European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 2, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It japanese americans fought own Battles during world War ii by Howard Graves the associated press for half a Century de and Connie Ichiyama have had locked in their memories the Hurt they and their families Felt after the japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on that sunday morning. Dec 7, 1941, and the United states went to War. De an american citizen of japanese ancestry fought with the americans and was wounded in action in Europe. His older brother Katsuji was drafted into the Imperial japanese Navy and fought against the allies in the South Pacific before he was captured by the dutch another brother a an american citizen a and four men who later would become de s Brothers in Law also were wounded in action in Europe like de each received a purple heart. Eds wife Connie was a Young adult when the War started. Along with her Japan born parents and a Connie and de Ichiyama Law two Aida to world War ii Conslo and her family Wora aant to an internment camped waa wounded while fighting for the United state in Europe. All non commissioned officers in the 442nd regimental combat team were japanese americans younger brother she was forced into a California internment Camp by the . Government at the same time her older brother volunteered for . Army duty and was sent to Alaska. Connie her sister and two Brothers All were born in Hawaii or the Pacific Northwest and were american citizens when the War started. With the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor approaching Connie and de decided to Tell our Story a about their experiences during and just after the War a period in which they said they suffered discrimination harassment intimidation and other indignities. On Friday de along with architect Alfred Preis and author James Michener will speak in ceremonies at the  Arizona memorial Center operated by the National Park service in Pearl Harbor. Preis designed the famed memorial that rests Over the sunken battleship and is visited by millions of people each year. More than 1,000 . Sailors Are entombed in the ship. In interviews de and Connie both said they Harbor no bitterness. For what she called a personal reasons,1�?T Connie declined to disclose where her family lived at the outbreak of the War except to say it was in the Pacific Northwest she also won t disclose the last name of her parents her brother and sister. De retired in 1983 after nearly 33 years with the Federal social Security administration. For nearly nine of those years he was Pacific area manager for Hawaii Guam the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana islands and american Samoa. He also is retired from private Law practice. Connie Lor Many years worked with Honolulu a elderly affairs division. She and de met when his work brought him to her office. Each had been widowed and they were married several months ago. De is 68 Connie declined to give her age. De s War experiences began in March 1943 when at age 19, he volunteered for duty with the 442nd regimental combat team. All of its non commissioned officers were americans of japanese descent most had volunteered. The 442nd included the highly decorated 100th div. He became a Forward observer with a Field artillery battalion in Europe. He suffered shrapnel wounds from German artillery but later returned to Battle. De was with the 522nd Field arty in when in april 1945 it liberated jewish inmates from the concentration Camp in Dachau near Munich although bom in Hawaii de s brother Katsuji went to Japan at age 9, returned to Hawaii in late 1940 and went Back to Japan in mid-1941 to live with his grandparents. De says Katsuji now 71, has told him that Allied bombers Sank a destroyer on which he was serving East of the Solomon islands. Katsuji was rescued. Later he was captured by the dutch in what was then the dutch East indies and was held prisoner for about one year. A a he has been reluctant to talk about his War experiences but each time i talk with him i learn a Little bit More quoted says. Quot As Brothers one was the Victor and one was the vanquished Quot he says. Quot i did to and i wont pour Salt into the  Katsuji who lives in Hiroshima has visited Hawaii a few times but he Hasni to been to the memorial. Eds Brush with postwar prejudice and discrimination started in 1962 when he and his family were moved from Honolulu to Baltimore by the social Security administration he says that when he took his boys then Ages 5,8,11, for a haircut service was refused even though there were four Barbers and four empty chairs. Quot the Lead Barber told me we Don t serve japs and get out quoted recalls. In another incident a Man threatened to fire a Shotgun at his family As they looked for , he says. Quot i never Felt any animosity toward those Fellows Quot he says. Quot maybe they had their own reasons and probably they were trying to scare my  for Connie her psychological scar tissue began to form on May 13, 1942, when she and her family were ordered moved from their Home by armed . Soldiers. Quot i Haven t talked about this before because it was demeaning and painful Quot she says. Quot this is difficult but i want to share my Story so that this kind of tragedy will never never happen again in  she says her family was told to take Only those possessions they could carry. As they left their Home a Shotgun wielding neighbor pressed her father to sell him their property. She said her father resisted the pressure. For two Days Connie and her family and others of japanese ancestry from the Small Community travelled by train under military escort. At Midnight on the third Day the train and its passengers reached Pinedale Assembly Center in California. Later they were taken to an internment Camp at Tulelake calif., which Connie likened to a concentration Camp. She says the thousands of inhabitants were subjected to inhumane indignities. In late 1942, Connie and her family moved to the Midwest under a Friend s sponsorship. Three years later her parents returned to the Northwestern Community with mixed feelings Quot because a petition had been circulated not to have us  a letter to her parents who had been Active in Community affairs before their internment said in part you Are returning at your own risk Quot she says. Quot through sheer perseverance and under great hardship and suffering my parents were Able to resettle and thankfully live out their lives in peace and with dignity Quot she says. In 1954, her parents became naturalized citizens. Prior to enactment of the Mccarran act of december 1952, japanese residents were ineligible to become . Citizens. She says the happiness of her parents at becoming . Citizens Quot knew no Bounds Quot Quot my Mother who is 91 and lives in the Pacific Northwest said now that i am an american citizen i can vote for the president of the United  Quot the Arizona memorial site above where the american battleship was sunk and 1,177 seamen died during the Surprise bombing mid by the japanese on dec. 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor memorial main stage for events by Colin Bessonette Cox news service organizers of the Pearl Harbor 50th anniversary commemorative ceremonies Are encouraging people to stay away a at least on saturday dec. 7. Apparently it will be too crowded for All but invited guests and participants. Quot we re expecting and preparing for logistical problems on dec. 7,&Quot said James Harpster coordinator of the 50th anniversary events. Quot there will be at least 2,000 invited guests including member of the Arizona reunion association and the Pearl Harbor survivors association and relatives of the . Servicemen who died Here 50 years ago Well also have civilians and military people who were in Hawaii at the time plus visitors with no military connection who just want to see the historic  All events at the Arizona memorial will be free and open to the Public. Although there will be music and pageantry organizers stress that the occasion will be Quot commemorative not celebratory a they Are keenly aware of the undercurrent of tension surrounding the event with some people expressing concern that the ceremonies might ignite anti japanese sentiment in the United states and anti american sentiment in Japan this is the schedule a wednesday Hawaii remembrance Day members of the  Arizona reunion association family members and friends will visit the Arizona memorial at 10 30 a m the Royal hawaiian band will perform at 1 p.m., followed by addresses by Honolulu mayor Frank Fasi Hawaii gov John Waihee and sen Daniel Inouye a Hawaii recognizing and honouring the people of Hawaii Lor their sacrifices in world War ii a thursday survivors Day. The Hawaii National guard band will play at 9 45 a m. Waihee will preside Over a program at 10 30 featuring the governors of the nine states represented by battleships in Pearl Harbor on the morning of dec. 7, 1941. The air Force band will perform at 1 p m. Followed by remarks by Cape. Donald k Ross of port Orchard wash., the last surviving medal of Honor recipient Lor heroism at Pearl Harbor capt Joseph Taussig or. Of Annapolis md., officer of the deck aboard the Nevada that morning Lenore Rickert of Laguna Hills. Calif., a Navy nurse on duty at Hospital Point and Franklin Van Valkenburgh of san Diego son of the commanding officer of the Arizona his fatties capt Franklin Van Valkenburgh died on the Bridge when the Arizona Sank. A Friday reflections Day the 25th div army band will perform at 9 45 a m James Ridenour director of the National Park service will Host a program Al i pm including a concert by the Pacific Fleet band and addresses by author James Michener and Alfred Preis designer of the Arizona memorial in the evening Navy. Army and air Force bands will re create the Battle of music of dec 6, 1941, at Bowlin Park adjacent to the Arizona memorial visitor Center. A saturday Pearl Harbor 50th-anniversary Day the commemoration ceremony will Slart at 7 45 a m on the Arizona memorial with president Bush speaking a few minutes later a exactly 50 years after the attack began Park rangers and survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack will offer presentations at information stations Al the visitor Center at 11 a the Honolulu symphony orchestra will perform Al 3 p members of the Arizona reunion association family members and friends will conduct a memorial service aboard the Arizona memorial at 5 p.m., the Pearl Harbor survivors association is planning a Sunset ceremony Al the memorial even those who will be Able to see events Only from a distance will derive satisfaction from being there. Harpster said Quot seeing the exhibits talking with Park service rangers seeing the memorial irom the visitor Center and getting a sense of the place is immensely satisfying even for those who Don t set foot on the memorial Page 14 the stars and stripes monday december 2, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 15