Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2014

Historian Eric Saul gives the thumbs up and shakes hands with Arthur Kurahara, a 100th Infantry Battalion, D Company, veteran. Other Nisei veterans are (from left) Shigeru Nakamura, 442nd Regimental Combat Team / 522nd Field Artillery Battalion; Kiyoki Koki, 442nd, I Company; Jiro Koja, 442nd, M Company; Willie Goo, 100th, C Company; Hiroshi Arisumi, 232nd Combat Engi-neer Company; and Tom Yamada, Military Intelligence Service. Photo by Melanie Agrabante

An exhibit titled “Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers Fighting on Two Fronts” is near the end of its six-week run at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, where it tells the story of the Nisei soldiers of World War II and also takes a broader view of how they influenced postwar America.

The performance of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service had a profound effect on the postwar lives and civil rights of Japanese Americans. One was the legislation that resulted in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which acknowledged the injustice of the wartime internment and provided for a $20,000 payment to survivors.

The exhibit is by historian Eric Saul, the founding curator of the Military Museum at the Presidio of San Francisco. A sample of his body of work includes the contribution of ethnic minorities and women to the U.S. military, Japanese immigration to the United States, the Holocaust and the diplomats and others who helped the Japanese American and Jewish communities during World War II.

Nisei soldiers fought war . . . on two frontsExhibit at NVMC’s Education Center tells why

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by S. Sanae Tokumura

After the triumphant completion of the $6.5 million Nisei Veterans Memori-al Center campus last year, Leonard Oka knew it was time for the board to stra-tegically focus on leadership succession.

And this spring, as he had planned, Leonard retired from the NVMC Board of Directors and the office of board secretary at the organization’s March 11 annual meeting.

Also, shifting out of the office

of treasurer but remaining on the board is Wayne Maeda, a First Hawaiian Bank executive.

Leonard helped to lead the NVMC’s development for nearly 30 years.

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He honored his father with a gift to his sonLeonard Oka laid the foundation on which the NVMC was built; he’s leaving our board, but his decades of involvement will continue

MORE Inside:• Hiroshi Arisumi pays tribute to Leonard in his NVMC President’s Message, on page 2.• Leonard submitted his resignation at the Board of Directors’ annual meeting in March. A report on other agenda items is on page 7.

Leonard Oka

B E C A U S E O F Y O U I A M . . .

This is a tough letter for me to write because it is about Leonard

Oka retiring from our Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Board of Directors. I really didn’t know how to start this let-ter, however, I feel that everyone who has been involved with the NVMC over the years feels these sentiments.

Thank you, Leonard, for all you have done for us.

You were one of the main forces in or-ganizing the NVMC some 30 years ago. You led us to see Alexan-der & Baldwin about donating

this property. You then guided us through the organization, planning and fundraising, as you served as the first president of the NVMC. Later, you served in the capacity of vice president, and most recently as the secretary of the board.

You were at the forefront of each phase of this wonderful project.

Every veteran – whether they served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service or any other branch or unit of the U.S. armed services – can be proud of this project.

Sons and Daughters

Leonard also organized the Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans. These days, we veterans depend on the Sons and Daughters to coordinate and carry out all the functions that we old soldiers can no longer handle.

The MSDNV that Leonard orga-nized was the first Nisei sons and daughters group in the nation. Later, other island groups turned to Leonard for help as they set up their organiza-tions.

We veterans really appreciate all

that the Maui Sons and Daughters do for us. Back in the mind of every Nisei veteran who proudly wears his veterans club shirt is the hope that the soldiers’ performance during World War II won’t be forgotten. Through your historical preservation projects, educational and outreach programs, and all the other things you do, MS-DNV is making sure the legacy lives on.

Living memorial Your efforts – along with the

intergenerational day-care programs that are offered on weekdays – have created a fitting “living memorial” for the Nisei veterans.

On top of that, that pavilion atop our Education Center has a great view of the Pacific Ocean and the lower half of Wailuku town. Just sitting there and enjoying the view is very relaxing. I won’t ever forget the social for the veterans that the Sons and Daughters hosted a few months ago. Besides the great food, the view and the venue were excellent.

So much of what has happened is because of the work Leonard did over the past three-plus decades. I could go on and on and keep writing about his great deeds.

Thank you, Leonard, for all your efforts to preserve the history of the Nisei soldiers. It has been a job well done.

As we begin a new era for the NVMC, I also want to say thank you to our team of highly talented Board of Directors, our two staff members and all of you generous volunteers and supporters.

To everyone who gave the Center your time, expertise and other contri-butions, thank you ever so much.

Hiroshi ArisumiPresidentBoard of DirectorsNisei Veterans Memorial Center

2 – June 2014

Okage Sama de ...

The Okage Sama de… newsletter is a free publication issued by the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

Articles, questions and comments may be sent to Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, P.O. Box 216, Kahului, HI 96733-6716.

We encourage family and friends to submit information and photos to our Lest We Forget column.

The NVMC Vision:Nisei values that resulted in heroic concern and sacrifice for community and nation, loyalty to family, friends and country, and patriotic valor in World War II will be embraced by all generations and demonstrated in civil society at all levels.

The NVMC Mission:Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, guided by the values of Japanese-American veterans of World War II and inspired by their valor, will perpetuate the legacy of these Nisei veterans by nurturing the community’s youth, supporting care and respect for the community’s elderly and promoting an understanding about the history, values and culture of Japanese-American soldiers which contributed to their heroic military accomplishments as well as their continued contributions to the community and nation.

Board of DirectorsHiroshi Arisumi, President Roy Katsuda, Vice President Beryl Bal, Secretary Paul Mizoguchi, Treasurer David Fukuda Glenn Goya Stanley Izumigawa Hideo Kawahara Wayne Maeda Mark Mizuno Brian Moto Dwight Muraoka Yuki Lei Sugimura

Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Address: 1 Go For Broke Place, Wailuku Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. weekdays Phone: (808) 244-NVMC (6862)

Website: www.nvmc.org

a message from the president of our board | Hiroshi Arisumi

Thank you, Leonard Oka, for a big job done well

Save date!‘For Our Freedom’The 11th Annual Fundraiser of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Centern Saturday, November 8

The most highly decorated Japa-nese-American to survive the Vietnam War will be the keynote speaker at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s 11th annual fundraiser.

With the theme “For Our Free-dom,” it is scheduled for Saturday, November 8, in the Elleair Ballroom of the Maui Beach Hotel. A silent auction and no-host cocktails begin at 5 p.m.; dinner will be served at 6.

The keynote address will be by Vin-cent Okamoto, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.

The youngest of 10 children, Okamoto was born in an internment center during World War II. All six of his older brothers served in the military, including two who fought in Europe with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and another who was with the 1st Marine Division in the Korean War.

Okamoto earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He was the fourth Japanese American to be inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame and the first since World War II.

Tickets are $100 per person; $15 for children ages 6 to 11.

A special ticket price of $25 per person is offered to Nisei veterans and their wives and widows.

Corporate tables are available for $1,500.

For more information, contact Yuki Lei Sugimura, fundraiser chair, at 808-870-8047 or by email at yukilei.sugimura@gmail.com.

3 – June 2014

‘Go For Broke’Continued from page 1

The “Go For Broke” exhibit is not Saul’s first association with the Center. In Octo-ber 1992, he presented workshops on oral history that were sponsored by Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the 442, the predecessor of Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans.

The proposal to bring “Go For Broke” to Maui was made late last year by NVMC board member Glenn Goya.

Goya had attended the Go For Broke Na-tional Education Center’s annual fundraiser in Los Angeles in October. He met Saul, who was a speaker at the event.

Saul offered to help NVMC any way he could, and a discussion began to have his exhibit visit the Valley Island.

Goya proposed the project to the NVMC board in November.

“We decided to host the exhibit because it is part of our (NVMC) mission to educate and to perpetuate the legacy of the Nisei veterans,” Goya said.

NVMC was not the only Hawaii orga-nization interested in hosting the “Go For Broke” exhibit, and soon our Center was working with the Nisei Veterans Legacy Center (NVLC) and the Sons and Daugh-ters of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team on Oahu. The NVLC became the lead group in organizing the Hawaii visits.

At the time, “Go For Broke” was at the Japanese American National Museum in

Los Angeles. Arrangements were made to ship the exhibit to Oahu, where it was first shown at the State Capitol on March 24-28.

“Byrnes Yamashita of the NVLC did a wonderful job coordinating the exhibit in Honolulu,” Goya said, also noting that Brian Suzuki, president of Hawaii Air Cargo Inc., and Beau Tatsumura of Aloha Air Cargo were crucial in getting the exhibit to its Hawaii destinations.

“Many people stepped up out of nowhere and have supported this project,” Goya said.

The NVMC board’s Historical Preserva-tion and Education Committee – David Fukuda, Chairman Goya, Mark Mizuno, Leonard Oka and Yuki Lei Sugimura – led the effort on Maui.

For the “Go For Broke” exhibit, they were joined by board member Paul Mizoguchi and volunteers Diane Orikasa and Tak Sugimura.

From the Capitol, “Go For Broke” went the University of Hawaii West Oahu Library, Honolulu Hale and then to Maui, where it opened in our Education Center on May 1.

The exhibit closes June 13. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Mondays through Satur-days. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

“Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers Fighting on Two Fronts” was com-missioned by the National Park Service and dedicated at the Ellis Island Immigra-tion Museum in August 2010.

THE

Historian Eric Saul (wearing lei) and committee member Tak Sugimura (standing at display case) talk about the “Go For Broke” exhibit. Also seated at the table are (from left) volunteer docents Floyd Nagoshi, Diane Orikasa and Nora Fukuyoshi; committee Chairman Glenn Goya; and NVMC board President Hiroshi Arisumi. Photo by Melanie Agrabante

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4 – June 2014

Appreciation expressed to docents for ‘GOKUROSAMA’

Volunteer docents who assisted at the “GOKUROSAMA: Hawaii Nikkei Nisei” Exhibition were the guests of honor at a thank-you luncheon hosted by the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center on January 19.

The exhibition of photographer Brian Y. Sato’s work was held last fall in the Educa-tion Center.

Diane Orikasa, a member of the NVMC committee formed for the exhibition, recruited 15 volunteers who helped NVMC staff to welcome and explain the exhibits to the 500-plus visitors. This was the Educa-tion Center’s first use of docents, and their assistance proved to be invaluable in help-ing the event run smoothly.

After a lunch of Caesar salad, pizza and sushi, and desserts made by docents, the group was treated to a presentation by 100th Infantry Battalion veteran Willie Goo, who gave his recollections of the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944. Although the events occurred 70 years ago almost to the

day, those frightening three days on the river wall are still vivid in Goo’s mind.

He took the docents through the rolling barrages, the crawl through the minefield and the morning fog that dissipated, saving his unit from what appeared to be a suicide mission.

The mission would have required the men to cut their way through barbed wire en route to their objective, facing direct ma-chine gun fire from concrete emplacements directly above them. Goo recalled standing next to fellow Mauian Johnny Miyagawa, who had wire cutters in his hand and was ready to charge over the wall.

It would have been a suicide mission, even under the cover of fog. The mission

was aborted when the fog dissipated. “I honestly believe that the fact that the

fog stopped before it reached us saved my life,” Goo said.

The appreciation gathering was orga-nized by committee members Orikasa, David Fukuda and Yuki Lei Sugimura.

NVMC board President Hiroshi Arisu-mi, one of the exhibit sponsors, presented each docent with a bouquet of proteas. Also present to show their appreciation for the docents’ contributions were NVMC staff members Kyle Watanabe and Melanie Agrabante.

Anyone interested in becoming a volun-teer docent may call Melanie at 244-6862 weekdays between noon and 4 p.m.

‘Go For Broke’Continued from page 3

The full exhibit has about 170 photo-graphs, text panels, quotes and facsimiles of historic documents. It has nine components addressing topics ranging from Japanese immigration to the soldiers’ legacy. The exhibit can be edited and made smaller depending on the venue and the audience.

Goya helped to put up the exhibits on Oahu, where there were from 165 to 60 pieces at each site, and he took the lead in selecting the 70 pieces on display in our Education Center.

Five components are displayed here: Japanese immigration to Hawaii and the continental United States; the prewar expe-rience of Japanese in Hawaii; Pearl Harbor and the internment of Japanese Americans; the Japanese American soldiers in World War II, including their role in the postwar

occupation of Japan; soldiers returning home; and the continuing legacy.

Saul lives in West Virginia, and before “Go For Broke” opened in Hawaii, he trav-eled to Oahu to provide training for docents and to give a speech at the NVLC’s first-ever fundraising event.

Ron Miyashiro of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association videotaped the train-ing session, then edited the material and produced DVDs that he gave to our Center and the NVLC.

“It will be a great training tool for both organizations,” Goya said.

Our Center’s volunteer docents viewed the DVD as they prepared for the “Go For Broke” exhibit.

Saul also took an early-morning flight to Maui on March 25 so that he could tour our Center, have lunch with Maui Nisei veter-ans, then meet with NVMC and MSDNV representatives to discuss future exhibits,

projects and other activities. His busy day ended with a late afternoon

flight back to Honolulu.Saul also stayed in contact with NVMC

throughout the planning process, even exchanging emails about the standards and philosophies of setting up exhibit displays with Kyle Watanabe, our historical preser-vation and education program coordinator.

Internment exhibit is next “Go For Broke” is the first of two visiting

exhibits planned for this year at the Center. The other is “Hawaii Internment Story,”

which is scheduled for the fall. It will be composed of material from earlier projects by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii and complemented by Maui-focused dis-plays that NVMC is producing.

The Center hosted its first visiting exhibit late last year – photographer Brian Y. Sato’s “GOKUROSAMA: Hawaii Nikkei Nisei.”

NVMC board member David Fukuda addresses the volunteer docents at the appreciation event. Sitting behind Fukuda is 100th Infantry Battalion veteran Willie Goo, who spoke to the group about the Battle of Monte Cassino. Photo by Melanie Agrabante

5 – June 2014

OkaContinued from page 1

“I’ll always be involved with the NVMC,” said Leonard, who is one of its original board members. “I’m not moving away or anything. I’ll be on the Facilities Commit-tee, helping to take care of the place.

“It’s literally been half of my whole life,” he said, referring to the formation of Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans and the mission to build the NVMC. “And now that the Center is built, I’m determined to see that the community take the reins of this asset as it was intended and carry the next generation forward.

“It was for the sake of future genera-tions that our fathers sacrificed their lives in World War II. Against all odds, even the suspicion and hatred of our own country, they prevailed so that we, their children, could hold our heads up as Americans. I yearn to see this spirit of heroism and com-mitment develop in our young people today for the sake of Americans everywhere,” Leonard said.

Leonard admitted that when he con-ceived the idea to honor the Nisei veterans, “It wasn’t that grand.”

“Actually, I was only thinking of just one young person. My son.”

Leonard and Laurel Oka’s only child, Brandon Masaichi, was born in 1977, and Leonard remembers focusing on a question on one of those sleepless nights with his newborn: What can I pass on to my son? What precious gift?

Leonard knew he wasn’t a rich man, nor did he feel he was someone who had a lot of knowledge to impart.

“Then suddenly I knew what I wanted to give him,” he said.

Growing up in a 442nd familyLeonard is the second youngest of

three sons and two daughters of Clarence “Hekka” and Jenny Oka. Clarence served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Leonard and his siblings grew up in a 442nd family environment, attending Maui 442nd Veterans Club picnics, celebrations and meetings. Clarence had been the club’s first president and remained in that office for the first five years of its long history.

Like many Maui kids, Leonard saw his siblings grow up, move away and begin raising families away from Maui. He alone remained, raising Brandon with Laurel on Maui, and driving to Kihei at least once per

week to spend time with his parents.

Over lunch, Grandpa would tell little Brandon many stories, including his wartime experiences. “I knew he was actu-ally sharing his life with me, since Brandon was only 4 or 5 at that time,” Leonard said.

Leonard said it was rare for his father to show emotion. His war buddies were even less willing to describe war experiences with others who could never understand. Articulat-ing their feelings about fighting for their lives, for their country, for their parents, for honor, for obligation, all those complexities, was deeply personal, and there was definite reluctance to open those floodgates.

But in Kihei around the dining table, Leonard sat as a young father and truly absorbed the impact of the information in which he had been immersed throughout his upbringing. A father himself, he sud-denly knew the significance of a soldier’s willingness to die to protect his family’s honor, home and country. He knew he would sacrifice whatever he could, albeit off the battlefield, to ensure that his only son learned about what his grandfathers and their buddies did for their families and children, and why.

Wife Laurel is the daughter of Masaru Tanaka, also from the 442nd, and under-stood her husband’s passion.

A few years after the birth of his son, Leonard founded Maui’s Sons and Daugh-ters of the 442.

Humble start for Sons and DaughtersLeonard, the local Kihei boy now with

the distinctive thatch of snow-white hair, will deny that there was ever a strategic plan when he founded the Sons and Daughters (which, in 1995, replaced “442” with “Nisei Veterans” because of its expanded member-ship and mission).

“We just began to meet casually at first, you know, a few picnics and lunches and pau hana things, and then we got a little more organized, I guess, and then we be-

Leonard’s father, Clarence “Hekka” Oka, a veteran of Company L of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Above: Leonard’s granddaughter, Merahi, age 3, takes an Easter Sunday picture with her parents, Brandon Oka and Szhameen “Meena” Vasquez, and, standing, her grandmother, Laurel.

Left: Leonard and his mother, Jenny, at Hale Makua.

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6 – June 2014

OkaContinued from page 1came the first-ever such organization in the country back in 1982,” Leonard recalled.

Talk began early about what eventually developed into the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, and action followed in 1985 when then Mayor Hannibal Tavares contacted Alexander & Baldwin Inc. on behalf of the Sons and Daughters to solicit property for a multipurpose center and museum.

“That year we rallied some folks together – our leaders plus some vets went and met with Mayor Hannibal Tavares, Phil Vierra and Robert Pfeiffer of A&B, and just a few months later, A&B came through. So at our next meeting, we resolved to form what would be the NVMC,” said Leonard. “The nonprofit was officially incorporated at the close of 1991, but a lot happened in the meantime,” he added, “like our campaign kickoff at the Maui Inter-Continental Resort with Pat Morita as emcee!”

Happy and proudClarence Oka was involved in his son’s

work throughout this time. “My dad influenced the 442 vets to get

their oral histories done and provided his leadership in many ways,” Leonard said. “I just knew he was happy and proud of the work we did together. You know, they never come out and say things. But I knew.”

Leonard continued quietly, “In the late ’80s or so on Maui, the 442nd had a (na-tional) reunion, and after dinner the guys would go to their own company events. So I headed to our Sons and Daughters event. But then my dad asked me to come with him. And he took me . . . by the hand . . . and he introduced me to all of his buddies at Company L. In our culture, men, espe-cially in that generation, do not hold hands with their adult sons. . . . ”

“Hekka” Oka died in 1991.NVMC surged ahead in its development

with the hiring of its first executive director, Barbara Watanabe.

Barbara said it was a joy during her em-ployment to have learned from Leonard and Hiroshi Arisumi, NVMC president, whom she considers mentors. Today, Barbara is the Hawaii regional director and vice president of strategic advancement for Go For Broke National Education Center.

“Leonard and I grew up together in Kihei so I knew his father,” Barbara said. “I truly admired Leonard’s passion and commit-

ment to building a legacy center to honor his father and all of Maui’s Nisei veterans.

“In the many hours we spent discussing fundraising, building design and construc-tion, we sometimes didn’t see eye to eye. When that happened, we would sit in his of-fice on Alua Street and talk until we under-stood the other’s position, and inevitably we came together on a better plan to proceed. I will always cherish those memories of his leadership,” Barbara said.

Leonard reminisced recently in that very office, at Mutual Underwriters in Wailuku. A successful 37-year veteran of the industry, he acknowledged that his career allowed him flexibility in his daily schedule and the opportunity to do his “side career” since the early ’80s. He estimates that he has easily spent, on average, around 10 to 15 hours per week over those years to help build the organization known as the NVMC today.

“I yearned to be with my family at times, rather than at another meeting or function,” he said. “But when I would call a meeting or workday, it’s not like I could say, ‘OK, guys, I won’t be able to make it, but thanks for helping.’ No, I was there for every event, every meeting, and it was time well spent,” said Leonard.

“I remember some nights I’d go back to my office and work till 10 or 11 p.m. before I could go home. Today I’m really loving the feeling that I can do more with my family, especially with Merahi (his granddaugh-ter),” said Leonard.

Also, for the past three years, his mom has resided at Hale Makua in Kahului. Nearly every night, Leonard takes an hour or so to spend time with her. She waits for him all day.

Leonard is shameless in the way he occu-pies hours each morning now with Merahi, who is 3 years old and has been baby-sat by Laurel for nearly all that time.

“So now the NVMC is built, and it’s time for me to focus back on the Sons and

Daughters and play with Merahi! I want Sons and Daughters to be an even stronger partner to the NVMC. We have a lot to give yet,” said Leonard.

“NVMC is now going full steam ahead in its efforts to provide education programs in order to bring the story of the Nisei vets to our young people everywhere. Information will be there for Brandon and Merahi and all other sons and daughters and grand-children. Although it started that way, I realized right away that NVMC is not about just Brandon my son, but for the future enlightenment of all children, all Americans everywhere.” Leonard said.

Leadership successionBeryl Bal, a board member and longtime

NVMC supporter, has assumed the office of board secretary.

Leonard’s considerable network of friends and associates who helped cre-ate NVMC included popular community leader Wayne Maeda.

Wayne joined the NVMC board early on and became its treasurer in 1994. He capably managed the organization’s finances

through its success-ful Marching Home: For a Living Legacy Capital Campaign, the $1.9 million drive to complete the final and most important segment of the NVMC, its 4,200-square-foot Education Center.

Also believing in the need for continued growth through leadership succession, Wayne retired from the office of NVMC board treasurer at March’s annual meeting. Paul Mizoguchi, vice president of HouseMart, was recruited to fill that office.

“With our accounting in good order, I feel confident that the treasurer’s office will be in good hands,” said Wayne. “The future for NVMC remains focused on education, and I’m proud and excited to continue working with the rest of this board to pro-vide these resources for our community.”

And, Wayne promised: “Oka got most of us involved – we’ll definitely keep him involved.” • S. Sanae Tokumura, ACFRE, APR, is a consultant to nonprofit organizations and assisted the NVMC in the completion of the final segment of its campus. She remains a close friend of the NVMC and supporter of its mission.

Beryl Bal Secretary

Paul Mizoguchi Treasurer

Wayne Maeda

7 – June 2014

David Fukuda joined the board of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center in 2009 as it was in the final phases of planning for the Education Center. He of-fered to provide nuggets of history about some of the things the Center preserves, and he now spends about five minutes before each board meeting sharing these stories. Articles by David based on these presentations are published in Okage Sama de. A veteran of the Vietnam War, David is the son of the late Major Mitsuyoshi Fukuda. A businessman for most of his adult life, David is retired; his last career was as a history teacher at King Kekaulike High School.

This article was written before David and his wife, Judy, visited the Cassino region of Italy in May with other 100th Infantry Battalion sons and daughters from Hawaii.

§ As part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Bat-

talion faced its most ferocious battles in the Vosges Mountains of France while liberating the town of Bruyeres and participating in the Rescue of the Lost Battalion.

But it was earlier in 1944, before joining the 442nd, that the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) earned its reputation as the “Purple Heart Battalion” at Monte Cassino in Italy.

Here is a description of the mountain and its abbey, which I used in my world history classes at King Kekaulike High School.

Monte Cassino is a 1,700-foot-tall mountain that was at the center of the German Winter Line, or Gustav Line, running across southern Italy. Nestled in the Apennine Mountains, the Gustav Line (Germans referred to it as a string of pearls anchored by Monte Cassino) was a formidable, natural defensive barrier manned by 15 German divisions and fortified with artillery, pillboxes, machine guns, mines and barbed wire. Monte Cassino was of particular importance, as it overlooked the entrance to the Liri Valley, which

was the main corridor to Rome. Sitting atop Monte Cassino is an abbey first built by St. Benedict

in AD 529 as a safe haven from marauding bands. It was here that Benedict established the principles for western monasticism.

Despite its location, the abbey was destroyed by the Lombards in 581, and again by the Saracen hordes in 883. It wasn’t until the 10th century that the monks took up permanent residency again on the mountain, and under Abbot Desiderio (future Pope Victor III) it attained its greatest splendor.

Then, in 1349, the basilica was destroyed by an earthquake.The monastery was quickly rebuilt. Measuring 200 yards by 100

yards, it has massive 20-foot-thick walls dominating its surround-ings with a fortress-like presence. Within those walls lay 14 centu-ries of Christian history, including an invaluable collection of art and manuscripts. Together with the relics of St. Benedict and other saints who lived and worked there, the abbey had become the most famous monastery in Christendom.

For these reasons, Italian museum officials in the fall of 1943 re-minded the Allied command of the historic and artistic importance of the abbey. The Allies exempted the monastery from air, artillery and ground attacks, although this immunity “will not be allowed to interfere with military necessity.”

It was under these conditions that the men of the 100th Battal-ion, attached to the 133rd Regiment of the 34th Division of the U.S. 5th Army, entered the region with orders to “take Cassino.”

In the next Okage Sama de, I will attempt to recreate the first battle of Monte Cassino in which the veterans from Hawaii partici-pated.

The abbey at Monte Cassino before the battles of World War II. Photo courtesy of Damiano Parravano

Monte CassinoThe mountain and its abbey,

where the 100th Battalion earned its reputation as the ‘Purple Heart Battalion’

When the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Board of Directors holds its annual meeting each March, one of its tasks is to review events and accomplishments of the past year.

One of the highlights of the review done during the annual meeting March 11 was the completion and grand opening of the final phase of our NVMC complex, the Education Center and Pavilion.

The 2014 annual meeting was called to order by President Hiroshi Arisumi in the Education Center’s classroom. Committee reports for 2013 were presented in written form and entered into the official annual

meeting minutes. Among the major events reported by the

committees were:• Grand opening and blessing of the

Education Center on April 13. Approxi-mately 17 Nisei veterans were joined by family members, invited guests and the NVMC board to celebrate what was always considered to be the cornerstone of the whole NVMC complex. The guests enjoyed an exhibit and could better understand the purpose of our Center.

• The Human Resources Committee report, by Chairman Roy Katsuda, high-lighted the hiring of two people to positions

created in 2013: Melanie Agrabante as office manager in June and Kyle Watanabe as historical preservation and education coordinator in July.

In the wake of the resignation of our former executive director, Bobby Hill III, in June, we were fortunate to quickly find two very capable individuals to help board members achieve their goals and to accom-plish the mission of the NVMC.

• The Special Events Committee worked very hard to present the 10th annual fund-raising dinner. Highlighting the evening was guest speaker Jennifer Goto Sabas,

Education Center completion a highlight of 2013

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8 – June 2014

There are several ways to support the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

If you would like to participate in per-son, please call us! Volunteers are always needed for everything from producing and distributing this newsletter, to quarterly cleanups, to exhibits and tours, to our an-nual fundraising dinner. Contributions of time do not provide income tax benefits, but they are very much appreciated.

In certain cases, donations of supplies or materials may be deductible. However, this should be discussed with your tax adviser – in advance.

Financial contributions are also always needed.

Generally, the most useful gifts are “un-restricted” and made in cash. Of course, gifts can also be made for specific purpos-es, such as the “annual giving program,” which is used to maintain and upkeep the NVMC and support programs offered through our Education Center.

Careful consideration, professional advice

It is never too early to consider making donations, particularly when the assistance of professional advisers is needed.

Cash donations should be made payable to the “Nisei Veterans Memorial Center,” and either:

• Delivered to our office at 1 Go For Broke Place, situated on the mauka side of Kahului Beach Road just as it transitions from Kahului into Wailuku, or

• Mailed to us at P.O. Box 216, Kahului, Hawaii 96733-6716.

Donations can also be made through our website, at www.nvmc.org.

The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center is a Section 501(c)(3) organization for tax purposes. Any amount you wish to donate will be greatly appreciated, but it should be discussed with your tax adviser in advance.

Generally, any part of a contribution

from which you receive a personal benefit is not deductible for income tax purposes. Therefore, for example, if you attended our annual dinner last November, the portion of the ticket price representing the cost of the meal is not deductible. Your income tax adviser should advise and provide you with further information in this regard.

Tax advantages possible

if careful planning is doneWe also appreciate gifts of stocks, bonds

and securities, and even real estate. When structured properly, these types of gifts provide us with the financial means to accomplish our mission. Often, there are very significant income tax benefits for the donor. However, they do require very careful planning, and should not be made without the assistance of your legal and tax advisers.

You can also remember us through your estate planning. For example, if you want to make a gift through your will or trust, we should be identified as the “Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, a Hawaii nonprofit Corporation.” Here again, your gift can be either unrestricted or desig-nated for a particular purpose. This should be discussed with your attorney.

You can also donate a portion of an IRA account to us, during life or as a beneficiary upon death, or name us as a beneficiary of life insurance or annuities. However, because these types of gifts can have important tax and estate planning consequences, and often must comply with various rules, they should be made only after consultation with and assistance from your tax, financial and legal advisers.

Also of interest is a new law that makes it easier to donate real estate. Under the new law, you can designate the “Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, a Hawaii nonprofit Corporation” as the “beneficia-ry” to receive any Hawaii real estate upon

death. This requires the use of a “transfer on death deed,” which does not convey the subject property until the owner’s death.

Until then, the owner retains all rights of ownership, and can even use the property as collateral for a mortgage, or revoke the designation entirely. In other words, even if we are named as beneficiary, you can change your mind any time before you pass away.

If we are still named as beneficiary upon your passing (and you still own the prop-erty), it will pass to us without a probate court proceeding.

Because the owner retains all rights of ownership, a transfer on death deed does not produce income tax benefits during life. However, where properly structured, this type of gift can provide important estate tax benefits, if needed.

Some gifts cannot be accepted by the NVMC

There are certain types of gifts we can-not or will not accept. For example, we would refuse gifts of minority interests of stock in a family business, or undeveloped tracts of land located outside of Hawaii and/or property that contains hazardous waste.

Your advisers should contact us before you implement any noncash gifts or where there are questions or other concerns.

At that time, we can also provide further information about our gift acceptance policies (which govern the types of assets or properties we can accept), as well as our taxpayer identification number and other details. We can also have one of our board members or officers answer other ques-tions (such as the purposes for which gifts would be used, etc.). However, none of our board members, officers or employees can provide any specific legal or tax advice.

Thanks again for considering us!

‘How Can I Help?’From volunteering time to estate planning, there’s more than one answer to that question

9 – June 2014

Representatives of VIP Foodservice and the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center met for the presentation of a check representing the completion of a capital campaign pledge of $50,000.

The check presentation was held Febru-ary 6 of this year on the walkway to the Maui Adult Day Care Centers’ facility at the NVMC, where a bronze plaque was recently installed to recognize VIP’s cumulative giving since the beginning of the project through the end of the capital campaign: a total of $89,000!

The check was for $30,000 from the Roy & Lorraine Okumura Foundation.

Earlier, there were pledge payments of $10,000 by President Nelson Okumura, who made a personal donation, and $10,000 from VIP Foodservice.

The presentation was by Nelson Oku-mura and Alton Nakagawa, vice president of finance. Accepting the check for the NVMC were board President Hiroshi Arisumi and Brian Moto, a board member who chaired the “Marching Home: For a Living Legacy” effort that brought the capital campaign to a close.

At the presentation Nakagawa explained, “The Roy and Lorraine Okumura Founda-tion was formed by Roy and Lorraine in 2007 to support various nonprofits on Maui that fit the profile of nonprofits that Roy and

Lorraine liked to support, such as the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.”

“Roy and his company, Valley Isle Pro-duce Incorporated, doing business as VIP Foodservice and Cash n’ Carry Warehouse, was one of the many initial supporters during construction of the Center, and now his foundation continues his legacy with ad-ditional contributions from his foundation.”

Nakagawa also noted that Roy Okumura realized there weren’t many “local compa-

nies remaining on Maui that are owned by Japanese Americans, which made it even more important for him, his company and his foundation to support the Center with the initial construction and future contri-butions,” which will help to “continue and maintain the Center into the future.”

The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center has been blessed with many supporters, large and small, who have helped to make this dream a reality! We give thanks to all of you!

Nelson Okumura (second from left), president of the board of VIP Foodservice, presents a check to Hiroshi Arisumi, president of the NVMC board. Flanking them are Alton Nakagawa (left), VIP’s vice president of finance, and Brian Moto, NVMC board member who chaired the “Marching Home: For a Living Legacy” effort that brought the capital campaign to a close. VIP Foodservice’s level of giving over the years earned the plaque of recogniton on the Adult Care Walkway that is visible above the check. Photo by Melanie Agrabante

Longtime supporter tops off $50,000 pledgePersonal, foundation gifts part of VIP Foodservice donation to our capital campaign

BoardContinued from page 7director of the Daniel K. Inouye Institute. Her insight into the senator’s life had the audience hanging on her every word.

Another highlight of the annual dinner was the presentation of eight bound oral history transcripts to veterans or fam-ily members of deceased veterans who had participated in the Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans oral his-tory project as many as 20 years ago. The project has been revived, and in 2013, 10 transcripts were completed. Two former Mauians contributed much to this effort:

former MSDNV contract historian Dawn Duensing, who now lives in Australia, and Roy Tanaka, MSDNV member who recently moved from Washington state to Alaska.

• The Finance Committee was very active in renegotiating leases with our tenants, Maui Adult Day Care Centers and Kansha Preschool. In 2013, the committee also be-gan arranging for the installation of a pho-tovoltaic energy system and lease program through Haleakala Solar. These contracts will contribute to the fiscal stability of both the NVMC and our tenants!

These are just some of the highlights of

the 2013 calendar year. For more informa-tion on all of the reports and access to the NVMC board’s minutes, please contact the Center’s office from noon to 4 p.m. week-days.

Per its bylaws, the board meets every March to review events and accomplish-ments of the previous year, and it reviews the current year’s budget.

The treasurer’s report noted that 2013 end-of-the-year financial reports were pre-sented and approved at the board’s regular monthly meeting January 14.

The 2014 annual budget also was ap-proved at the January meeting to ensure it would be effective as the new year began.

lest we forgetour departed comrades

10 – June 2014

Thomas Tomoitsu Abe, 98, died February 17, 2014, at Hale Makua in Kahului. He was born January 19, 1916, in Honolulu.

Mr. Abe was a veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company G. He was a volunteer and was inducted March 23, 1943. Mr. Abe served as a mail orderly and a combat infantryman in the Rome-Arno, Rhineland and North Apennines campaigns.

For his service, he earned the American Campaign Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, European African Middle East Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Service Badge and the Combat Infantry Badge. Mr. Abe received an honorable discharge at the rank of technician, 5th grade.

He retired as a payroll clerk with Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company.

He is survived by his son, Alan (Beverlee) Abe; daughters, Patricia (Dennis) Takatani and Sharon (James) Uno; brother, Shinsaku Abe; sister, Nora Abe; and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Stanley Izumigawa passed away as this issue of Okage Sama de was about to go to the printer. Mr. Izumigawa was a member of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Board of Directors, and a more extensive look at his many contributions to the Center and to Nisei veterans organizations is planned for our next newsletter, to be published in the fall.

Stanley Yutaka Izumigawa, 89, died peacefully at his home in Kula on April 23, 2014.

He was born January 14, 1925 in Ulumalu.Mr. Izumigawa was inducted into the 442nd Regimental Com-

bat Team on March 25, 1943. After about a year of basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where he was in Company L, he volunteered to be a part of the first group of replacements that would join the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy. He was assigned to Company A of the 100th Battalion.

During his time serving in Europe, Mr. Izumigawa participated in the Rome-Arno, Po Valley, North Apennines and Rhineland campaigns. He was a rifleman who earned the Bronze Star, Dis-tinguished Unit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantry Badge, European African Middle East and Asiatic Pacific service medals, and the Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals.

Mr. Izumigawa also earned the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster for wounds received in action June 3, 1944, and July 10, 1944.

On December 28, 1945, he received an honorable discharge with the rank of private first class.

After returning to Hawaii, Mr. Izumigawa attended the Univer-sity of Hawaii at Manoa. He earned his bachelor’s degree, and be-ginning in 1950, he taught on the Big Island, Oahu and Maui. In 1961, he started his career as a principal, serving several schools on Maui and retiring in 1984 from Wailuku Elementary School.

Since then, Mr. Izumigawa spent his time fishing, hunting, tending to his yard and, until recently, windsurfing. He also was a past president of the Maui 442nd Veterans Club. Up until his death, he was a board member of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center and president of the 100th Battalion-Maui Club.

Mr. Izumigawa is survived by his daughters, Joan Izumigawa and Jill (Jonathan) Ross; his companion, Janice Ambrozik; broth-ers, Harold Izumigawa, Toki Izumigawa, Tats Izumigawa and Kenneth H. (Atsuko) Izumigawa; sisters, Susan (Jim) Chatani and Ethel Izumigawa; and one grandson, David Ross.

Robert Tsuneyoshi Matsushita, 87, died January 29, 2014, at Hale Makua in Kahului. He was born May 31, 1926, in Paia.

Mr. Matsushita served in the Military Intelligence Service during World War II. His military occupation specialty was as an interpreter, translator and interrogator, processing Japanese nationals and prisoners of war who were being returned to Japan.

Inducted into the military July 12, 1945, he received an honor-able discharge on March 3, 1947, leaving the service at the rank of private. He was awarded the Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Japan Medal.

Mr. Matsushita retired as an office manager with Kahului Trucking & Storage Company.

He is survived by his wife, Mabel Matsushita; daughters, Susan (Howard) Ito and Dawn (Gerald) Mijo; brother, the Reverend Richard (Linda) Matsushita; sister, Peggy (Joseph) Obayashi; and one grandson, Mackenzie Ito.

Mitsuo “Ben” Nakamura, 91, died February 3, 2014, at his residence in Kahului under Hospice care.

He was born September 28, 1922.Mr. Nakamura was a veteran of I Company of the 442nd Regi-

mental Combat Team. He was inducted into the military Septem-ber 18, 1944, and served as a rifleman and guard patrolman.

He fought in the North Apennines, Po Valley and Rhineland campaigns, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Distin-guished Unit Badge, World War II Victory Medal and the Euro-pean African Middle East Medal. Mr. Nakamura was discharged with a rank of private first class November 7, 1946.

He worked for Kitagawa Service Station and Kahului Railroad Company before the war. Mr. Nakamura retired from McCabe, Hamilton & Renny.

He is survived by his wife, Esther Michie Nakamura; daughter, Karen (Gary) Wasano; son, Kelvin (Lynn) Nakamura; grandchil-dren, Randal Nakamura, Ryan Nakamura, Kerry Wasano and Lauren Wasano; great-grandchildren, Evan, Madison and Con-ner; brother, Arthur H. Nakamura; and sister, Patsy Saito.

11 – June 2014

Our Education Center was the setting on March 17 when U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono held an informal meeting with more than a dozen representatives of the various veterans organizations on Maui.

The session laid the groundwork for a U.S. Senate field hearing Hirono hopes to have in Hawaii in the near future, and it was a chance for her to learn firsthand about issues and concerns from the veter-ans themselves.

Hirono, who serves on both the Senate Armed Service and Veterans’ Affairs com-mittees, sees the government’s obligations to its uniformed soldiers and veterans as a continuum. Her focus is obtaining feed-back in areas of great concern to veterans:

health care, access to benefits (particularly in rural and highly remote areas) and employment opportunities.

“We ask the men and women of our military to make great sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and in return, we have the responsibility to provide the care they need,” she said.

“It was a privilege to meet with vet-erans and advocates on Maui, and hear their challenges and suggestions for how Congress can help. These organizations are working so hard on behalf of Hawaii veterans.

“Mahalo to the Nisei Veterans Memo-rial Center for hosting this productive dialogue, which is part of larger efforts to

improve the continuum of care to those who have served and sacrificed.”

Accompanying the senator were staff members Lauren Montez-Hernandez (military liaison), Adam Tanga (legisla-tive assistant, Washington, D.C.), Alan Yamamoto (state director), and Yuki Lei Sugimura (Maui field representative).

Lloyd Sodetani served as moderator for the two-hour session.

Sugimura, who also serves on the NVMC board, selected the Education Center as the venue in order to provide Senator Hirono and her staff the oppor-tunity to tour the facility as well as expose other members of the veteran community to our campus.

In the center of the front row of this picture are NVMC board President Hiroshi Arisumi and U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono. The senator held an informal meeting with representatives of Maui veterans groups at our Education Center. Photo by Michael Sugimura

Veterans groups meet U.S. senator at NVMCHirono hears issues and concerns at informal meeting; she hopes to hold field hearing next

This is the fifth year in which the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students from King Kekaulike High School and Kansha Preschool have partnered with the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation’s Educating the Heart program, resulting in a $5,000 grant from the foundation to the preschool.

Educating the Heart was created by the Weinberg Foundation to encourage students to engage in volunteerism in their commu-nities. Students from classrooms commit to 100 hours of volun-teer work for a nonprofit organization. At the end of their project, the students complete a learning assessment of their experience. In turn, the foundation provides a $5,000 grant to the nonprofit of the students’ choosing.

NVMC board member David Fukuda had worked with the Weinberg Foundation in this program for 10 years while he was a teacher at Kekaulike. He suggested the program to AVID teacher Jan Matsushita for her students five years ago.

Matsushita was looking for a way to encourage students to perform volunteer work, for both personal-growth reasons as well as something to add to their college applications, and chose to partner with Kansha.

“Through our association with Kansha Preschool, the AVID students have an opportunity to help the community and work with an organization they may not otherwise get to know,” Matsu-shita said.

“They learn the value of giving and the joy and satisfaction of sharing of themselves. For many AVID students, this is their first community service experience. It is a win-win for everyone involved.”

12 – June 2014

Part of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s mission is to nurture the community’s youth and support care and respect for its elders. Through the NVMC Intergenerational Center, Kansha Preschool children and their “grandpas and grandmas” at Maui Adult Day Care Centers’

Ocean View facility maintain a loving connection as they share the courtyard and other facilities.

Maui Adult Day Care Centers-Ocean View facility at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center now has Wi-Fi capability, and in the near future, we are hoping to develop a program called “ITouch” for our clients.

This program will be for memory-impaired clients at all levels and will utilize iPads and other tablets with apps that are specifically designed for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

We are investigating the potential of such a program and looking at what goals we can expect to accomplish, which hardware and software will be needed, and what the expected outcomes might be.

We think there is great potential in such a program, and we are looking at securing seed grants to start up this project. If you have expertise in this field, we would welcome your input.

Did you know that . . .• Maui Adult Day Care Centers’ Ocean View (OV) facility

hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

• Half of the OV clients attend a Saturday program, which is at our Kahului facility from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• A few OV clients attend our new Sunday program at the Kahului facility, which is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• A few OV clients enjoy a Friday Night Social at the Ka-hului facility, where they can play cards and bingo and watch movies or enjoy other entertainment.

• A Caregiver Support Group meets at the Ocean View facil-ity on the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. All caregivers in the community are invited to attend.

• Ocean View facility is making plans for an open house August 21.

For information about the programs of the Ocean View facility at the NVMC, please call 871-5804.

We thank the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center board and staff for their continued support. Our families and clients are so lucky to have such a beautiful facility in which they can age in place. Everyone is welcome to come and visit any time.

Sierra Carrier, president of the King Kekaulike High School AVID Club, presents a check to Marvin Baisa, board member and treasurer of Kansha Preschool, during a pizza lunch that the preschool organized for the students in January.

Adult day care has Wi-Fi; apps for memory-impaired might be next addition

KKHS students, Weinberg program give to preschool

13 – June 2014

As construction was proceeding on the first phase of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, George and Judy Kitagawa contemplated the type of donation they could make.

George served in the Army in Texas and Germany after World War II, and he was very active with the 442nd Veterans Club and Maui AJA Veterans Inc.

George and Judy conferred with their son Mel and his wife, Sarah, and they decided that presenting the Center with two of Sarah’s

paintings would make an ideal contribution.

Sarah’s paintings have garnered awards in Ha-waii, Massachusetts and Texas, where the couple now reside. Mel and Sarah sent giclees of two watercolors, which were framed here on Maui.

The paintings adorn the Maui Adult Day Centers’ Ocean View facility at the NVMC.

The larger painting, “Faith Unfolding,” had been in the NVMC ar-chives for several years, and it was recently mounted at the entry to the adult care room.

“Maui Paint Pots” is exhibited in the inter-generational room. The vibrant colors displayed in these works add light and life to their respec-tive rooms.

The NVMC and MADCC are indebted to George, Judy, Mel and

Sarah for this thought-ful contribution. Both paintings have plaques noting the title, artist (Sarah Morris Kitagawa) and that they were pre-sented “In memory of George Kitagawa,” who passed away on January 27, 2005.

With Kansha Pre-school, the MADCC’s Ocean View Facility provides intergenera-tional activities at the NVMC, part of whose mission is to nurture the community’s youth and support care and respect for elders.

Two storage sheds were erected on the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center campus in January by these members of Lions clubs of Maui (from left): Kevin Saiki, Pat Fase, Mark Mizuno, Frank Hamasaki, Bob Yamamoto, Norma Tamashiro and Ron Tamashiro. They are standing in front of an 8-by-10-foot shed that will be used for maintenance and future table/chair storage. A smaller storage unit was erected for the Kansha Preschool. The projects took a total of five hours.

Lion Mark also is a member of the NVMC Board of Directors. His wife, Eloisa, made lunch for everyone, and daughter Marissa helped move shed parts to the site. “We had a great time putting the sheds together and would be happy to help with other projects in the future,” Mark said.

Brenda Ramos (left), MADCC intergeneration coordinator, and Judy Kitagawa stand by “Faith Unfolding,” which was painted by Judy’s daughter-in-law, Sarah Kitagawa. Photo by Melanie Agrabante

Artwork donations adorn Ocean View roomsVeteran’s daughter-in-law is painter; her creations make for an ideal contribution

Lions erect storage sheds on NVMC campus

Army $2,500-plus

Lloyd K. and Pauline Pui-Yu Arisumi

Yokouchi Foundation

Division $1,000 - $2,499

Central Pacific BankKim and Terry Dembroski,

in memory of Major Mitsuyoshi Fukuda

Kenneth and Margaret Okimoto, in memory of Sue Arisumi

John and JoAnn SintonWest Maui Veterans Club Inc.

Regiment $500 - $999

Alexander & Baldwin LLCHiroshi ArisumiDavid T. and Judith FukudaMaui ToyotaWarren NishidaMark and Frances OkaJames and Susanne TakamiyaKyle I. and Colette K. Watanabe

Battalion $250 - $499

Meiji and Toshiko HiroseShoichi HisamotoPatrick Jim and Beryl Jio,

in memory of Mitsugu and Rachael Jio

Carl KobayashiLawrence Kobashigawa,

in memory of Masa Sakamoto, 442nd Regimental Combat Team

William and Maureen MarrsPaul and Gail Renard,

in memory of Joso and Miyuki Uyetake

Elton and Sandra Wada

Company $100 - $249

Hideo and Nobuko AbeKimiko and Teruo AnzaiTommy and Marilyn ArakiMits M. and Eleanor S. Arisumi

K.L. DeckJohn V. Duey,

in honor of Mitsunobu Kawahara, Military Intelligence Service

Satsuki FukunagaFuromoto Service Inc.Wessen and Lydia FuromotoHamai ApplianceHerman HashizumeShufflo S. Honda,

in memory of Geraldine M. Honda

Kenneth and Sandra Ichikawa, in memory of Charles and Matsuko Mizoguchi

Irene Hirano InouyeThomas and Tokuko Kametani,

in memory of Shinobu Kametani, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company G

Satsue Kanechika and Family, in memory of Kingo Kanechika

Ronald KawaharaGerald H. KibeKunio and Tsugiko KikutaArlette Kiriyama,

in memory of Charles Arakaki and Karl Arakaki

Dean and Karlyn KobayashiGaylord and Young-Shin KubotaCorazon Matsumoto,

in memory of Clarence “Mutt” Matsumoto

Robert S. and Edith I. MatsumotoGeorge MatsunagaShirley Matsuura,

in memory of Gladys Okutsu Endo

Alan T. and Amy E. MiyamotoMachiko MoriyasuMae F. Murabayashi

Ralph and Grace MurakamiEsther K. Nakamura,

in memory of Mitsuo Ben Nakamura

Lane and Irene NakashimaNobuo and Kikue KanemotoBob OkiFutoshi and Ruth OtomoTeruo OzaiAline Rolaff,

in memory of Howard Hamaguchi and Tamotsu Hamaguchi

Norman and Grace SaitoRoy and Eunice Saito,

in memory of Charles and Matsuko Mizoguchi

George K. SanoStanley T. SatoFujio and Grace ShibanoLeslie Shibuya,

in memory of Joan Shibuya and Kaoru Watanabe, 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran

Diane and Leroy SuenoBurt and Betty TairaTiffany TairaSusan Takamatsu,

in memory of Tadayuki Takamatsu

Lance TakamiyaHatsue TakatsukaTanikai Inc.Harriet TavaresLynne and Charles TomaSakae and Fumiko F. UeharaEthel T. Uyehara

and Douglas Keefe, in memory of Suguru Takahashi, 442nd Regimental Combat Team

Lee and Susan WilsonEthel A. Yano

Platoon $25 - $99

Myrtle AgrabanteJerry ArakawaAbel and Barbara Cravalho,

in memory of Clarence “Mutt” Matsumoto

Gary and Grace FujiiTetsuo K. and Margaret HamadaRichard and Eiko HidaniPatsy HigaMark HiyakumotoCarolyn H. HozakiKimie L. HozakiHidemi and Vivian IchikiRichard and Alice InouyeNatsue Kametani,

in memory of Shinobu Kametani

Kunito and Ritsuko KamimuraDennis KoyanagiLouise MaeharaOtoyo Matsui,

in memory of George N. Matsui

Robert T. and Margaret S. Miyashiro

Mark and Eloisa MizunoGuy and Eunice MuraokaSusumu NakasoneLayne OishiChieko OnodaMike SpaldingDorothy TagawaCharles TanakaMarvin Tanaka, DDS, MSHarold and Irene TeraokaKen TomeMilton Yamashita

Squad Up to $25

Amy Keiko ArakakiAlvin and Michie CheeGale Yamagata EvansCatherine GiamenellR. KikumotoKenneth KiyotokiFern NakamaElizabeth SaitoStanley and Linda Vidinhar

14 – June 2014

NVMC Annual Giving ContributorsFOR THE PERIOD DECEMBER 1, 2013, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2014

Note: The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center has made every effort to present accurate information in the list of contributors. Please assist us to maintain our records correctly by calling us at 244-6862 if you notice an error. Mahalo!

Contributions the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center’s annual giving program are recognized in Okage Sama de. Additionally, the names of those who contribute more than $1,000 during the year (Division and Army supporters) will be posted in the Education Center lobby for a period of one year follow-ing the donation.

Your fully tax-deductible contributions help the NVMC share the story of the Nisei veterans – and their legacy and guiding values. Your gifts also help to manage and maintain our Education Center and the Kansha Preschool and Maui Adult Day Care Centers Ocean View facilities.

Please see the coupon on the next page.

Your tax-deductible contribution will help the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center maintain the NVMC “Living Memorial” campus and fulfill its mission of promoting understanding about the history, values

and culture of the Nisei veterans among our community’s children, families and visitors.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE NISEI VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER

For other donation options, visit our website, www.nvmc.org. Please call NVMC at (808) 244-6862 with any questions you may have.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Name (Mr./Mrs./Ms.)

Address

City State ZIP

Phone ( ) Email

ANNUAL GIVINGDonor Categories

Category and Support Levels for Cumulative Gifts for a Calendar Year

ArmyDivision

RegimentBattalionCompany

PlatoonSquad

$2,500 and over$1,000 - $2,499$500 - $999$250 - $499$100 - $249$25 - $99Up to $24

Enclosed is a check for $ , payable to NISEI VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER, to support NVMC in its work to educate the community about the history, values and culture of the Nisei solider.

Signature:

Please charge my donation of $ to: o VISA o MasterCard

Account #: - - - Exp. /

Date:

Please mail this form to: Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, P.O. Box 216, Kahului, HI 96733

15 – June 2014

Okage Sama de ...June 2014

n Exhibit at Center: The visiting exhibit “Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers Fighting on Two Fronts” is wrapping up a six-week run at the Education Center. How did it get here, and how does it fit the NVMC mission? See page 1

n “How Can I Help?”: There are many answers to that question. For example, you can volunteer time and talent. You can give cash donations. You can include the Center in your estate planning. And there’s more. See page 8

n Longtime supporter: Representatives of VIP Foodservice presented NVMC with a check for $30,000, which represents the completion of a capital campaign pledge from this longtime supporter of the Center. See page 9

n Leadership: Leonard Oka has resigned from the NVMC Board of Directors. With the Center campus complete and a new era under way, he knows it’s time for the board to strategi-cally focus on leadership succession. And resigning also means, among other things, more time with granddaughter Merahi, seen in this picture from the Education Center grand opening. Merahi’s great-grandfathers, Clarence “Hekka” Oka (left) and Masaru Tanaka served in the 442nd RCT. Leonard wanted to honor Nisei soldiers and teach his son Brandon – Merahi’s dad – about their legacy. His efforts led to the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center. See page 1

The Nisei Veterans Memorial CenterP.O. Box 216, Kahului, HI 96733-6716