2019 Fall Remembrance

A PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS PUBLICATION

The Battles for Saipan and Tinian Commemorating the 75th Anniversary

FALL 2019

CONTENTS

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FALL 2019

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President’s Message

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Commemorating 75 Years Since the Battles of Saipan and Tinian

6 USS Arizona Memorial Reopens 7 Gauging the Structural Integrity of the USS Arizona

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Rendezvous with History: Lonnie Cook

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The Lone Sailor Statue

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Northern Marianas College Rises from the Destruction

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Making Old New Again: Conserving Kalaupapa’s Museum Collection

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Pearl Harbor Gram, 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.

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12 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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Cover photo credit: Flags line the walkway to the Marianas Memorial at American Memorial Park (Photo provided by American Memorial Park staff)

Board of Directors (cont.)

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

Legal Adviser Joachim P. Cox Publication Advisers Aileen Utterdyke Jim McCoy Shannon Eberhart Edean Saito Sarah Walsh Layout & Design Chase Nuuhiwa

President & CEO Message This edition’s cover story focuses on the wartime experiences of a unique group of Pacific Islanders who were in the middle of a brutal battle during World War II. It’s the 75th anniversary of the American effort to secure Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Marianas Islands.

The 25-day battle began after American forces stormed the beaches of the Japanese stronghold in June 1944. Thousands of soldiers on both sides were killed. The casualties included 900 Chamorros and Carolinians Our Pacific Historic Parks team at American Memorial Park documents the war years with a special focus on the experiences of the civilian population caught in the crossfire.

The intense fighting included support from American battleships once stationed 3,800 miles away at Pearl Harbor.

They were crippled in the December 7, 1941 attack and after being repaired, the ships and their crews crisscrossed the Pacific to rejoin the battle, no doubt with the rallying cry “Remember Pearl Harbor.”

The attack on Pearl Harbor 78 years ago is also the focus of several stories in this edition.

We welcomed the reopening of the USS Arizona Memorial following a 15- month shutdown due to significant damage in an anchoring system that impacted the floating dock.

Many thanks to our partners at the National Park Service and the workers who made the necessary repairs to the iconic 57-year-old Memorial.

A special shout out goes out to the hundreds of volunteers, including active duty Navy personnel, who cleaned, polished

and painted the Memorial as it prepared to reopen. Our team at PHP documented the efforts. It was a deeply personal experience for each volunteer as they respectfully worked just above the battleship that remains the tomb for most of the 1,177 Arizona crewmembers killed December 7, 1941.

The USS Arizona is the focus of another story in this edition.

During the shutdown of the Memorial, divers installed sensors on the steel shipwreck to gauge its structural integrity. The findings will be part of a symposium in Boston this coming January on the more than century old American war grave of immense significance.

Finally, planning is underway for the final burial on the USS Arizona this December 7. Lauren Bruner passed away September 10 at the age of 98. He requested his remains be interred on the Arizona. The three remaining USS Arizona survivors, Don Stratton, 97, Lou Conter, 98 and Ken Potts, 98, have chosen to be buried with family.

We will be covering that burial and all the December 7 ceremonies in our next edition of Remembrance. Mahalo to all our donors and supporters.

AILEEN UTTERDYKE

President & CEO

A copy of the latest financial report, registration filed by this organization, and a description of our programs and activities may be obtained by contacting us at: 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd., Waipahu, HI 96797, (808) 954-8777. Pacific Historic Parks was formed in Hawaii. If you are a resident of one of the following states, you may obtain financial information directly from the state agency: Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA), OR VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Florida Registration #CH17306 Georgia: A full and fair description of our programs and our financial statement summary is available upon request at our office and phone number indicated above.

Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Pacific Historic Parks may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement.

Nevada: Contributions may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of sec. 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. ¤170(c).

New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York: Upon request, from the Attorney General Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state.

Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Pacific Historic Parks may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.

Virginia: From the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.

Washington: From the Secretary of State at 1-800-332-4483 or http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/ West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305.

Wisconsin: A financial statement of the charitable organization disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue and expenses for the preceding fiscal year will be provided to any person upon request.

REGISTRATION WITH A STATE AGENCY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THAT STATE. More information about charity state disclosures and charitable solicitation registrations.

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THE BATTLES FOR SAIPAN AND TINIAN

Commemorating the 75th Anniversary By: Ranger Brooke Nevitt, American Memorial Park

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t 8:40 am on June 15, 1944, American forces invaded Saipan’s western beaches. Over the next 25 days these brave men would fight thousands of Japanese soldiers across the 45 sq. mile island until the island was declared secure on July 9, 1944.

This year marked the 75th Anniversary of the Battles for Saipan and Tinian.

To commemorate this pivotal event, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and Lt. Governor Arnold I. Palacios kicked off the 75th Anniversary special events with a proclamation signing ceremony.

Following the proclamation signing, on June 11 the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council coordinated the Marianas Memorial blessing and remembrance ceremony. This annual ceremony recognizes and honors the indigenous Chamorros and Carolinians whose lives were lost during World War II. Wreaths were laid at the base of the memorial where the names of over 900 civilians who perished are inscribed on the granite panels.

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On June 14, 2019, at sunset, all came together to remember this same night 75 years ago, when US Servicemen spent the night on ships offshore awaiting the fateful morning’s assault on the landing beaches and as civilians hid in caves awaiting the unknown.

This gathering was a time of reflection and remembrance to honor the bravery and sacrifices of the American military and the civilians caught between two nations at war.

Over 200 people walked with LED candles alongside the invasion beaches lined with thousands of U.S. and CNMI flags. Along the way walkers were welcomed to learn more about the events of June 15, 1944 at learning stations with park rangers from American Memorial Park, Pacific Historic Parks education staff and volunteers. At the turnaround point all were greeted by the beautiful music of the Third III Marine Expeditionary Force Band.

The following day, on June 15, a wreath laying ceremony was held at the Court of Honor at the American Memorial Park. Guest speakers at the

event included CNMI Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, American Memorial Park Superintendent Barbara Alberti, Retired Business Executive and World War II Survivor David M. Sablan, and Commander, Joint Region Marianas Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield.

Special events throughout the month of June included the American Memorial Park and the CNMI Museum multimedia exhibition: “Marianas Peoples, the Battles of Saipan and Tinian,� sponsored by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council. The exhibit featured recently declassified photos and film of the civilian wartime experience never before seen on Saipan.

This year marked 75 years since the Battles for Saipan and Tinian. However, everyday American Memorial Park works to share the stories of this important period of history. National Park Service and Pacific Historic Parks staff work together to implement a year round calendar of educational programs for the visiting public and the island community. Annual program highlights such as Reading Ranger, Every Kid Outdoors, Junior Ranger, Art in the Park, and Icons of World War II are just a few of the many opportunities to experience World War II history at the park. Come join us at the Park!

For more information log on to https://www.nps.gov/amme.

American Memorial Park was established in 1978 to honor the American and Marianas people who died during the Marianas Campaign of World War II. WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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USS Arizona Memorial Reopens By: Jim McCoy, Director of Communications, Pacific Historic Parks

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he reopening of the USS Arizona Memorial was welcome news to the thousands of people who daily visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

The Memorial is a must see stop that provides the opportunity to pay respects to the 1,177 USS Arizona sailors and Marines killed December 7, 1941. The Memorial straddles but does not touch the USS Arizona, where most of the men who lost their lives are still entombed.

First opened in 1962, the Memorial had been shut down to foot traffic for 15 months due to significant damage discovered in an anchoring system that impacted the floating Memorial concrete dock.

When it reopened on Sunday, September 1, excited visitors lined up early with the line stretching to several hundred by the time the Visitor Center opened. The first shuttle departed at 8:10 am, the same time the USS Arizona was sunk on a Sunday morning almost 78 years ago after being hit by an armor-piercing bomb.

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is the cornerstone of our mission here, and restoration of public access to this iconic place is critical as we continue to tell their stories and honor their memory.”

On back to back Saturdays in August, two sets of Navy personnel volunteered to clean, polish and paint the Memorial as work wound down to repair the dock and moorings.

“There are things that we do that feel like work and this doesn’t feel like work. This is an absolute honor to be out here,” said LCDR Jeremy Reed.

“It was amazing and very emotional going aboard the USS Arizona Memorial,” said Glenn Solitaria of California, who was on the first shuttle of the day.

“Being here, realizing where we are, the gravity of the sacrifice that these men made, we’re all happy to be here to give back, so this place is preserved and generations can come back and see exactly what this means,” said Chief Petty Officer-Select Jefferson Washington, whose late grandfather served in the Pacific during World War II.

The Memorial Dock was blessed the evening before the public opening with a ceremony that featured Hawaiian and military blessings, floral tributes, and a bugler playing Taps.

“There are many who have gone before us that we need to ensure they are not forgotten, we need to ensure our kids don’t forget,” said CPO-Select Jason Chambers

“It is a great honor to share the stories of the men of the USS Arizona, and all of those who served, suffered and sacrificed on Oahu on December 7, 1941,” Pearl Harbor National Memorial Acting Superintendent Steven Mietz said. “That

Ten days after its reopening, one of the four remaining USS Arizona survivors died. The passing of 98-year-old Lauren Bruner is yet another reminder of the significance of this hallowed place.

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MDSU-1 and Royal Australian Navy Dive USS Arizona Memorial RIMPAC 2018 Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Arthurgwain Marquez, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet DVIDS, Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

Gauging the Structural Integrity of the USS Arizona By: Dr. Katie Bojakowski, Chief of Cultural and Natural Resources and Scott Pawlowski, Curator, National Park Service

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uring the 15-month shutdown of the USS Arizona Memorial, important research was conducted on the sunken battleship USS Arizona to further efforts to preserve this hallowed place.

The nearly 30,000-ton 608-foot long steel battleship was built and commissioned in 1916. For the past 78 years, it has been underwater at Pearl Harbor as a result of Japan’s attack that launched the United States into World War II. The battleship remains the tomb for most of the 1,177 USS Arizona sailors and Marines killed that fateful Sunday morning.

During the shutdown of the USS Arizona Memorial to repair moorings and a dock, divers installed three sensors on the USS Arizona to study impacts to the battleship before and during repairs to the Memorial.

Researchers focused on collecting data during a relatively inactive period of lower wake and vibrations from the Navy shuttles that normally deliver some 4,000 visitors to

the Memorial daily. That data studies the impact of ships that come close to, but do not dock at the Memorial.

The second phase studied impacts to the Arizona while the dock repairs were ongoing. During the construction, researchers didn’t record any significant vibrations on the wreck or observe structural changes that would indicate shifting.

The third phase involves leaving the sensors in place to get baseline data on visitor use of the USS Arizona Memorial, which straddles the hull of the battleship but does not touch the shipwreck.

The conclusions from the data collected will be presented at a symposium in Boston this January titled “Hard Science on Hard Steel: Scientific Studies of the USS Arizona.”

The gathering will feature experts from the National Park Service, Harvard University, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

YouTube - USS Arizona Bomb Hole, December 5, 2019 Honolulu Star-Advertiser's December 7th Special Section.

The decades long debate on the structural integrity of the deteriorating USS Arizona will be center stage.

Sessions are scheduled on corrosion rates and Finite Element Modeling (FEM), a virtual way to predict future degradation and try non-invasive solutions in the event of imminent collapse.

The regular oil sheens that visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial witness will be the focus of another panel. They are reminders of the estimated half a million gallons of oil onboard, a continuing concern as the decades march by.

The presentations in January will provide experts with the most up to date analysis of current data and research in order to effectively and respectfully manage this American war grave of huge significance.

WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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Rendezvous with History

Lonnie Cook

By: Amanda Thompson, Oral History Consultant

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ith only three survivors remaining from the USS Arizona, the stories of these men have become invaluable. Lonnie Cook was born in Morris, Oklahoma and joined the Navy in April of 1940.

Immediately out of boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Arizona. His first impressions of Hawaii were pleasant, including “surfing” on regulation mattresses because they didn’t have surfboards, buying fresh pineapple juice and a ham and cheese sandwich from the YMCA. On December 7, 1941, Lonnie was taking a shower when the attack started. His battle station was located in turret 3 which is also where he worked and slept.

“That’s where my locker was. When the gun rotated, my locker rotated…The barbette around the turret was 3 inches thick, all around steel…I was standing in front of my locker, changing clothes, getting ready to go ashore and we heard a rumbling. The Chief turret captain came all the way from the Chief ’s Quarters up forward where it blew up. He got out in time. He came in through the internal part of the ship and down through the deck instead of coming through the turret. Good thing he did. He got in and told us the J@#! were bombing us. So I started out on the ladder going out of the shell deck up into the powder room where my station was when it blew up and it knocked me off all but just my hands, but I held on. People kept coming out of compartments and they were all burned so bad. One or two guys called me by name and I didn’t even know who they were. We finally got all we could get off and the Damage Control officer…gave order to ‘Abandon Ship.’ That night we went to the airmen’s barracks [on Ford Island] and I slept in one of the airmen’s bunks.

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During the night, they woke me up coming in and he said I was in his bunk…So I got up and he said he was in a fighter plane… looking for the Japanese Fleet and all he had for armament was an R6 Springfield. Many times I thought you better be glad you didn’t find it…The next morning nobody seemed to be telling us what we were doing so we heard they wanted volunteers to go on destroyers and get them underway. So we picked up eight or ten guys out of the turret and we caught a motor launch and we went over to the destroyer base. We told them while we were there that we would volunteer if they would put two or three of us together on the ship and they agreed.”

Lonnie Cook would spend the rest of the war in service on the sea. He served aboard the USS Alywin during the Battle of Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway and Okinawa. In 1948, he was discharged from the Navy and married in 1950.

He worked as a welder and a farmer in Salinas, California, but ultimately moved back to his hometown in Oklahoma.

When asked why we should remember Pearl Harbor, his answer was simple: “Well, so you don’t get caught again!”

Lonnie Cook passed away on July 31, 2019.

If you know someone who would be interested in sharing their Pacific War or home front story to be preserved in our Oral History Collection please contact us at info@pacifichistoricparks.org. To see Cook’s full oral history and others like it, visit our digital collection at www.pacifichistoricparks.org

The Lone Sailor Statue Pearl Harbor National Memorial

By Daniel A. Martinez, Chief Historian at Pearl Harbor National Memorial

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ere at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial visitor center we remind all visitors of the legacy and sacrifice that still lives on through generations of military service men and women. The Lone Sailor Statue enables the National Park Service the opportunity to recognize veterans and current service members of the US Navy.

The Lone Sailor honors their commitment to their country.

On Friday, October 13th, 2017, the 242nd birthday of the US Navy, a replica of the Lone Sailor statue was dedicated on the grounds of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial visitor center. The dedication was one of humble splendor as US Navy dignitaries from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam turned over custody of the Lone Sailor statue to the National Park Service. Each replica of the Lone Sailor statue is unique in its placement – each is in an area that has great significance to the US Naval history. Here at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial visitor center the Lone Sailor looks off into the distance as if he is watching over his brothers who were killed in action on December 7th, 1941 along Battleship Row. At the base of our Lone Sailor sits a plaque that reads “The base of this statue contains steel from the USS Arizona”.

According to the Navy, “The Lone Sailor signifies the men and women who have served, are serving, or will serve in the Navy.

He’s called the Lone Sailor, yet he is hardly ever alone…”

Today, thousands of visitors’ gaze and photograph the statue. It is hoped that visitors come to appreciate to all those men and women who have participated in the Naval Services of the United States of America, from 1775 to present.

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Northern Marianas College Rises from the Destruction By: Cindy Rapadas, Regional Director Guam & Saipan, Pacific Historic Parks

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early a year ago Super Typhoon Yutu slammed the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands with wind speeds of up to 220mph. Saipan, one of the three islands and largest within the Commonwealth is home to the National Park Service, American Memorial Park. The storm was the strongest, most powerful to hit the Northern Mariana Islands in more than three decades.

Meteorologists said it was the most powerful tropical cyclone on earth in 2018, and the islands of Saipan and Tinian took a direct hit. The strength and magnitude of the storm left many people homeless in its wake. The vast majority of island residents were left without power and running water.

On the island of Saipan, the damage to the island’s only institution of higher learning, Northern Marianas College (NMC) was extensive. Nearly all of the buildings had their roofs ripped off, there was structural damage to almost all classrooms, and most of the equipment in the computer and nursing labs were damaged by the wind and rain. The college lost 37 out of 39 classrooms. The bookstore and all its contents was lost along with vehicles and classroom furniture.

The total damage is estimated above $20 million.

The lack of classrooms didn’t stop the college from holding classes. With almost all of the facilities severely damaged, classes were held at one of the local high schools in order to complete the semester. Students came back to the main

campus after FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers constructed temporary tent structures that are currently being used as classrooms to this day.

The road to recovery is long but the college administration is optimistic. To add insult to injury, the college on the island of Saipan is facing additional challenges: they are in the midst of reduced hours for staff members because the typhoon severely impacted economic activity on the island, especially to the tourism industry, which generates tax revenue.

Quality programs and services for the students of NMC will not be compromised as the college moves forward. Their academic growth and professional development remains the number one priority. In fact, NMC’s enrollment GREW this semester by about 10%, despite the damaged infrastructure and temporary classrooms. One other positive note is that in Spring 2019, NMC graduated one of our largest classes in history.

A new chapter is being written for the NMC, one that will make certain that new, resilient, and state of the art facilities will come from all this devastation. According to Frankie Eliptico, NMC Interim President, “We are building a new NMC that is worthy of the community that we serve.”

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Anne Ennes surveying a hospital gown that was previously worn by the Hansen’s disease patients – taken by Julia Aleszczyk

Photo by: Valerie Monson. www.kalaupapaohana.org/position.html

Ed Kato’s paint box. Photo by Fran Ritchie.

Making Old New Again: Conserving Kalaupapa’s Museum Collection

By Julia Aleszczyk, Museum Curator at Kalaupapa National Historical Park & the Conser vation Department at Harpers Ferry Center (HFC)

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idden within Kalaupapa National Historical Park (KALA) is a museum collection with over 333,000 objects; each detailing its own unique history - how it was crafted, used, treated, and in some cases, altered. This collection provides a poignant insight into the lives and personalities of the more than 8,000 individuals who were forcibly separated from their loved ones, to live out their days in exile in Kalawao and Kalaupapa. All objects, including our collection, deteriorate with time.

This past summer KALA was awarded $72,000 to provide conservation treatment and condition assessments to approximately 365 objects in the Park’s collection.

HFC objects conservator Fran Ritchie had the pleasure of working on art supplies and objects once owned and used by former patient Ed Kato.

Ed was a self-taught artist who was known throughout the community for his generosity and good-spirited disposition. He died in 1998 after

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having lived at the settlement for 61 years. Fran carefully conserved Ed’s painting table, along with his set of oil paints. She judiciously conserved some of Ed’s unique artworks, including a painted coconut artistically depicting a 1950s Hawaiian scene of a surfer catching a wave. The treatments included stabilizing the chipped ink of his signature on the lid of his paint set; meticulously re-aligning and mending the torn, thin translucent paper that he used as a paint palette on his painting table; and consolidating fragile paint chips to prevent them from flaking off the coconut.

HFC’s wood conservator Curtis Sullivan treated a Victrola and a multiband radio that were originally located in the American Japanese Ancestry Hall. This hall was used by the patients to listen to music and catch up on the news. Both objects suffered from termite damage and the veneers were lifting. Curtis filled losses in the wood caused by the termites and carefully re-adhered the veneer. He reintegrated areas that had lost their original surface

coloration using wood stains and dyes.

Finally, he applied a wax coating as a protective measure.

HFC textile conservator Anne Ennes provided guidance for storage and treatment recommendations. She noted alterations that patients made to some of the garments in order to accommodate their needs caused by the secondary effects of Hansen’s disease.

She discovered shirt fronts that were sewn shut because a patient’s hands no longer had the mobility to fasten buttons, and gloves where the fingers were removed or sewn closed. Such alterations were poignant reminders of how even the ordinary elements of life (such as clothing) were unsuitable for everyday use as a consequence of the disease.

The partnership between KALA and HFC affords us the opportunity to slow down or reduce the rate of deterioration; allowing us to preserve these objects and their stories for inspiration, education, and enjoyment for this and future generations.

Alone In Pearl Harbor I stood there alone, my thoughts all my own.

I gazed at remains corroded by flames, at steel that was twisted and melted and torn.

Guns that were useless and helmets once worn.

I thought of the thousands who had yet to come, the word of their sorrow, the loss of their son.

Of sisters and brothers with thoughts unknown Of wives and children left all alone.

In silence and reverence I stood there alone And asked for a vengeance for those that were gone.

I thought of the treachery though not our own And asked God to lead us, protect those at home.

The day that I spoke of has long since gone.

Although it may take very long the hearts will heal, that were once greatly torn.

Prayer for the Dead

This poem was written by Robert J. McMahon, Quartermaster Second Class, USN, USS Oklahoma (BB-37). It was composed and written on the capsized hull of this gallant ship on December 8, 1941 while on anti-sabotage duty.

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

Homer L. Allem Schofield Barracks Lake Wales, FL

William H. Furrer Ford Island NAS Centralia, WA

Dorwin F. Lamkin USS Nevada Mission, KS

Paul Moore USS West Virginia Chesapeake, VA

Joseph E. Bringley Fort Shafter Rochester, NY

Vere Gardner Naval Base Pearl Harbor Gridley, CA

James R. Leavelle USS Whitney Garland, TX

David E. Nelson USS Whitney Snohomish, WA

Lauren Bruner USS Arizona La Miranda, CA

Nick H. Gray Fort Shafter Montrose, CO

Zane B. Lindsey USS Detroit Albany, OR

Joseph T. O’Shea USS Pennsylvania Mt. Vernon, WA

Richard Burleson USS Mugford Plainville, TX

Everett Hyland USS Pennsylvania Honolulu, HI

John Albert McGinty Jr. USS Oklahoma Park Forest, IL

Raymond L. Richmond USS Oklahoma San Diego, CA

Roy Carter USS Oklahoma Sequim, WA

Joseph Iscovitz Fort Shafter Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Harry R. Mead Ford Island NAS Orlando, FL

Aaron W. Cook Ford Island NAS Houston, TX

Paul Clayton Johnson USS Castor Vancouver WA

Edward J. Merkel USS Pennsylvania Atascadero, CA

Wetzel (Sundown) Sanders Camp Malakole Midkiff, WV

Lonnie D. Cook USS Arizona Morris, OK

Edgar Kentfield Jr. Ford Island NAS Hutchinson, KS

Samuel J. Merlo Wheeler Field Cortez, CO

Ray Emory USS Honolulu Honolulu, HI

Vincent A. LaGamba USS Honolulu Portsmouth, VA

Nelson G. Mitchell Jr. USS Jarvis Peoria, AZ

Jerome C. Wachsmuth USS Pennsylvania Mt. Vernon, WA Harvey M. Waldron Jr. Ford Island NAS Bend, OR

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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

Lauren Bruner Lou Conter Lonnie Cook Ken Potts Donald Stratton Stan Cromlish

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

LEGACY SOCIETY Marjorie M Bruckmueller

Woodrow Derby, USN Roger and Ellen McCollum

Rev Nicholas Inman

AMMF Founders Mathew R Sgan Jay Shields Rodney Shields

IN MEMORY OF Virgil "Steve" Henderson Gloria Henderson Linda Biery Howard Binkley Barbara Boal and Ted Bahry Diane Chamberlain Steve and Karen Christianson Patrice and Ted Doud Joe Geist and Patty Jo Edwards Alec and Tracy Geist Linda Harrison Robert and Sheila Haworth Richard and Julie Jongewaard Martha Kowal Bear and Jody McConnell Mike and Susi Miller

Scott and Renee Miller Hans and Jennifer Mykytyn Shirley Schwartz Steven Shay Karen Smith Larry & Karen Stark Jennifer Vance R.J. and Susan Vandenbosch Aimee Henderson Wilmot Jack Wilmot Dewey H Chew Gail Ann Chew Harold Keith Stephanie Cosgrove

Raymond L Dudik, USA Mitchell Dudik

James M Steele, USN, PHS The Steele Family

Reynaldo Salcido, Jr Carol Enos

George E Sullivan, USN Everett Hyland Roberta A Sullivan

Paula Kendrick John Kendrick

Robert Vislocky Joseph Vislocky

William J Ruiz, USAF Eric and Pamela Ruiz

Charles G Walsh, USAF (Ret.) Sarah R Walsh

Robert P Smith Leslie Smith

William T Young, Jr, PHS Michael and Marlene Young

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Kualoa Ranch Hawaii, LLC

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REMEMBERANCE FALL To 2019 donate, call (808) 954-8729 or visit www.pacifichistoricparks.org

Scott Kuckuck Dana Lasater Sheri Layton Lorenda Leber Mika Low Edward J Lynch Dennis and Susan Mar Christopher Martinez Michael I Massimini Mark Y Matsunaga Alan R Mattson James McCoy Andrew and Debbie McKane IV Heidi Meeker James Miller Michael Mochizuki Kathleen L Nawn, USN (Ret.) Susan and Bill Nee Shirley S Newman Ed H Noh

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

Daniel J O'Leary Pacific Islands Institute, Ltd George H Pann Don Plyley Barton Proger Dale Ranck Karen J Richardson Barry Roberson

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.

Phillip J Ronish Kenneth A Russell Edean Saito Neil A Sheehan Michael and Christine Simpson James G Sisson Edward P Smith Andrew J Speese Warren E Upton Aileen Utterdyke

___________________________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ___________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________________________ Email

J Patrick White Volney L Willett Timothy Wright Kwai "Sunny" and Norma Young Frank and Marcia Ziemba

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, Hawai‘i 96797

PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 985

75th Anniversary of the Battle of Saipan Photo by Lance Cpl. Madeline Jones, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing UNITED STATES, June 15, 2019