A Hometown Honor for Sadao Munemori?
A Los Angeles freeway interchange is already named after the Medal of Honor recipient. Now groups hope the WWII hero's hometown of Glendale, Calif. will consider naming an overpass in his honor.
Janet Nakakihawa, 73, was just a child when she last saw her uncle Sadao Munemori, a decorated World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient. One clear memory she still holds onto is of her uncle helping her make Japanese paper doll clothes. It would be her last contact with him before his untimely death in 1945.
"He really was a very special person. Now that I'm old and remember reading letters he wrote to his mother while he was overseas, he was such a caring person," said the La Palma, Calif. resident.
Munemori's legacy will always be a part of his family history but today, Nakakihawa is the only living descendant who ever had a chance to meet him. Now a group of individuals and organizations hope to help keep his story alive by naming an overpass in his hometown of Glendale, Calif. in his honor.
"Given the climate at the time, the mood against Japanese Americans, the fact that he served his country and gave up his life ... it's fitting his hometown would honor him," said Robert Horsting, 52, a Glendale resident. "I think this brings justice full circle."
Horsting is now spearheading a voter petition effort to encourage the Glendale City Council to approve the naming of the Fairmont Overpass Project bridge in honor of Munemori. No similar tribute exists in Glendale today.
"I think it's great. It helps the so called legacy, to keep the public aware of what the 100th and 442nd was," said Stanley Izumigawa, 83, who fought alongside Munemori in the 100th Battalion. "All the guys who have Medals of Honor should have something in their hometown or a public facility named after them."
A Hometown Hero
"He was Glendale's hometown boy," said Nakakihawa.
Born Aug. 17, 1922, in the city of Glendale, Munemori attended Fletcher Drive Elementary School and Lincoln High School. At the age of 19 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, just one month before the Pearl Harbor bombings.
"He was a very outgoing fellow," said Izumigawa of Maui, who quickly became buddies with Munemori during WWII and still affectionately refers to him by his nickname "Spud." "Most katonks weren't all that friendly but he really got along with the Hawaii boys."
While Munemori was fighting for his country in Europe, his family back in Glendale was sent to Manzanar, Calif., one of 10 desolate internment camps for Americans of Japanese ancestry. When he was on leave during WWII, Munemori would often visit his family in the camps. After the war, the family never returned to Glendale.
Jerene Wachtel, 56, wasn't born yet when her uncle passed away but she recalls her mother Yaeko Yokoyama often telling stories about her heroic brother Sadao while she was growing up.
"He worried about his mother and he sent money home to her," said the Connecticut resident. "Once, he saved his money and bought them all perfume, but the package didn't arrive until he had died. My mother still had it."
Watchel thinks it's an honor that her uncle's hometown may name an overpass in his memory.
"I think it's an honor to even be thought of this many years later, to remember and honor a local I think is very touching and very humbling," she said. "It's nice to know the town's people don't forget the sacrifices that were made."
An Interchange and an Overpass
The green and white freeway sign at the 105/405 interchange on the westside of Los Angeles is a fitting tribute to Munemori and it reads: "Sadao S. Munemori Memorial Interchange, Medal of Honor - World War II."
Horsting - who first learned of the MOH recipient's story as a volunteer with the Go For Broke Hanashi Oral History Program more than six years ago - is determined that Munemori's hometown of Glendale gives him a similar honor.
This past November, he went before the Glendale City Council to present his idea for naming the Fairmont Overpass in memory of Munemori. The overpass currently has a numeric designation.
"It seemed to get a good response," said Horsting, although no formal decision was made by the five city council members. He believes a voter petition is the best route to take now.
Horsting also went before the city's Citizenship and Patriotic Committee but they voted down his proposal 10-0. Although their decision is non-binding, the committee noted that the 105/405 interchange is already named after Munemori and that another MOH recipient and former Glendale resident, Major General Keith Lincoln Ware, should be honored instead.
"It's been over 60 years since [Munemori] got the Medal of Honor. This is a long time coming," said Carl Miyagishima, 67, commander of the Sadao Munemori American Legion Post 321. "I feel it's appropriate and it's deserving."
Miyagishima feels a sense of duty to keep Munemori's story alive, especially for future generations. He believes the overpass, which is being built to connect two parts of the city to facilitate the flow of traffic, is a fitting honor for the MOH recipient.
"The circumstances he went to service and got the medal ... if you know these stories, it makes it extremely meaningful," he said. "A bridge connecting two parts of the city, the bridging of two cultures, it's a wonderful thing."
63 Years Later
This past April 5 was the 63rd anniversary of Munemori's passing and Izumigawa's voice cracks with emotion when he recalls that fateful day in 1945.
"I'll never forget that day," he said.
According to Munemori's MOH citation he had been fighting with the 100th Battalion in Seravezza, Italy when he threw his body over a live grenade, sacrificing his own life to save the lives of two of his colleagues.
Izumigawa prefers to remember all the good times he had with his buddy "Spud."
Like the time they stumbled across boxes of Christmas candy in the Army supply room thinking it was a weird sight for the month of April. After getting permission, they filled a knapsack with the goodies and set out to find some local children. At first they could only find a couple of kids but soon they were being swarmed.
"We tried to get the kids to line up, but no way," he chuckled. "It was like a small riot. He and I looked at each other and we dumped all the candy onto the street and we took off. The kids all scrambled for the candy. Walking back neither of us said anything. We were thinking, wow, we didn't realize how deprived these kids were.
"It was the last thing I did together with Spud."
Horsting hopes when people see the Fairmont Overpass named in honor of Munemori, the MOH recipient's story will be retold enthusiastically.
"How fitting to name the overpass in honor of Pfc. Munemori, a patriot that we veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team hold in high esteem and who the city of Glendale rightfully can be proud of," writes William Y. Thompson, president of the 442nd Veterans Club, one several APA organizations supporting the current efforts.
"Sadao Munemori's actions clearly show his commitment and love to the United States as well as the city of Glendale - isn't it time to return the favor and honor him?" writes Sedora Tantraphol of the Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc.
The Pacific Citizen Web site gives you a sampling of the stories currently in the print edition of the P.C. Click here to subscribe and get two months free!
Print This Article-
Email This Article