Pvt. Kiyoshi Tsubata, a member of the Japanese-American combat team, celebrated his 24th birthday July 1 with a huge birthday cake. A letter from his wife, Frances, from Wailua, Oahu, Hawaii, addressed to Lt. K. Akamatsu and Chaplain John T. Barrett, asked that the two officers arrange a party for her husband with a
in France to be awarded this coveted medal, which is France’s highest order of merit for military and civil service, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Mae Isonaga and Grace Tsubata Fujii were also committee planners. Kevin Morita, choir director at Kapolei Middle School, son of Jeff Morita, performed beautiful ukulele prelude music. The 100th/442 Color Guard
Fujii opened the ceremony and Eileen Sakai¸ former Sons & Daughters president¸ spoke on keeping the 442nd RCT legacy alive in the present and the future. Judge Frances Wong gave the invocation¸ recognizing the fact that there were both Christian and Buddhist 442nd RCT veterans¸ and then gave a benediction that paid tribute to
a great way to honor Mr. Finch, who was dearly loved by “the boys.” This hula should now be included in everyone’s music collection! S&D President Grace Tsubata Fujii gave a “Special Mahalo” to the 442nd RCT and shared photos of the recently dedicated Memorial Monument at Punchbowl Cemetery. Grace did a wonderful job,