listing, the California was sinking, there was smoke in the air, the acrid smoke and the noise, the cacophony noise was going on and I was looking up. At this time, an airplane had just come by, a torpedo bomber, and I waved to the gunner and he waved back at me. I know that sounds naive, but that’s what happened. I’m ready to go to the Supply Department, but they headed us back into the Mess Hall for our protection. I was underneath a table with my buddy Bishop and as the building is vibrating and you’re hearing all this noise, you’re getting scared because you don’t know what’s going on. Eventually, they needed volunteers because as the ships were being bombed, the men were jumping off the ship into the water. Boats would pick them up or they would swim to Ford Island because they were adjacent to Ford Island and they needed help. So, they told me to go down to our dock. I started to go down to the dock, but the dock was on fire at the time. There was a body in the water. I went to pick up the body to get him out and that’s when his arm came off, which absolutely petrified me. By that time, there was a boat that came by and there was a wounded man. I got that sailor off the boat to take them to our dispensary. That itself was a sight because our dispensary was a typical Hawaiian-style building with a center patio and as soon as I brought him in, the first thing I saw was a crater in the corner where a bomb did not go off.

But all of a sudden here are all these men lying—you can see some of the men are wounded, they are all choking on oil, some of them you could tell they were already dead. The poor hospital corpsman and the doctor were overwhelmed with all these men that are coming in. They were trying to 14

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do their job. I detoured to my locker to change my shoes and socks because they were all wet and then I went to the Supply Department, got armed and my buddies were on top of the paint storage house and we set up a .30 caliber World War I Louis machine gun. Meanwhile, the site that I could see from the roof, the bombing is just about over now, but I could see all the damage to our plane hangar. I could see across where the Shaw’s bow had blown off and then I could see where the dry-dock where the Pennsylvania, Cassin and the other had damage and I could see along Battleship Row all the damage of all the ships. Meanwhile, the Nevada is now steaming down the channel trying to get out.”

What was your track during the war between December 7 and 1945?

“Most of my time in ’42, ’43 was all in the Pacific area. Around June of 1943, I was transferred to Command Air Force Central Pacific. What I did for the next six months, where I was for the next six months is not open for discussion.”

Where were you when the war ended?

“At the Aviation Supply Depot in Philadelphia. The war in Europe ended and our forces were now moving over to the Pacific. Eventually there was a Peace Treaty and a lot of those who were in service were reservists. That’s when the point system started coming up. I think I had something like 180, but I was serving enlistment, so I had to stay in the service. I didn’t want to stay in and eventually I got discharged and what taught me more than anything else in the service was that I was not college educated. That was the first thing when I got out of service, I worked in the accounting office during the day, my wife was pregnant with Jeff and I went to UCLA extension at night.”

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

“I think the main idea is what my goal is today. I’ve been on radio, I’ve been on television, I’ve been in the newspaper and I’m in four books. However, it’s when I go to the high schools and talk to the kids, when I talk to the students and do my presentation that gives me my inflated ego. I love it. I love talking to the kids.”

Jack Rogo currently resides in Burbank, California and continues to speak with students all over the Los Angeles county. Thank you for your service, Mr. Rogo!

AMVETS National Commander Selects Shoreside Dock As Signature Project

By Edean Saito, Special Projects and Program Ser vices Manager at Pacific Historic Parks

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egis William Riley was recently named National Commander at the AMVETS National Convention this August in Orlando, Florida. His background in programs is outstanding and commitment to veterans is evident through his dedication and hard work in the name of AMVETS. Rege was 17 years old when he received his draft notice and for three years, he was with the Army Air Defense Unit, primarily on the coasts at missile sites. Upon his return home, he attended the Columbia School of Broadcasting preparing him for a career in radio.

As a veteran, Rege has full understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices our military personnel make to protect our Nation. “Anyone with an honorable discharge can be a member of AMVETS,” says Commander Riley. He is committed to AMVETS gaining more public awareness and inclusive of men and women. In fact, there is a post in California that is all women.

Commander Riley chose our shoreside dock as his signature project because he wants to ensure the safety of all who visit the Memorial, so that they may pay their respects to the legacy of comrades lost on December 7. As he travels to different posts across the country, he wants to share the message with veterans that their national organization is there for them and will encourage all veterans to get involved with saving our dock.

Our shoreside dock is in major need of repair. It is the only means of access for all boats that provide transportation for everyone to the USS Arizona Memorial. Time and wear on the steel connectors between the two sections have led to corrosion and separation from the concrete and the dock urgently needs to be replaced.

Since our last issue of Remembrance where we reported that there was great concern that the shoreside dock would soon fail, the shoreside dock did fail and there was no access for boats for one week.

We are grateful that AMVETS has taken our shoreside dock as their signature project. Please join AMVETS and support the shoreside dock replacement project. The donation form is on page 15.

LET’S REBUILD THE DOCK TOGETHER! The Shoreside Dock at Pearl Harbor Visitor Center serves all of us – approximately 4,600 people every day. It is the only means of access for all the boats that provide transportation for everyone to the USS Arizona Memorial.

Time and wear have taken their toll, and the dock urgently needs to be replaced. Contributions to the Shoreside Dock project may be made by donating online at www.pacifichistoricparks.org, by calling (808) 954-8729, or by completing this form and mailing it in the enclosed envelope.

Name:_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Country:______________________________________________ Donation Amount: $______________________________  Charge $ ____________________________________________________ on my credit card Card Number___________________________________________ Expiration Date ______________ CCV Code: _________ Signature: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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Park to Schools Program on Molokai

By Mikiala Pescaia, Interpretive Park Ranger at Kalaupapa National Historical Park

I

stood at the door as teachers quieted down the students for Hawaiian protocol. I’ve prepared a presentation on careers with the National Park Service in the hopes of inspiring them to consider an education path that will lead them to working at Kalaupapa National Historical Park. I want to cultivate homegrown stewards and I have partnered with Kilohana School to bring this to all students kindergarten through sixth grade. When ready, I begin a chant, with a rich deep quivering sound.

Giggles erupt. Teachers glare. I don’t break my composure, and I continue till the end, humbly bowing my head. The students respond with their welcoming chant, granting me permission to enter.

I ask them, “Why did you laugh at me?” One student answers, “Because you sound funny.” I said, “Fair enough.

You probably haven’t heard many people oli or chant before.” I explain that my chant was about the ‘iwa’iwa fern that used to only grow in Kalaupapa until a young man brought a lei for his sweetheart where the spores spread and it started to grow at what is now called Nā’iwa, the Makahiki grounds. My voice imitated the sound of the Hehika’uala rain pelting those ferns, causing them to quiver. The words say, “I am cold and have traveled a long way, I seek shelter here with you. I come hoping we can share in the wisdom of our ancestors.” A wave of understanding washes over their faces.

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REMEMBERANCE FALL 2018

I immediately hold up a picture of Bernard Punikai’a as a child. I ask what they notice about him. Do they see the sores on his face? Why does he look sad? What does that sign he is holding with the numbers mean? I go on to share about Hansen’s disease, and how this young boy had to be very brave to leave his family so he could help stop this disease from spreading, an act of compassion that helped save many lives. I show a picture of Bernard as an adult, and share how he was a prisoner for having this disease, something he had no control over, and how he became one of the most influential advocates for patient rights, and is one of my heroes. I go back to the picture of Bernard as a child. I say, “You laughed at me because my chanting sounded different. Maybe people laughed at Bernard because he looked different. Have any of you been laughed at before?” Heads nod. “Next time we meet someone different, can we show aloha instead?” I get a huge shout of “Yes! Aunty, tell us more about Bernard!”

Sometimes the best lessons are unplanned.

State of Hawaii Department of Health/Kalawao County restricts access to Kalaupapa to children under 16 years old, so Kalaupapa National Historical Park rangers must bring the Park to the schools. Last school year we presented education outreach to all six public schools, two private schools, four preschool programs and the homeschoolers network. Every child on Molokai deserves to learn about Kalaupapa, and we are committed to making that happen.

Hickam Highlights

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his summer, James Denison, an Honorary Member of Greater Wichita Chapter II PHSA of Kansas, gifted Pacific Historic Parks with a booklet of original Hickam Highlights (1942-1943), which was passed to Mr. Denison by Pearl Harbor Survivor, John Hughes Jr., 72nd Bomb Sqdn., Hickam Field. The original Hickam News began in March, 1940, by S/SGT. A. B. Kreiner. Sometime later, a young PFC William "Joe" Brimm took over as art editor and Hickam Highlights became the base news and views for thousands of troops based at Hickam Field. The newsletter was newsy, sports highlights, personal items, outings and base theater showings. It was the lifeblood from on-base tedium of military installations. The pages are brittle, and faded, but as you thumb through the original pages typed by Sgt. Brimm, you can feel the escape Sgt. Brimm was providing the servicemen from life on base of duties.

Mr. Denison’s hope is that students of history and servicemen and women know the experiences of base life during World War II. We thank Mr. Denison for allowing PHP to have a piece of history!

Prayer for the Dead

“Eternal rest grant unto them and let perpetual light shine upon them and may they rest in peace.”

Dale Ackerman Schofield Barracks Everett, WA

John C. Adams Hickam Field McAllen, TX

Robert Beaudreau USS West Virginia Jacksonville, FL

Claude T. Dean USS Helena Shelbyville, TN

Stephen H. Acocella 4th Defense Battalion Vineland, NJ

John T. Adelsberger USS Chew Chesterfield, MO

James Bilotta US Marines Derry, NH

Marvin Lloyd Hickman USS Tennessee Wellington, TX

Troy Adams Hickam Field Slidell, LA

James J. Aeckerle Schofield Barracks Belsville, MD

Joseph F. Cannata USS Curtiss Reading, MA

Gordon Edward Jones Kaneohe NAS Chula Vista CA

Kenneth Adams USS Henley Mesquite, TX

Nolan Albarado Sr. Schofield Barracks New Orleans, LA

William F. Crawford Fort DeRussey Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Clinne Malcolm Laws USS Dobbin Lemon Springs, NC

Eugene Adams Wheeler Field Bloomfield, CO

E. Harvey Albea USS Detroit Anniston, AL

Carl W. Crawford Fort DeRussey Simpsonville, SC

Lewis M. Lee Pearl Harbor Naval Base Charleston, SC

Charles Edward Lishman USS Perry Coarsegold, CA Donald Henry Murray Unknown Moab, UT Peter Papadakis Nichols Kaneohe NAS Jurupa Valley, CA George L. Norton Wheeler Field Greenfield, WI Joseph P. Pilus USS New Orleans Cornwell, NY Steve P. Warren USS Elvida Lubbock, TX

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 WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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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.

THE 1941 SOCIETY

IN HONOR OF

Castle Resorts and Hotels In Memory of William B Kingseed, CSC, USN (Ret.) COL and Mrs. Cole Kingseed, USA (Ret.)

John Agnesini, USAF Gary Agnesini

Michael B Wheeler Michael B Wheeler

Timothy M Garrity Timothy M Garrity

Gavin M Wheeler Gavin M Wheeler

Knuckleheads Inc.

Delbert C Phillips, II, USA Sabra C Phillips

Pasha Hawaii

IN MEMORY OF Dewey H Chew Gail Ann Chew

Goran Anderson Richard A McMahon Jr

Edward M Dennehy Ed Dennehy

Lester D Story, Gunnery Sgt, USMC Anne Miller

Charles Cody Heath, Army Air Corps Colleen Dodge

CDR Charles Edward Napier Michele Napier

Frank W Noble, USS Arizona Helen C Enos

Joseph J Palla Julie Sacco

William B Kingseed, CSC, USN (Ret.) Cole and Mary Kingseed

Edward R Triana Greg S Triana

Don A. Lockhart Peggy Lockhart Barry Cicero Richard A McMahon Jr

LEGACY SOCIETY Gail L Anderson Albert and Delna Antaki John G Bachman Paul Bakouris Pam J Baughman Jeff Bell H Jean Birnbaum Ima J Black James M Boersema

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Capt George Sullivan, USN Ryan, Dee Dee, Kai and Maile Acosta Leila M Albano Belinda A Aquino Leilani and Sam Bernal

Victoria Bunye Kimo, Cathy, Jayson and Joy Campos Loretta Chabot Gail Ann Chew Joachim P Cox David and Maryrose Degroot Jerry and Sumi Dilsaver Charles Duncan Stuart Glauberman, Vicky Ramil Pat, Debbie and Grace Glenn Mr. and Mrs. Roger Grace Adrienne Gregory and Yvonne Boissoneau Doug and Brenda Handa Reid Honbo Harry O Honda Denise Kahle Sherrie Kaya James Kelly George Kimura

Carlton Kramer Ronda & Paul Ledesma Millie Liu Mr. and Mrs. Owen Macy John and Carita Miller Jade Chang Nagamoto Marlina Nichols and John Rapoza Tu Phan Jason Pinero Clif Purkiser Evelyn Quineta Edean Saito Aileen Utterdyke Carol Ventura Mark and Helene Webster Lillian Yajima Pamela Young Japan-American Society USS Paul F Foster Association, Inc.

Rev. Nicholas Inman

Jennifer and Kevin Boyd Don G Boyer Noel W Bragg Judith Campbell David and Alice Caputo George E Carr III Joseph and Marlou Chassereau Maxine and Harold Childres David and Louise Coleman

Combat Artist Collection T J Cooper Judith DeGraff Frank and Irene DeNave James D Denison Richard C Dickson George E Diehl Thomas and Barbara Dillon Robert and Kathleen Donlon

Dale and Harriet Dupuy Dorothy Ene Kenneth and Cindy Falkenstein Jacqueline A Flagg James Fromel USN Edward and Nancy Funkhouser Iris Galvey Thomas Gerrish

REMEMBERANCE FALLTo 2018 donate, call (808) 954-8729 or visit www.pacifichistoricparks.org.

Samuel and Kathleen Godsall Mary Ann and Gerald Gorman Georgetta Gregory Alma M Grocki Ana P Guzman Hagadone Printing Co, Inc. Norman and Cheryl Hall Richard and Sheryl Haller

Bobbye R Hardin The George and Elizabath Harrison Trust The Joyce Higgins Trust Gary M Hooper Linda Humphrey Les Isaacowitz Angela Buehler James Lillian Johnsson December 7th 1941 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Association (fka Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Liberty Bell Chapter 1) John W Kendrick Chandra Kim Manning and Shiela Kimmel Thomas Kleiman and Maddy Pickard Peter G Klestinec Roberta Klotz Lieutenant Colonel Karl P Kraemer USAF Sheri Layton Norman and Patricia Long Owen and Marylyn Macy Richard and Sukanya Madlinger Christopher Martinez LCDR William Harvey Massicot, USN (Ret.) Donna and Peter Masucci Mark Y Matsunaga Alan R Mattson Daniel McIntyre Heidi Meeker James Miller Michael Mochizuki Louis and Samuella Nockold Michael O’Brien Robert and Tara Oda Daniel J O’Leary Mary Ortiz David F Pacion Pacific Islands Institute, Ltd. Daniel E Pepping Robert Primm Cindy Rapadas William B Rhodes USN Jack Rogo Phillip J Ronish Kenneth A Russell Edean Saito Joseph and Angie Santora Leo and Harriet Sattler Neil A Sheehan Michael and Christine Simpson James G Sisson Andrew J Speese James and Barbara VanDerKamp Sarah R Walsh Mark and Helen Webster Volney L Willett John and Teresa Yarbor Pamela Young Colonel Gabriel J Zinni, USA (Ret.)

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 Pacific Historic Parks 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 Pacific Historic Parks.

Please specify type: _________________________ Pacific Historic Parks 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).

WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd.

Waipahu, Hawaii 96797

Participants learn and have fun at PHP’s Park Pals Adventure Camp at the War in the Pacific National Historical Parks

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PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 1023