Vol. 64, No. 6, February 10, 1967. 6 pages. View this issue
A Nisei soldier nominated for the Medal of Honor led this six-page issue. Sanford Zalburg reported that SSgt. Edward Noboru Kaneshiro silenced a fortified trench with grenades in a December 1966 battle in Vietnam. Nearby, the JACL Interim National Board prepared to take up the role of national officers in political elections, a proposed separate civil rights arm and use of the endowment fund, while a 21-day JACL Japan Tour was priced at $849. Jerry Enomoto praised a district council’s stand against tuition at the University of California.
In San Jose, a dinner honored five residents who helped Japanese Americans during the 1942 forced removal, reported by Gil Bailey, and Salinas recognized Malcolm Cottie Keltner. Columns by Bill Hosokawa, Tamotsu Murayama, Bill Marutani and Tom Shimasaki cover Japan’s January election, Chinese restaurants and politics in JACL. Ben Kuroki was announced as a speaker for the Pacific Southwest district.
What’s in this issue
National
- Critical Issues Face Interim Meet, by Harry Honda, page 1. The JACL Interim National Board meeting will review organizational matters including the role of national officers in political elections, a proposed separate civil rights arm, use of the endowment fund, and responsibility for subordinate units. Background reports on housing, planning, cultural heritage, and other programs will also be considered.
Community
- Nisei GI in Vietnam Up for Medal of Honor, by Sanford Zalburg, page 1. SSgt. Edward Noboru Kaneshiro of Kaimuki is nominated for the Medal of Honor for his actions in a December 1966 battle in Vietnam, where he silenced a fortified trench with grenades. His unit has already awarded him the Silver Star for the action.
- Oakland-Born Nisei Selected to Wisconsin State Architect Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shinji Yamamoto, an Oakland-born Nisei who spent World War II in Topaz, was named Wisconsin’s state architect. He has worked on numerous state buildings and previously served as design chief for a Janesville architecture firm.
- Ben Kuroki to Speak at PSWDC, by P.C. Staff, page 1. World War II Nisei gunner Ben Kuroki will address the Pacific Southwest JACL District Council luncheon in Gardena. Kuroki, a staff writer for the Ventura County Star-Free Press, was honored by JACL in 1964.
- JACL-CPS Health Coverage Boosted to $10,000, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL-CPS group health plan added a $10,000 major medical lifetime benefit effective March 1, replacing the earlier X-ray and accident riders. Subscribers and dependents will share 20 percent of costs not covered by the basic plan.
- Japan Tour Cost Set, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 21-day JACL Japan Tour this fall will cost $849 per person, including roundtrip airfare and accommodations. Departure from San Francisco is set for October 14.
- New PNW Chapter Quotas for 1967 to Be Assigned, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Northwest JACL District Council will propose new chapter quota allocations at its quarterly meeting in Kent, Washington. The session will also include a human relations seminar on JACL’s motto.
- Yamabe Recalls Early Colorado Years, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Rev. Arthur Shigeo Yamabe of Guadalupe, California, recalls his youthful experiences as an Issei arriving in Colorado in 1919. He describes working as a farmhand, in coal mines, and teaching Japanese language schools.
- Venice-Culver Cites Charter Member, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Venice-Culver JACL gave its Community Service Award for 1966 to charter member Kenichi Onishi, who helped reestablish the Venice Community Center after the war. He continues to serve as its custodian.
Commentary
- A Step Forward, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto praises the Northern California-Western Nevada-Washington District Council for its resolution opposing tuition at the University of California and state colleges. He argues the district’s stand reflects the sacrifices of Issei parents who made education accessible.
- Washington Newsletter: Japan’s Election, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. The Liberal-Democratic Party retained power in Japan’s January 1967 Lower House election, ensuring continued pro-US foreign policy. The author notes the results are encouraging for Japanese Americans as well.
- Tokyo Topics: Elections in Japan, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 4. Murayama reviews the January 1967 Japanese general election, in which the Liberal-Democrats retained power while the Japanese Communist Party doubled its membership. He warns that rising living costs and taxes are fueling leftist gains.
- Moo Goo Gai Pan, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Marutani offers lighthearted observations about Chinese restaurants, including confusion over Chinese-language menus, garish decor, generous portions, and desserts. The column is written in a personal, humorous tone.
- Partisan Politics, by Tom Shimasaki, page 5. Shimasaki argues that JACL, while nonpartisan, is inherently political because its civil rights goals are tied to partisan political structures. He discusses the implications of this for JACL’s involvement in civil rights and human rights causes.
Military & Veterans
- Sacramento Airman Shot Down in Vietnam, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Airman First Class Ronald K. Miyazaki of Sacramento was among five Air Force men assumed killed when a C-123 transport was shot down near the demilitarized zone. The aircraft was on a defoliation mission.
- Nisei GI in Vietnam Up for Medal of Honor, by Sanford Zalburg, page 2. Continuation of the report on SSgt. Edward Noboru Kaneshiro’s actions in Vietnam, including comments from fellow soldiers. The article describes how he cleared a trench with grenades during a December 1966 battle.
JACL
- ‘On to Japan’ Emphasis Urged by JACL Committee on Cultural Heritage, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National JACL Cultural Heritage Committee urges chapters and districts to promote the JACL Japan Tour through local programs. Suggestions include Japan Night events, sister city activities, and exhibits of Japanese arts.
Incarceration & Redress
- Episodes of Evacuation: No Bitterness, Says San Jose Dinner, by Gil Bailey, page 3. San Jose JACL held a dinner honoring five Santa Clara Valley residents who aided Japanese Americans during the 1942 evacuation. Mercury-News writer Gil Bailey recounts the forced removal of 4,000 county residents and the help offered by friends.
- Salinas Cites Longtime Friend of Issei-Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Salinas Valley JACL honored Malcolm Cottie Keltner for helping Japanese Americans store property and ship belongings to relocation camps at his own expense. Keltner was recognized as a longtime friend during the wartime period.
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