Remembrance Winter 2023

A PACIFIC HISTORIC PARKS PUBLICATION

81ST COMMEMORATION

Honors WWII Veterans

Winter 2023

CONTENTS

4

Winter 2023

7

3

President’s Message

4

The 81st Commemoration

7

Rosie the Riveters Bloom

8

Courtesy of The Emperor

10

An Inspiring School Visit

11

Loss of Sense of Place

12

A Young Life Ended by Massacre

13

Prayer for the Dead

14

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.

Pacific Historic Parks Cover Photo: USMC Lt. General Stephen D. Sklenka, Deputy Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, greets Pearl Harbor survivors Jack Holder and Sterling Cale at the 81st Commemoration.

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 Jeff Bell, Chairman Alma Grocki, Vice Chairman, Michael "Swede" Olson, Secretary Alan Mattson, Treasurer James M. Boersema Noel W. Bragg Patricia A. Lucas Edward J. Lynch

REMEMBRANCE WINTER 2023

Board of Directors (cont.)

Mark Y. Matsunaga Dr. Ed H. Noh Theodore "Ted" Peck Clif Purkiser Alby L. Saunders

Publication Advisers Aileen Utterdyke Edean Saito

Directors Emeritus Neil A. Sheehan Geoffrey M. White Joachim P. Cox, Legal Advisor

Layout & Design Chase Nuuhiwa

Editor Jim McCoy

PRESIDENT & CEO MESSAGE The 81st Commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor was marked by two sets of numbers. A boom in attendance triggered in part by the dropping of past COVID restrictions, and the continuing decline of the aging World War II veterans able to travel to Pearl Harbor.

O

ur coverage begins with the signature ceremony on December 7 with thousands applauding the 14 World War II veterans who were there in person.

The theme Everlasting Legacy highlighted the importance of passing down the collective stories of the Greatest Generation while strengthening our education programs so current and future generations never forget what happened at Pearl Harbor.

In his taped message, USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter stressed the importance of education. And in his speech, Pearl Harbor National Memorial Superintendent Tom Leatherman thanked Pacific Historic Parks for its leading role in the Commemoration.

“Pacific Historic Parks has been responsible for providing a lot of what you see here today, but they also support our education programs and as Lou Conter pointed out our education programs are extremely important for the work that we’re doing here at the site,” Superintendent Leatherman said.

Speakers also recognized the largely female home front workers who kept the war factories open and supply chains running while the men were at war.

We were pleased a record number of Rosie the Riveters attended the 81st commemoration. Five Rosies spent a full day at the park December 7, capped off by a night in Waikiki as participants in a parade honoring the veterans.

The next morning two of the 96-year-old Rosies told their stories to a largely all-girls school. The appearance at St. Andrew's Schools included an emotional Hawaiian oli (blessing song) that the students performed for the Rosies.

This edition also has coverage from Guam, including how some 500 Americans living there during the 1941 attack were shipped off to Prisoner of War camps in Japan for the duration of the occupation.

Thank you for your continued support of Pacific Historic Parks. Your annual membership fees and donations were huge in funding the many parts of the 81st program we were responsible for. Your support has also allowed us to rebuild our PHP education team close to pre-COVID numbers.

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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Everlasting LEGACY A CALL TO REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR

By Jim McCoy, Pacific Historic Parks

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REMEMBRANCE WINTER 2023

A larger than expected crowd of 2,500 people attended the 81st Commemoration of Pearl Harbor Day. Among them were 14 World War II veterans, five of them Pearl Harbor survivors.

G

one are the days when hundreds of members of the Greatest Generation traveled to Hawaii for the annual Pearl Harbor Day event.

The audience on December 7 at Pearl Harbor National Memorial and those viewing the proceedings via livestream were focused on the five survivors of the attack that changed the world 81 years ago.

Sterling Cale, Herb Elfring, Jack Holder, Ira Schab and Ken Stevens slowly made their way to their seats, accompanied by family, friends and caregivers. The five ranged in age from 100 to 102.

The speakers included Lou Conter, one of two remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. He provided a taped speech from his home in California.

“I had hoped to be with you in Honolulu for this 81st Commemoration but my 101-year-old legs are not what they used to be,” Conter said in his remarks.

The theme of the 81st Commemoration was Everlasting Legacy. The speeches, delivered with the backdrop of the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri, the so called bookends of the war, reflected that.

“Although we continue to have fewer veterans join us, our resolve to ensure their stories are not forgotten will only get stronger,” Tom Leatherman, Superintendent of Pearl Harbor National Memorial, said in his speech. “Together we can continue to honor those who served and sacrificed by sharing the diverse stories and history relating to the events from before, during and after December 7 and the U.S. involvement in World War II. The Everlasting Legacy of Pearl Harbor will be shared at this site for all time as we must never forget those who came before us so that we can chart a more just and peaceful path for those who follow.”

The keynote speaker was Charles F. “Chuck” Sams, the 19th National Park Service Director and first Native American to be appointed to that post. Sams is a Navy veteran. His late grandfather served in WWII in the Pacific on the USS Converse. Six of his great uncles also served in World War II.

WWW.PACIFICHISTORICPARKS.ORG

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In his taped speech, Lou Conter called on the nation’s education system to focus more on the lessons learned from the Day of Infamy.

“I have briefed a lot of high schools and junior high schools and they are all happy to have the truth come out and what really happened,” Conter said. “In the history books, there’s only a half a page on Pearl Harbor. They should have at least a chapter if not more. Because that’s a very important part of history and for our children to teach their children and remember.”

“Our family’s story of service led me to serve in the world's greatest Navy,” Sams told the audience. “Their legacy, their stories, their sacrifice, were a true demonstration of what a nation can do when it’s called to war. “ Rear Admiral Stephen Barnett, Commander of Navy Region Hawaii, also honored the World War II veterans for their valor and sacrifice in World War II. “And when that war concluded, another great legacy was born,” Admiral Barnett said. “Today American relationship with the people of Japan is a model of good relationships everywhere.

Britain, France, Germany, once mortal enemies, in some cases over centuries, are now strong democracies, friends, and allies in Europe...The world, with just a few outliers, value security, value prosperity, and value stability. Histories show democracies work together to foster peace and cooperation.”

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NPS Director Sams issued an appeal to those watching in person or via livestream.

“I challenge you to carry the Pearl Harbor legacy forward, sharing the stories of valor and sacrifice with your friends and family and instilling a sense of respect and inspiration in future generations as we heard that call this morning.”

In his speech, Conter thanked Commemoration organizers for dedicating the event to the members of the Greatest Generation.

“That includes those who served in uniform and those who worked on the home front,” Conter said. “The heroes are the ones that didn’t come home. The ones that lost their lives, the 2403 members of the military that lost their lives that day including the 1177 of my shipmates on the Arizona.”

His final line in the speech. “I hope to see you all next year if my legs are in good shape. Thank you very much and Remember Pearl Harbor.”

Rosie the Riveters

Bloom During Pearl Harbor Week

By Jim McCoy, Pacific Historic Parks

The five Rosie the Riveters who attended the 81st Commemoration were joined by family and friends December 7 on the USS Arizona Memorial.

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ive Rosie the Riveters attended the 81st Commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the largest number ever at the annual event. It was a whirlwind week for Delphine Klaput, Lucille “Cille” MacDonald, Marian Sousa, Louise Unkrich and Marian Wynn. The ladies are all in their mid to late 90’s.

Wynn and Sousa worked at the Kaiser Shipyard plant in Richmond, California. Wynn was a welder, Sousa a draftswoman. Unkrich was a riveter and bucker in the Glenn Martin Plant near Omaha, Nebraska. Klaput was a clerk in another Glenn Martin Plant in Baltimore, Maryland.

MacDonald was a welder in the J.A. Jones Construction plant in Brunswick, Georgia.

They were among thousands of mostly young women who went to work on the Homefront after the men went off to war following the Pearl Harbor attack. They worked a variety of jobs, including welders, electricians, draftswomen, clerks, outfitters, and riveters. Their goal was to help win the war and bring the men home.

At the time they didn’t know that they would collectively become known as Rosie the Riveters symbolizing the contributions made by American women in the war while also laying the groundwork for the women and civil rights movement.

The Rosies were fixtures all week at Pearl Harbor, with some signing posters outside the Pacific Historic Parks bookstore, taking an extended harbor tour, attending the USS Utah Memorial service, meeting park visitors, and doing interviews.

On December 7, all five were at Pearl Harbor National Memorial before sunrise in plenty of time for the 7:50 am start of the program marking the moment the attack occurred 81 years ago.

Later that day they visited the USS Arizona Memorial with distinguished guests including Pearl Harbor survivor Jack Holder. And in the evening all five participated in a Waikiki parade held in honor of World War II veterans and home front workers.

Pearl Harbor National Memorial Superintendent Tom Leatherman acknowledged their presence during his speech on December 7. His previous posts included superintendent of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California.

In his taped speech from his home in California, USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter thanked those in uniform and the home front workers for their service. He also made news in calling for schools to do a better job in educating future generations about the lessons of Pearl Harbor.”

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COURTESY OF THE

EMPEROR

by Father Eric Forbes, OFM Cap

Internees at Futatabi POW camp. Most of the missionaries are in this photo though most are dressed in civilian attire.

It was perilous enough being a native Chamorro islander when the Japanese occupied Guam on December 10, 1941. But for the five hundred or so American citizens living on Guam at the time, the surrender of the island to the Japanese posed an even greater threat. Those born and raised in the United States were truly the enemy in Japan’s eyes. This included the eleven American Catholic missionaries working on Guam.

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y September of 1941, just three months before the war broke out, all the Spanish Catholic missionaries on Guam had been replaced by American priests, except for the Spanish bishop, Miguel Olano, and his Spanish assistant, Brother Jesus. These American missionaries all belonged to the Capuchin Franciscan Order, and hailed from Wisconsin to New York and a few other places in between. Most of them lived in the capital city of Hagåtña, with some of them responsible for the outlying chapels such as Yigo, Barrigada and Yoña. Four others lived and worked in the southern villages of Sumay, Hågat, Inalåhan, Malesso, and Humåtak.

Because many of the priests cared for chapels and churches outside the capital, they had cars and they used them to transport many civilians to the safety of their ranches when the Japanese bombed Guam on December 8 and 9. After spending all day and night helping people flee Hagåtña, the priests anxiously awaited the next step in the Japanese invasion. Those in the southern villages had less to fear; some living in Hagåtña chose to stay in their rural outposts. Several priests faced the greatest danger remaining in the capital city.

On December 10, the Japanese finally had foot soldiers on the ground. After a largely symbolic fight put up by 8

REMEMBRANCE WINTER 2023

American soldiers and Chamorro militia men, Governor George McMillin surrendered the island to the Japanese. The missionary house was inspected by a few Japanese soldiers and, content that they found no weapons, left the priests alone for the moment. Word went out to the priests in the villages to come into Hagåtña and get their identification tags. Once they did so, their cars were confiscated and they were told to remain in the city.

After receiving permission from the Japanese to bury Chamorro victims of the Japanese invasion, the missionaries were confined to the Hagåtña Cathedral, emptied of its religious function and turned into a temporary prison for Americans. The prisoners, including the priests, slept on the floor, on benches, on tables. Hygiene began to decline; food was smuggled in from sympathetic friends on the outside.

In the dark hours of the morning of January 10, 1942, everyone in the Cathedral was awakened and told to gather their belongings, what little there were. Still under cover of darkness, the Americans were sent down to the harbor and then onto the Argentina Maru, a former cruise ship converted into a Japanese transport ship. No one knew to where they were sailing, but by casual observation of the direction of sunrise and sunset, and

by the daily decrease in temperature, they all came to the conclusion that the ship was headed for Japan.

When the thermometer dropped low enough, a huge mass of winter clothing was dumped in a pile and the Americans grabbed whatever they could, whether it fit them or not.

The American prisoners of war from Guam stayed in different places when they first arrived in Japan, but the missionaries and the civilian American residents of Guam, almost all of them married to Chamorro wives, basically stayed together in camps in the Kobe area, the last one at Futatabi, in the hilly outskirts of that city.

Life for the missionary prisoners was hard, but not horrendous. The facilities used as camps by the Japanese had been civilian institutions, such as schools, so there was no penal atmosphere except for the fences and guards. The guards, though unpredictable, were usually harmless. The greatest anxiety was food. Everyone lost weight; as much as 100 pounds for some. The missionaries were allowed to work for meager pay or bread allowances; a lot was bought or traded on the black market. Assistance came from the Red Cross and through the Swiss Consulate acting on behalf of the Capuchin Order.

The second daily burden was boredom. Some dealt with this by learning Japanese or by studying other subjects. Others painted or took up another hobby.

Still others tinkered with scrap, even the remains of downed American planes, and invented homemade contraptions. Outwitting the Japanese guards was a constant source of amusement for them, as well.

The missionaries tried to keep their spirits up with their sense of humor, calling their confinement a “vacation, courtesy of the Japanese Emperor.”

In August of 1945, the missionaries noticed a change in the attitude of the Japanese guards and, then, all of a sudden, the guards didn’t care anymore. Some even disappeared. Japan had surrendered; the war was over. In due time, the camp was visited by the victorious American forces. Not a single life was lost to the American missionaries during nearly four years of imprisonment. They had lost only time and weight, and were eager now to get on with their priestly duties.*

PHOTOS TOP to BOTTOM: 1. American missionaries on Guam in 1947. Around half of this group were POWs in Japan 2. Futatabi Camp (aerial view) 3. Futatabi Camp

*Funding has been provided to Pacific Historic Parks from Humanities Guahan and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the federal ARP Act of 2021

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An Inspiring

School Visit

By Jim McCoy, Pacific Historic Parks

T

he 75 middle and high school students walked into the St. Andrew's Schools gym to meet two 96-year-old Rosie the Riveters. The students sang a Hawaiian blessing that brought tears to the Rosies and their escorts from California.

The head of school, Dr. Ruth Fletcher welcomed Marian Sousa and Marian Wynn with this message to the students.

“Consider what you would have done if you lived in their shoes,” Dr. Fletcher said. “When these ladies were not much older than you, they left an indelible mark on the future of our country and today they will be sharing their incredible stories with you.” And share they did in a forum organized by the PHP Education department.

“You girls can enter any job that’s available and you are equal,” Marian Sousa said to resounding applause.

“You can do anything a man can do,” said Marian Wynn, who was 18 when she started a job at a California factory. “I didn’t know how to weld pipes. I never heard of a woman welding a pipe. But I went to school for two weeks and I learned to weld.”

The students had a host of other questions including one that triggered a different reaction.

“My pay was a fabulous $35 a week,” Sousa said to audible gasps. And when the men came back from the war, the women were shown the door.

“We were really necessary at the time, but we knew it was temporary,” Sousa said.

Sousa’s late sister Phyllis Gould and Rosie Mae Krier lobbied to get an annual National Rosie day on March 21. They also got Congress to approve a Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of all Rosies.

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“I guess we made a big impact,” Sousa said. “Look at the jobs that women have now.” But she added the equality battle is far from over “It’s still not equal pay for equal work, as it should be.”

The students were urged to check their family tree for relatives that served in uniform or on the home front.

“Find out if there were any Rosies in the family, neighbors, aunties uncles too as they were on the home front too,” said Tammy Brumley, the Rosie Wrangler who organized the Hawaii trip on behalf of the two Marians who are volunteers at the Rosie World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California.

One of the five Rosies attending the 81st Pearl Harbor commemoration, Lucille “Cille” MacDonald, is from Maui.

A local Rosie chapter headed by Jan Davis also discovered a Honolulu Rosie. Sadly, Ella Fujie died in September at the age of 100. Davis also coordinated the visits of Rosies Louise Unkrich and Dalphine Klaput.

The goal for the 82nd Commemoration next December 7 is to increase the number of Rosies attending.

SCAN ME

AN EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE A group of middle and high school students sang a Hawaiian blessing to a pair of 96-year-old Rosie the Riveters. The ladies traveled to Hawaii from California to participate in Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration events and to share stories of their work on the homefront during World War II. (Video courtesy Tammy Brumley)

Loss of a Sense of Place B y J i l l e t t e T. L e o n - G u e r r e r o Justo's family home, prewar Guam. Copyright Judy Selk Flores.

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oss during the war is expected. But most war stories focus on the loss of human life. But what about the loss of entire communities? World War II profoundly impacted the landscape, sense of place, identity, and community of numerous neighborhoods in Guam.

One such place was the district of Padre Palomo.

The community extended about a half-mile between the coastline of Agaña Bay and the cliff line in East Hagåtña. It was mainly a residential district with a school, two cemeteries, and a few small mom-and-pop stores.

According to the 1940 Census, a little over 600 residents live there.

Justo Torre Leon-Guerrero grew up there and said life was good. He lived down the road from his grandparents and across the street from his playmates. Eddie Perez was his best friend. Eddie’s sister, Remedios, taught him to swim.

Mrs. Perez [“Tan Sepa”] ran a small store and would give the children free candy. His playground included the beach, the ocean, a river, and the jungle. The school and church were within walking distance, as were a bakery, barber shop, and other small businesses that provided the family with needed goods and services.

The Padre Palomo school had an enrollment of about 400 students and taught 1st to 4th grade. Because the school hosted special events and competitions, it must have provided residents with a sense of community.

The district also included two cemeteries. The U.S. Naval Cemetery today contains at least 254 burials and is the final resting place for veterans of the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II and the Korean Conflict.

Across the street from the Naval Cemetery is the Custino Cemetery, the first Protestant cemetery on the island.

The opening of Padre Palomo School, 3 July 1930. Photo from the Bradley collection, Micronesia Area Research Center, University of Guam.

According to Justo, a sense of community existed in the district.

He spoke of “Tenbat,” who sold fish near the beach, “Takano,” “Tan Sepa” and “Matis,” who had stores in the district. “Sabrino” sold bread, and “Punzalan,” the barber, cut his hair.

The community spent time together. They gathered at the school for sports, friendly competitions, and shows. The residents walked to church together. Weddings were a community event with the bridal party walking down the street. Baptisms and birthdays were reasons for parties. During the Christmas season, most homes had novenas, and everyone was invited. As a child, Justo remembers visiting several homes.

When the Japanese bombed the island on 8 December 1941, more than 600 residents were instructed to abandon the district.

They were never able to return. The two cemeteries appear to be the only things remaining after the war. Construction of the main highway, Marine Corps Drive, demolished any homes that remained standing after the war.

The district's families with well-established networks who had shared their everyday lives were torn apart by the war.

The rhythm of life they had known – streets filled with joyous wedding parties, the exuberance of children playing on the beach, the bartering for goods and services, the reverence of worship and pride in their home, school, and community - needed to be recreated elsewhere. This they certainly must have accomplished as the island flourished after the war. But the memories of this prewar community must live on in the memories of our World War II survivors.* *Funding has been provided to Pacific Historic Parks from Humanities Guahan and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the federal ARP Act of 2021

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A YOUNG LIFE ENDED

BY MASSACRE B y J i l l e t t e T. L e o n - G u e r r e r o

Justo Torre Leon Guerrero was only 15 years old when Guam was liberated from the Japanese occupation in 1944. Late in life, he relayed his experience during WWII to his daughter. One tragic story he remembered was that of Benito.

Benito Cruz Salas lived in Piti with his grandmother, Josefa Salas Cruz, in 1930. It is unknown when he moved in with Justo’s auntie and uncle, Felicita Ada Torre and Antonio Iglesias Munoz. But by 1940, at 16, he was living with the Torre - Munoz family and working the land in Machananao.

Justo did not know if there was a familial relationship.

I

n Chamorro culture, family members are often raised by other extended family members. There is even a word for it in the Chamorro language – “Poksai.” The child is “given” to a family that doesn’t have children or has the resources to care for the child. There is no formal arrangement like an adoption. But the child is cared for like a natural-born child.

Felicita [also known as Nan Etang] and Antonio had only one child, a son named Antonio Torre Munoz. Perhaps this is why Felicita reared so many other children. Chamorro families of the time generally had large families. Her obituary names three other raised children, and it is possible that there were more. Regardless, if Benito was a relation, Justo considered him a part of the family. He must have looked up to him as he was four years older than Justo.

When the Japanese soldiers instructed the families in Machananao to evacuate the area and head south for the concentration camp in Manenggon, Benito joined Justo’s family on the journey. Felicita was the sister of Vicenta Ada Torre, Justo’s mother.

Benito helped the family construct their shelter once they arrived in Manenggon. One of the last to arrive, they had to make do with what they could find and use some of the resources they brought. They used the woven mats for shelter as almost all of the coconut fronds on the trees were gone – used by other families who had arrived earlier.

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After supplies were low, Benito went with the older men to the ranch in Manenggon to get food and supplies. The trek was not easy – significantly as the fighting progressed. But all made it back safely.

It wasn’t much later that Benito, thinking he would stop by the family ranch to get food and supplies for the family, volunteered to go with a group of men to northern Guam.

The Japanese needed assistance in moving some equipment.

It was an excellent opportunity to restock the supplies, he thought. As he rushed off, Benito asked Justo’s father, Ignacio, to tell Antonio where he was going and that he would bring back food.

After three days, the family grew concerned when he hadn’t returned. Not long after, the Americans arrived, and the family left Manenggon.

Later the family learned that Benito had perished along with at least 45 other Chamorro men at Chagui’an in Northern Guam. They had been massacred and beheaded.

While he was gone too young, he and others at the Chagui’an massacre are remembered each year at a memorial near the site. But more than that, Benito is still fondly remembered by those who knew and loved him.* *Funding has been provided to Pacific Historic Parks from Humanities Guahan and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the federal ARP Act of 2021

Pearl Harbor survivor Ken Stevens on his pass-in review salute to the USS Daniel Inouye.

"It was humbling standing there, it was really an honor and a privilege to represent all those who couldn't be there."

Prayer for the Dead

EXCLUSIVE ITEMS!

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

James “Jim” DeWitt USS Antares Culver, IN

Laurence V. Rosa USS Bagley Mt. Vernon, WA

Francis “Frank” L. Emond USS Pennsylvania Pensacola, FL

Wayne A. Shelnutt USS California Covington, GA

Edward G. Hall Hickam Field Las Vegas, NV

Jessie “Stan” Van Hoose USS Maryland Beloit, WI

John Hansen USS Argonne Lebanon, NJ 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 Lou Conter Donald Stratton Lauren Bruner Lonnie Cook Ken Potts Stan Cromlish

Stephen Parnes Joseph Parnes Jason Parnes Jeffrey Parnes Andrew Parnes

Joseph Charles Daniel Shirley J Daniel Albert O'Brien Army, WWII Merchant Marines Wanda O'Brien

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Tomb of the unknown Heidi Lund

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Thomas E. Barrow Albert L. Jones Amon Hale Stephen Jones Roger Krueger Richard Stoddard Lt. H. Grant Stoddard Eugene Smith James Arnold Petty Officer 3rd Class Peter Godfrey Ronald J Purdy Capt George E Sullivan, USN Everett Hyland Edean Saito Kwai Seen "Sunny" Young Roberta A. Sullivan

THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS Scott T Antinoro Scott Armstrong Scott Baltic Steven and Gail Bauer Farrel Becker Martin L Belko Benevity Community Impact Fund American Online Giving Foundation Inc. William Bible Marjorie M Bruckmueller Mr. John P Case Robert Charpentier

Daniel Cisneros Kenneth Coates Bryan Cooke Stephanie Cosgrove Stan Cromlish Shirley J Daniel William A Delaney Frank De Nave David J Donati James Dunn Dale Dupuy Mike and Marilyn Ellicott

Elks National Foundation, Inc Nona Flores Frontstream Charles E Gamble II Claire Garbade Michael B Gordon Jason Grower Angelica Hacker Ms. Kristine L Haile Montgomery S Hand, USAF (Ret) David Holden Gary M Hooper

To donate, call 808-373-0419 or visit www.pacifichistoricparks.org

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REMEMBRANCE WINTER 2023

Thomas Imke Angela Buehler James Cheznee Johnson Capt. Charlie Jones Jr USN (Ret.) Mr. Steven L Jones Robert Jones David H. Juedes Reena Kanner James and Sue Kelly James W Kimmerly Karl Kuether Kull Family Fund Kull Family Fund

James Liddell Dave Livingston Heidi Lund Matthew MacIntosh Merrily Mahon Terry and Myriam Mansell LCDR William Harvey Massicot, USN (Ret.) Michael I Massimini Rick and Jo McClellan John McDavid Richard A McMahon Jr Michael D Mercure Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Ronald Michl Dennis L Miendersma Douglas Miller Thomas Millsap James and Jody Mueller Network for Good Mark A Norman Wanda O'Brien Jeff and Julie Oerding Andrew Parnes Arlene Patuc Cathy Peacock Brook A. Plavec David M Powell Professional Music Tours, Inc. Ronald J Purdy Clif Purkiser Joseph W Richard Jocelyn and Douglas Reyes Jeanette Rodriguez Kenneth A Russell Stefano Russo Edean Saito Hilda Schneider Allan and Laurie Shikhvarg Mary Shumate Mr. Edward Smith Mr. Benny Smith Jr. Adrian Soucek David Soule Mr. Merle V Starr Richard Stoddard Mary A Stone Kerry Stubbs Roberta A. Sullivan Agnes Tauyan The Hasentree Club Club Bill Tuccillo Brian Tuccillo Chidebelu Ufodike USS Corry Association #817 Aileen Utterdyke Dr. Robert Alan Vos Paul Vranish J Patrick White Dennis & Jeanette Wong Timothy Wright Rebecca Williams Peggy Wright Edward T Wright Jr. Hiromu Yogi Frank J Ziemba

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 Pearl Harbor National Memorial (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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USS Daniel Inouye, Pearl Harbor, December 7, 2022