A PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS PUBLICATION
THE DEBATE OVER AN
Iconic Memorial
SUMMER 2021
CONTENTS
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SUMMER 2021
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President’s Message
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Establishing a Memorial to Remember and Honor
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Countdown to Infamy: The Aloha Tower Story
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A Blessing in Disguise
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PHP Launches The Story of World War II on Guam Program
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Resilience and Reverence
12 Passings 13
Prayer for the Dead
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You Make It Happen!
8 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. Conceptual Drawing Cover Photo by National Park Service
11 President & CEO Aileen Utterdyke
98-211 Pali Momi Street #200-A Aiea, Hawaii 96701 www.pacifichistoricparks.org (888) 485-1941
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Board of Directors Alan Mattson, Chairman Jeff Bell, Vice Chairman James E. VanDerKamp, Secretary Cliff Purkiser, Treasurer James M. Boersema Noel W. Bragg Alma M. Grocki Patricia A. Lucas Edward J. Lynch
REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2021
Board of Directors (cont.) Mark Y. Matsunaga Dr. Ed Noh Michael Olson Theodore Peck Alby L. Saunders Mathew Sgan Agnes T. Tauyan Kwai S. Young
Directors Emeritus Neil A. Sheehan James K. Sylva Geoffrey M. White Joachim P. Cox, Legal Advisor Publication Advisers Aileen Utterdyke Edean Saito Editor Jim McCoy Layout & Design Chase Nuuhiwa
PRESIDENT & CEO MESSAGE This issue’s cover story is an intriguing look at the extensive planning process that resulted in the construction of the USS Arizona Memorial, one of our nation’s most revered war graves. Of the 2,390 American lives lost in the December 7, 1941 attack, 1,177 were sailors and Marines stationed aboard the USS Arizona. Most remain entombed in the battleship now laying at rest below the Memorial. The renowned architect of the Memorial, the late Alfred Preis, is featured thanks to oral histories conducted by the National Park Service. From Guam, we have included a story of the brutal march to concentration camps of Chamorros ordered by the occupying Japanese forces in July of 1944 during the time when our American forces were preparing to liberate the island. We are also preparing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Oahu that brought America into World War II. As the official cooperating association of the National Park Service, Pacific Historic Parks is proud to once again co-sponsor this event alongside NPS and the U.S. Navy. It’s a major undertaking that is expected to draw thousands of spectators and a world-wide on-line audience. It is scheduled to include the dwindling number of Pearl Harbor survivors alongside other World War II veterans who make up the Greatest Generation. The theme of the 80th is Valor, Sacrifice, and Peace. A special 80th Commemoration website is up and running. You can link to it through our website, www.pacifichistoricparks.org Due to COVID, last year’s 79th Commemoration went virtual. That meant for the first time in the history of the event there were no survivors or members of the public in attendance. That hour-long ceremony with the theme Above and Beyond the Call: Battlefield Oahu, is posted on both the 80th and the Pacific Historic Parks websites. Please stay tuned for announcements on the venue, tickets, guest speakers, wreaths, safety notices and additional events planned for the 80th Commemoration. If you are able to donate to our non-profit, please do so on the special 80th website or on the companion PHP site. You can specify that your donations go directly to events being planning for the week of December 7, 2021. Your support is much appreciated and vital in our mission to never forget Pearl Harbor and to Remember, Honor and Understand World War II in the Pacific. Finally on a personal note, this issue of Remembrance is dedicated in memory of Sunny and Del.
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.
WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG
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ESTABLISHING A MEMORIAL TO
Remember and Honor By Scott Pawlowski, Curator, Pearl Harbor National Memorial
USS Arizona Memorial under construction
While World War II raged on, many individuals recognized the need for a memorial to the dead of December 7th, 1941. Navy personnel sought a tribute to the sailors who died at Pearl Harbor, others sought to commemorate the attack itself. Everyone agreed that there should be some tribute. The details were varied but over the next 15 years or so would be refined into the Memorial structure you see today.
“A
long, long time went by between the initial thinking about a memorial [and final design]. It went back, really, to 1942, We started then to talk about a memorial, early 1942.” Alfred Preis National Park Service oral history #76, 1985 The Governor of the Territory of Hawaii chartered the Pearl Harbor Memorial Trust on December 9, 1943 as an offshoot of the Women's National Patriotic Organization who adorned veteran gravestones on Memorial Day for the Navy. The purpose of the organization was "to acquire land for, build and maintain a suitable memorial dedicated to the men who fought in the battles of the Pacific, to be known as the Pearl Harbor Memorial and to solicit the donation of funds and property to the corporation for the said objects and purposes."
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While their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, this organization helped define the multitude of interested parties who wanted to Remember Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Trust also spent quite a bit of time soliciting ideas about what exactly a memorial would look like. Interestingly, the proposals split into two main approaches with a variety of potential locations. One approach would be to have a memorial that was a place to render honors. The other approach was some sort of place to gather like a community center. Adm. Chester W. Nimitz wrote when asked about his idea for a memorial: ''Would it not be possible, using the natural beauty of one of the small valleys or hillsides near Honolulu to plan, landscape and plant a memorial garden with paths winding among flowering trees and shrubs?
Such a memorial would not only be a fitting monument to the armed forces but also a lasting adornment of which the Pearl Harbor Memorial Trust, and the people of Honolulu might well be proud." By 1946, Mr. Tucker Gratz, a prominent Oahu businessman, spearheaded civilian efforts towards the creation of a shrine over or next to the USS Arizona remains. The efforts of Mr. Gratz and others led to the creation of the Pacific War Memorial Commission (PWMC) in 1949 by the legislature. The PWMC was tasked with the creation of permanent World War II monuments throughout Hawaii, including one to those killed in December 1941. “True to the rule that if there're more than two people in a room there will be at least two proposals, there were two proposals. One, passionately defended and proposed, was a "useful" memorial, an auditorium. It was I [Preis] who spoke on behalf of a ''contemplative" memorial, and argued that the purpose really is a spiritual one, to stimulate people to think, to feel in their own way about the war, about war itself. So that's the way it started.” Alfred Preis National Park Service oral history #76, 1985 Navy leaders also sought a memorial to the sailors who died. In 1950, Admiral Arthur Radford, the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, ordered the construction of a wooden platform and flag mast on the boat deck of the USS Arizona. The hoisting and striking of the colors over the USS Arizona began. Notice here that this memorialization is very different from Adm. Nimitz’s ideas just 6 years earlier. Admiral Radford concurrently requested funding for the creation of a shrine over the USS Arizona both in 1950 and 1951 but Congress did not answer these appeals. After years of additional debate and lobbying by both civilian and military people, President Eisenhower signed Public Law 85-344, authorizing the creation of the USS Arizona Memorial on March 15, 1958. This law was amended by Public Law 87-201, effective September 6, 1961 stated: "Such a memorial and museum shall be maintained in honor and commemoration of the members of the Armed Forces of the United States who gave their lives to their country during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7. 1941." Public Law 87-201 After 4 years of citizen centered fundraising and financial assistance from both the state of Hawaii and the federal government, Alfred Preis’ ideas of a contemplative memorial were cast in concrete. The new memorial opened on Memorial Day, 1962 with a crowd of around 200 people at the dedication. This is what Alfred Preis, the USS Arizona Memorial designer has to say about this National Historic Landmark. This passage was taken from Alfred Preis’ National Park Service oral history conducted in 1985.
Admiral Radford’s Initial efforts at a memorial. Question: On your design some of the notable features are the dip in the roofline and the 21 openings in the center portion of the bridge, seven on each side and seven on the top, When you designed it with the dip in the middle and the 21 openings was there any particular symbolism that you were thinking of? Answer PREIS: Yeah, but it didn't start with the symbolism. The approach was strictly structural. It was a hang bridge, suspension bridge, which the catenary…The curves of the sagging, hanging cable. That's basically what that term, catenary, means. It was a structural solution which I thought the cheapest. Afterwards, when we were confronted by the talk to make a memorial out of it, everything I've read and thought and felt was stewing in my mind, and I tried to fit it together with the structural concept. There's nothing wrong with that. This is, I think, an essential element of the creative process. You are working on two different planes of ideas and you guide them until they meet and fit together. I don't think that there are often flashes of whole designs. The basic concept, yes, but what to do with the individual ideas and how to merge them with the functional and structural necessities comes later. For instance, the holes: the holes had only, only, one purpose at the beginning. To reduce the weight. At this stage we were still thinking in structural alternatives to build the memorial out of steel, clad in concrete, or entirely of concrete, either cast in place or precast. Well, you asked about the symbolism.
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USS Arizona Memorial under construction
Question: I just asked whether you had any symbolism in mind… Answer PREIS: Yes, but it was not preconceived. This grew out of the design and out of the essence of feelings which we acquired by reading and thinking and discussing. The idea of initial defeat, that we as a peace-loving nation-- and I'm quoting myself—will never strike the first blow. So therefore, since I also believe, as a Freudian, that war in the long run is probably unavoidable, regardless of our peace loving convictions, that if and when there should be another war, we again will have to be attacked first. We are not going to attack first. That was our thinking. So therefore, if we're to be attacked first we would suffer again an initial defeat, we hope a temporary defeat. The slack curve of the catenary became the sag of defeat, the weakness, and the sharp-edged upward curve of the two sides of the structure depict the will to rise out of that defeat into victory. As to the wall and ceiling openings, we want to emphasize the openness, rather than the enclosure, the number of openings would have been odd numbered, so that in the middle would be an opening and not a column. So I could make three, I could make five, I could make seven. Seven offered the best relationship of height to length and the most favorable relationship of wall and ceiling voids and solids. We had to give the openings form and we had to also make the ''flesh", the remnants of the walls between the holes, articulate something. I was most impressed by Marines standing at attention, their legs spread, rifle in front of them. This is what the wall between the openings does: they are slender, sinewy and hard, and formed as background for the spreading legs. In the beginning, they had a Marine standing in front of each of these columns. It was very beautiful.
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When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the man who would eventually design the USS Arizona Memorial was a 30 year old Austrian who moved to Honolulu after fleeing the Nazis from his birthplace in Vienna. The night of December 8, 1941, Alfred Preis and his wife were rounded up and sent to the Sand Island internment camp. The couple spent nearly four months there on suspicion of being enemy aliens. Family members said Preis was never bitter about the experience. And he considered his design of the USS Arizona Memorial as the proudest achievement of his architectural career. Alfred Preis died in 1993. His ashes were scattered in the waters off the USS Arizona Memorial.
COUNTDOWN TO INFAMY
The Aloha Tower Story By Daniel A. Martinez, Historian, NPS
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n the morning of December 7th the sultry trade winds blew at a speed of 10 knots across the waters of Honolulu Harbor. The weather was temperate at 73 degrees and there were light clouds over the Koolau mountains. For those planning to spend a quiet Sunday on Oahu the weather was perfect. In the heart of the city of Honolulu Aloha Tower was the tallest structure in the Hawaiian Islands. It was over 184 feet tall and was built just along the southern shoreline of the harbor in 1926. The tower was placed between the terminal buildings that were located between Piers 10 and 11. It was the central landing for the docking of the great Matson Liners that brought passengers to and from the mainland of the United States. In 1941 many civilian workers and military personnel brought their families here to work on expansion of military facilities for the Navy and Army. My mother and her family came to Hawaii in the spring of 1941 aboard the Matsonia. As a young girl of 10 years, she remembered seeing the Aloha Tower as they approached Honolulu Harbor with its large balustrades holding the letters that spelled out the word ALOHA on the upper section of the building. What she didn't know was this was the largest structure in Honolulu and for that matter the Hawaiian Islands. Its design was unique as well as its construction which was made of reinforced concrete that was later covered in stucco. Its Art Deco design dominated the structure. Arched structures were placed at the entryways at the base of the tower. It was simply a splendid project design and a unique piece of architecture for the Territory of Hawaii. The tower has a prominent square base with four large arched entryways. On the upper section of the tower were square stylized windows repeated on all four sides. An observation deck was located on the tenth floor. As the structure rises, it
Illustration courtesy journalist and historian Burl Burlingame
narrows slightly above the deck where the roof is curved and is adorned with green plaster with a 40-foot yardarm with rigging. But the dominant feature was its four-sided clockface that is 12 feet in diameter with a window band framed by two pilaster strips. On that fateful day the tower served unwittingly as a register of the time of the attack at 7:55 am, which marked the first bomb to fall on the seaplane ramp at the Naval Air Station at Pearl Harbor. Truth be known, the raid had already begun at the airfields surrounding Oahu minutes before that. When the 1943 film December 7th directed by John Ford was released, in the opening sequence of the attack, the Aloha Tower clock froze in cinematic time at 7:55 as the start of the attack. Unknown to most visitors to Pearl Harbor is the story of the brief attack on the Coast Guard ships at Honolulu Harbor. The Coast Guard became aware of the attack on Pearl within 15 minutes after it began. Anti-aircraft fire could be seen in the air above Pearl Harbor and six miles away the billowing clouds of black smoke rose up from Hickam Field. The cutter Taney moored in Honolulu Harbor at Pier 6 was a Coast Guard ship first to go to General Quarters. The alarm spread among the other Guard vessels. The Patrol Craft CG-8 was tied up at Pier 4 along with the Buoy Tender Kukui and Walnut along with the Patrol Craft Reliance. The strafing attack on Honolulu Harbor began at 9:00 am as the second wave attack unfolded on the island of Oahu. Several Zero fighters unleashed a lowlevel run on vessels below them. At the end of their run over the harbor a pair of Zero fighters flashed by the Aloha Tower. It was over as quick as it had begun. Earlier that morning shortly before 7:55 am, the cutter Tiger was on patrol near the Barbers Point Lighthouse and may at that time have fired the first shots at the Japanese First Wave. The damage was light at Honolulu Harbor but the Pacific War had now come to the peaceful and welcoming icon of the Aloha Tower. WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG
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A Blessing
IN DISGUISE By Father Eric Forbes
Many Chamorros on Guam got nervous when the order went out from the Japanese that the people were to march to designated camps in the southern half of the island in early July of 1944. It didn’t matter how young or old you were, nor how sick or infirm you were, the Japanese demanded everyone march to these camps. Word began to spread among the people that the Japanese were concentrating the Chamorro population into half a dozen camps to make it easier for the Japanese to put the people to death.
I
f the camps didn’t kill them, the march might. It was the rainy season, so walking by foot for as many as ten miles or more involved trudging through mud, with all the health hazards that entailed. Although American planes refrained from shooting clearly civilian marching groups, it was dangerous to walk in daylight because of strafing. Bombing from American ships offshore was a constant threat, day, or night. An impatient Japanese soldier might hit you or worse if you slowed down or stopped on the march. It didn’t matter that you were carrying your grandmother on your back. If you seemed too weak to march, a Japanese might decide to end your life. Some people just lay down on the side and died naturally from sickness, hunger, or wounds.
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Civilians passed so many dead bodies, both Japanese and Chamorro, it became part of the natural landscape. The camps hardly deserved the name. They were just open spaces. The Japanese provided nothing. The people put up whatever feeble huts they could make from vegetation and scrap material. They ate what could be collected from the jungle; even roots that were ordinarily inedible. You were more fortunate if your camp had a river running through it, although the water was polluted. The water couldn’t be boiled, nor any cooking done, as the smoke during the day and the light of the fire during the night would attract American planes. As one lady said, “We just pushed aside the filth floating on top of the water and drank.” Dysentery and other waterborne diseases were rampant.
The camps were so crowded, perhaps 5000 alone in the biggest one, occupying a small river valley where only a fraction of that number could have lived comfortably, that people slept leaning on each other. They didn’t even keep track of who was sleeping in the same shack or tent; people fell asleep wherever they found themselves. Some family members weren’t accounted for and relatives just hoped they would eventually appear. Even in the camps, the Japanese were a constant threat. Many able-bodied men were still required to build Japanese defenses, all the while being shot at and bombed by the Americans. Not all these men came back to camp; some were butchered by the Japanese when the work was done. Back at camp, the Japanese enjoyed playing psychological games with the women, subjecting some to sexual abuse as well. And yet, these camps rumored to be part of a Japanese design to eliminate the Chamorro population, were probably the very thing that saved them from death. The Japanese certainly wanted to prevent Chamorros from meeting American troops, providing them with critical information about Japanese numbers and positions. Removing the Chamorros to hidden valleys also meant the civilians couldn’t interfere with Japanese military movements. But sitting safe in these sheltered valleys also meant the Chamorros were far from the bullets and mortars exchanged between Americans and Japanese soldiers on the battlefields of the north. Thus, one morning the Chamorros woke up to find that their Japanese guards had quietly slipped away in the night, leaving a largely intact civilian population to be found by American soldiers stumbling upon camps of elated Chamorro refugees.
Historic photos courtesy National Archives; Walk to Manenggon for the 60th Liberation courtesy David Castro/Guahan Magazine
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PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS LAUNCHES
THE “STORY OF WORLD WAR II ON GUAM” PROGRAM By Jaclyn Balajadia, Education Manager
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or the past ten years, Pacific Historic Parks has offered free funding to transport students and teachers in schools on a field trip to visit their national park on the island of Guam. With new social distancing guidelines and the temporary closure of War in the Pacific National Historical Park in March 2020, field trips were no longer an option for youths and educators on the island. Pacific Historic Parks remained steadfast and committed to its mission of perpetuating the memory of events and to honor the people involved in Pacific historic locations by producing the “Story of World War II on Guam” program, a new educational and interpretive program consisting of mixed learning modules with hard copy books and the use of a virtual online platform.
A 20-page children’s activity book titled, “The Story of World War II in Guam Color and Learn Book” was produced and printed. Designed for 4th grade students, it featured the unique experiences of the people of Guam during the war. The book chronicled what happened on the island during World War II, beginning with the Japanese attack of the island in December 1941. The lives of the indigenous people – the CHamorus – were changed forever when Japanese forces took control of the island. Two and a half years later, a battle for Guam ensued between American and Japanese soldiers, with CHamoru people caught in the middle. An education expert developed a standards-based digital curriculum companion for teachers and parents to draw out important themes in the coloring book. These new educational materials were distributed to teachers in the Spring of 2021, who were excited to use the new resources. Mrs. Mikki Pazman, a teacher from Talofofo Elementary School, said “I absolutely loved this book and lesson plan curriculum. I feel all fourth graders should be able to use this book while learning about WWII. It gave just the right amount of information to the students on their reading level." The curriculum companion included activities that coordinated with specific sections of the coloring book. The curriculum consisted of a lesson plan for teachers and ready-made worksheets, or appendixes, for students. The curriculum was electronically provided to teachers. Pacific Historic Parks then organized and hosted two virtual story hour sessions to launch the book with six Guam Department of Education elementary schools in March 2021. The Virtual Story Hour included an introduction to World War II on Guam from a History Scholar and a reading of the book by Pacific Historic Parks staff, and an interview of a World War II survivor of Guam, Mrs. Natividad Calvo, affectionately known as “Auntie Natty.” Students were able to interact with
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the staff, History Scholar, and Auntie Natty during these live virtual story hour sessions. The story hour engaged school aged children about the war in Guam and prompted them to reflect on the actions of people from their community who were witnesses and/or survivors of the occupation of the Island. Ms. Lee Anne Galang, a teacher from AsTumbo Elementary School, said “It was an amazing Virtual Story Time. My students really enjoyed hearing the experiences of Auntie Natty." The workshop allowed for a shared discourse and critical thinking skills to be fostered and nurtured. Pacific Historic Parks received funding from Humanities Guåhan, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the federal CARES Act for the “Story of World War II on Guam” program. In total, it reached approximately 400 youth and adults and serves an important source of material in preserving the island’s rich heritage. The project is significant, as there are limited historical literary materials geared toward younger children about the World War II experience in Guam. Mrs. Janet Salas from Ordot-Chalan Pago Elementary School said, “Teachers now have a resource that they can use when they teach about Guam's history as well as the history of the people who were here during 1941-1944. Most students are not exposed to our history during these years. I know that our students learned a lot and gained a book that they can use later on.” Find out more about this program at www.pacifichistoricparks.org, where you can watch a recording of the virtual story hour, download the curriculum companion, and learn about the legacies of the war on Guam.
Photos by Jovannalyn Mafnas
RESILIENCE AND REVERENCE By Jovannalyn Mafnas, PHP-AMME Education Specialist
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merican Memorial Park and Pacific Historic Parks were awarded the Women in Parks Innovation and Impact Grant from the National Park Foundation. The project, titled “Resilience and Reverence: Wartime and Women of the Northern Mariana Islands” documents the stories of indigenous women who often are in the background of many histories. The project aims to bring their stories to life in a documentary that will convey the memories and experiences of two different generations of women in the Marianas. This would include the women who were resilient and lived through a time of unprecedented war and hardship, and the women who decades later came together in reverence of all who were affected by the battles of Saipan and Tinian to help make American Memorial Park what it is today. Although the grant project is currently well on its way, it was not without delay. The grant was awarded to American Memorial Park on March of 2020, but only a few days later, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. As a result, the park and all operations ceased and the project was put on hold. It was not until the fall of 2020 that American Memorial Park opened its doors once again and the project truly began. To get things started, Denton Pangelinan, a local videographer from Saipan was contracted to film the interviews that would take place at American Memorial Park. During the first few months of the project, he worked closely with Pacific
Historic Parks Education Specialist, Jovannalyn Mafnas and Lead Interpretation Ranger Brooke Nevitt to prepare for the interviews with the women identified for the project. The interviews with the women began in April and each individual had her own unique experience to share. The first group of women were all born on Saipan during the Japanese Administration. Life took them down many different paths, but all would experience the effects of war. Although they were young when war reached the Northern Mariana Islands, all would experience loss and hardships along with their families as they lived through this terrifying time. Life after the war was difficult; together with their families they overcame obstacles, displaying the strength and resiliency of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. The second group of women had a different story to tell. Being born after World War II, none had experienced life during the war, but all would hear stories of the war from the memories of their elders. The stories shared with them helped to shape them into the women they are today. The project continues with only a few more interviews to conduct. Editing will take place over the summer and a public screening of the films is scheduled to be done this fall. The goal of this project is to gather and preserve the stories of these women for future generations to come. We hope that the stories will empower not just young girls, but help the community to remember, honor, and understand the history shared through these stories. WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG
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Kwai S. “Sunny” Young Kwai “Sunny” Young, 84, a longtime board member of Pacific Historic Parks, died April 23, 2021. In addition to serving on the PHP board for 20 years, the retired Army colonel was a volunteer docent at the USS Arizona Memorial for 18 years. Sunny Young witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack as a child living in Kaimuki and grew up in war-time Hawaii. After his military career, he was an active volunteer in community organizations. That included serving as Director Emeritus and past board chairman of YMCA Camp Erdman. He was a member of the Pearl City Lions Club and Kalihi Y Service Club. As a senior officer with the Hawaii National Guard Honor Guard for military funerals, he presented flags at a host of military funerals locally. His military awards include three Meritorious Service Awards and a Legion of Merit. In recognition of his many years as a volunteer, Su`nny was awarded the YMCA Hero award, the US Department of Interior Secretarial Volunteer Service Award, and the President’s Call to Volunteer Service Award by the National Park Service. In 2009, Sunny received the Jefferson Award for Public Service. In 2013, he received the Doleman Award for significant and sustained volunteer contributions to the military and civilian communities. Sunny is survived by his wife Norma and daughter Cheryl.
Delbert Duwane Dandurant On April 22, 2021, Delbert Duwane Dandurant passed away at the age of 80. Delbert worked at United Airlines and served with the Hawaii National Guard of the 154th Wing. He retired from both in 2003 after 40 years of service. Not one to remain idle, he stayed active after retirement and found his calling at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial as a park ranger. The only thing he loved as much as his family was the park and the people in it. He loved the history and sharing it with anyone that would listen. He liked roaming around and conversating with everyone, coworkers and guests alike. When he was finally talking about retiring (again), he was already set on returning to the park as a volunteer because of his passion for this place. He took pride in his job as a ranger and was even prouder to call this his second home. Though heaven has gained an amazing angel, the family said goodbye to a loving husband of 57 years, a caring father of 2, a kindhearted grandfather of 5, and a great friend to many. He is also survived by his 2 sisters and was a beloved uncle to his many nieces and nephews. Delbert was truly a blessing to each and every life that he came into and will be deeply missed. 12
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Prayer for the Dead
“Eternal rest grant unto them and let perpetual light shine upon them and may they rest in peace.”
Bennie J. Angelo Schofield Barracks Stark County, OH
H. William Flatters Schofield Barracks Brownsville, TX
Harold H. Pouyadou Ford Island NAS South Mobile, AL
Estelle Birdsell USS Arizona Pahrump, NV
Edward Guthrie USS Whitney Omaha, NE
Clayton Schenkleberg Submarine Base La Mesa, CA
Lloyd F. Bishop USS Vestal Norfolk, VA
Thomas E. Hill USS Sacramento Indianapolis, IN
Thomas F. Shook USS Phoenix Clemmons, NC
William Patrick Bonnelli Hickam Field Radnor, PA
Richard G. Johnson USS San Francisco Walnut Creek, CA
William D. St. John Kaneohe NAS San Antonio, TX
Clarence L. Close USS Wasmuth West Lafayette, IN
Ralph H. Jones Naval Base Pearl Harbor Upward, FL
John Richard Stevens Marines, 1st Def Batt San Francisco, CA
Samuel Clower Schofield Barracks Sacramento, CA
Donald K. Kaup USS Medusa Orlando, FL
Leroy Sykes Jr. USS Whitney Indianapolis, IN
Richard Cunningham USS West Virginia Temple, TX
Hiram D. Manning USS Rigel Chesapeake, VA
Adam Teveri US Army Roanoke, VA
Ephram G. Davis USS Dobbin Elizabeth City, NC
Robert Mineau Wheeler Field De Pere, WI
Joseph V. Whitt USS San Francisco Bethel, OH
Valentine De Leon Naval Base Pearl Harbor San Leandro, CA 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.
IN HONOR OF LTC. Peter J Attilio, US Army Capt. Michael J Attilio, MD, US Army Richard Attilio
Mr. Thomas Tomzack Ms. Suzanne Belmore Daniel Piepgrass
Edean Saito Roberta A. Sullivan
IN MEMORY OF Peter Towanick, US Army, WWII Leo Joseph Zukowski, US Navy WWII Richard L. Attilio, US Army Korea Richard Attilio
Paula Kendrick John W Kendrick Natale C. Locascio Larry J Locascio
Joseph V. Whitt Janet Capehart
Goran Anderson Barry Cicero Richard A McMahon Jr.
Harold Keith Stephanie Cosgrove
Stanley J. Swiderski William Brown Greg Swiderski Jerry D. Tessaro, CSC U.S. Navy (Ret.), Pearl Harbor Survivor Rita G Tessaro
Mr. James Peter Piepgrass (CAPT USN) Daniel Piepgrass
Joseph Whitt Barbara Gilman
Joseph Peniston Todd, USS Solace Joseph Todd
Capt George E Sullivan, USN Everett Hyland Roberta A. Sullivan
WT2nd Maurice X. Aydell Mary Vernoy
THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS Stephen and Vickie Abbott
James Dodd
Ms. Lola Hiatt
Richard Attilio
David J Donati
Ms. Melody G. Hill
Glen L Bower
Ms. Nancy Fancher
Fred Humphrey
Mrs. Janet Capehart
Linda Fraley
Angela Buehler James
Samuel Clower
Ms. Barbara Gilman
Mrs. Kelly J Johnson
Stephanie Cosgrove
John & Mary Leigh Glenn
Mr. J. J Jonasson
Stan Cromlish
Dominick R Golio
Lester Jones
Charles Culp
Jason Grower
John Kendrick
Nancy I. Curnell
Jim Hackworth
Capt Isaac C Kidd III
Leo E Czajkowski
Roger Hale
Hubert M Lattan
Frank De Nave
Ms. Joy Hedlesten
Ms. Portia Layne
To donate, call 808-373-0419 or visit www.pacifichistoricparks.org
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REMEMBRANCE SUMMER 2021
James Liddell Larry J Locascio Mrs. Nancy Lonnemann
The Legacy Society Create a legacy that will ensure history will never be forgotten
Jason Louie Richard A McMahon Jr Heidi Meeker Linda Metzler Thomas Millsap Kathleen L Nawn, USN (Ret.) Mrs. Linda Nordyke
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.
Ms. Joan Patrick Susan Pettigrew Gayle Phillips Daniel Piepgrass Bob Proud Dale Ranck Ms. Valerie Renn Phillip J Ronish Willie L Roseke Edean Saito Jor Seman
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
Mr. Jack J. Sinkkking Thomas R Smith Mr. Donald L. Snyder Kathryn M Snyder
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.
Kymberly Sparlin
I already have a planned gift set up for Pacific Historic Parks.
Roberta A. Sullivan
Please specify type: _________________________
Greg Swiderski Agnes Tauyan Rita G Tessaro Joseph Todd Sandra J Van Horn Mary Vernoy Dr. Robert Alan Vos Chad B Westrom Judith Whitt Kathleen D Whitt Mrs. Karen Williamson Community Christian Church Edward T Wright Jr.
Pacific Historic Parks may recognize my membership in The Legacy Society in its publications. ___________________________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ___________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________________________ Email
Timothy Wright Hiromu Yogi Kwai "Sunny" Young
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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98-211 Pali Momi Street #200-A Aiea, Hawaii 96701
USS Arizona Memorial today
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