HANAPEPE — Even after their own country had branded them untrustworthy enemies, interned Japanese-Americans still volunteered to serve in the U.S. military during World War II.
“Imagine what the United States would have lost if America had turned their backs on the Japanese-Americans,” said Walter Ozawa, a guest speaker at the Veterans Day ceremonies Wednesday at Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery.
Ozawa was born in an internment camp in California after his mother was uprooted from Wahiawa on Kaua‘i’s Westside and sent to Honolulu, then Arkansas and finally California.
It was 66 years ago that around 200,000 Japanese-Americans were rounded up, separated from their families, friends and homes, branded enemies of the state and sent to internment camps. In the case of Ozawa’s family, the separation was for the duration of the war.
Some 14,700 Japanese-Americans did enlist, including Turk Tokita, Tsuka Murakami and others in attendance Wednesday who were part of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team that won 18,000 individual awards including over 9,000 Purple Hearts (for combat-related wounds), 21 Medals of Honor and eight Presidential Unit Citations.
Even though his family had been ripped apart, there was never much doubt that Ozawa and his four brothers would all join the U.S. military at their mother’s insistence — Ozawa rising to the rank of colonel and 100th Battalion commander.
He and others were able to have unlimited aspirations because of the efforts of Japanese-Americans in World War II, he said.
A pivotal point in Ozawa’s young life was when his mother received a letter in the mail apologizing for the internment and offering monetary restitution. The letter, which Ozawa had to read to his mother because she did not read English, was signed by President George Bush.
“After all, America is a great country,” Ozawa recalled his mother saying, “when the most powerful man in the world would apologize to a nobody like me.”
Ozawa, a “reluctant kotonk (Mainland-born Japanese),” is now deputy administrative director of courts for the state Judiciary on O‘ahu.
Ozawa grew up not far from the Hanapepe cemetery, in a plantation camp known as Wahiawa that no longer exists, replaced by coffee fields near the Kaua‘i Coffee Company visitor center.
“Thank you for allowing me to participate in your Veterans Day celebration,” Ozawa said, adding that it was the dream of his mother and father for he and his siblings to live lives as good Americans.
A special portion of the ceremonies was dedicated to honoring those who served in the Korean War, which master of ceremonies William Honjiyo, a Vietnam veteran, called “the forgotten war.”
In addition to the 31 known dead Kauaians who served in the Korean War, including Bonifacio Largusa, who is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl on O‘ahu, honored by name are the five Kauaians missing in action and presumed dead after never returning from Korea (with the dates they were declared missing in action in parenthesis): Sgt. Jose Balalong (Nov. 2, 1950); Cpl. Sidney Kaui (Dec. 2, 1950); Cpl. Mitsuyoshi Ishida (Dec. 7, 1950); Cpl. Muneo Yaka (Oct. 15, 1952); and Pfc. Takeshi Sasaki (April 26, 1951).
Korean veterans Jimmy Oyadomari and Steve Uyehara were given the honor of carrying one of three wreaths to the cemetery’s center flagpole in a steady rain. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and County Council Chair Kaipo Asing carried a second wreath, and Capt. Aaron Cudnohufsky and Executive Officer Cmdr. Jim Wucher of the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility carried a third wreath.
Tony Elliott, state Office of Veterans Services Kaua‘i coordinator, read the names of the Korea MIAs during his speech, wherein he also announced establishment of a nonprofit, Kaua‘i Remembers… Armed Forces Memorial Foundation.
The purpose of the organization is to educate, promote and inspire American patriotism on Kaua‘i, and to perpetuate the memory of Kaua‘i’s honorably discharged military veterans and those still serving, their families and supporters through the creation of suitable public monuments raised in their honor, he said.
Making the trip from the Eastside were Aurea Laymon, Joni Youn and Taylor Youn, who regularly bring flowers for the grave of Philip K. Laymon, a U.S. Navy veteran who died on Kaua‘i in 2006.
“We come on Saturday and put flowers on my dad’s grave, and we’re very honored that he’s buried here,” said Joni Youn.
She and many others acknowledged the work of Donovan Travaso, a county Department of Parks and Recreation employee in charge of maintenance at the cemetery. “Donovan Travaso does an awesome job maintaining the place,” said Joni Youn.
She said it is important for her family to be at the cemetery on Veterans Day “to honor all of our veterans. Every person buried here fought to defend our country. Especially with all that’s going on in the world now, it is important to remember those who are serving and those who served.”
David Manguchei of Wailua visits monthly the graves of his mother and father, Margaret and John Manguchei. His father is a U.S. Army World War II veteran who died in 2006, one year after Margaret Manguchei’s passing.
It was important for him to also visit the cemetery on Veterans Day “to honor the veterans that sacrificed for us in the past wars, and even with the wars now,” especially those who gave “the ultimate sacrifice,” giving their lives in fighting for freedoms all Americans enjoy today, he said.
“And to honor Dad and Mom. At least they’re together again. In the Christian belief, they’re back together again,” Manguchei said.
As usual, a volunteer honor guard of veterans provided the rifle salute after the wreaths were placed. They included Donald Rapozo Sr., Sixto Tabay, Richard “Soupbone” Kashiwabara (the day’s guard commander), Brad Turner, Norman Braun, Adam Carvalho, Randy Kelikuli, Alfonso Garcia and Norvin Olivas.
They said they are always looking for fellow veterans to volunteer to provide the service to veterans and their spouses at funerals, as they are required to have at least three people at any funeral at which they provide the complimentary service.
As most funerals are on Saturdays, it isn’t always possible to get the minimum of three people present, to the disappointment of the veterans’ families, they said.
Veterans of any service can volunteer and are given uniforms and boots in exchange for at least a one-year commitment of service, said Kashiwabara. Call Elliott, 241-3346, to volunteer, or for information on the nonprofit foundation.
Eric Nordmeier, of the West Kaua‘i Lions Club, said his club for over 30 years has brought pastries and drinks to the service. “We have a strong tradition of helping the veterans,” he said.
“This is our kuleana. This is something we do for the veterans,” he said, adding that several club members are also veterans.
The mayor said veterans “deserve our admiration, our deepest respect every day of the year,” and also quoted fellow Kaua‘i native Eric Shinseki, who said when he agreed to be director of Veterans Affairs for President Barack Obama, there is “no higher responsibility than treating with care and respect all who served in uniform.”
Asing said his grandfather rests at the cemetery, and added he has never seen the grounds look so good. He read a certificate signed by all seven members of the council. Councilwoman Lani Kawahara and state Rep. Jimmy Tokioka, D-Lihu‘e-Koloa, were also in attendance.
Part of the solemn opening ceremony included the posting of flags from various island veterans organizations: Kaua‘i Korean War Veterans Association, U.S. Marine Corps League, American Legion Post 2, American Legion Post 54, Military Intelligence Service, Kaua‘i Veterans Club, Vietnam Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, 442nd RCT, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
