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The Issaquah Press
Issaquah, Washington
November 9, 2011     The Issaquah Press
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November 9, 2011
 
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THE ISSAQUAH PRESS WEDNESDAY~ NOVEMBER 9, 2011 • A3 Medal FROM PAGE A1 come home alive," he said. Inui could enter the .infantry or attend language school for the Military Intelligence Service. The intelligence unit needed fluent Japanese speakers to serve as interpreters, so Inui opted for lan- guage school. Japanese-American soldiers trained to fight the enemy for the United States, but prejudice and suspicion lingered. "The people that we were in con- tact with knew where we were head- ed. I don't think we were discrimi- hated against or anything," he said. "You know how they treat recruits in the Army. They talked to us like we were a bunch of dumbbells." Concern on the homefront Overall, about 33,000 Japanese- American service members served in World War II. Some enlisted, but the government drafted others from internment camps. Inui landed in the Philippines as the intelligence unit prepared to relocate to Tokyo after the war ended. Thoughts about families held at internment centers did not diminish, despite the distance between the Pacific theater and the United States. "We were concerned about the welfare of our families, but being in the service, there was nothing we could do about it anyway," Inui said. "We knew as long as they were in these internment centers -- although not a desirable lifestyle -- they did have a roof over their head and three meals a day." U.S. forces dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading Japan to surrender. In the aftermath, lnui served in the occupation force in Japan Through the impoverished island nation, sickness and starvation continued long after the bombs stopped. The suffering left a lifelong impression on the young [nui. "After all, we're all humans. The war was over," he said. "You hate to see people live under those con- ditions." Devastation In Japan BY GREG FARRAR Roy Inurs medal (above), for the Nisei soldiers of World War II, honors three units, the 100~ Infantry Battalion (left), the 442nd Regimental CombatTeam (right), and Inui's unit, the Military Intelligence Service (top). Below, Inui serves at Nagano, Japan, in a 1946 photo at the beginning of the American occupation. WHAT ISTHE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL? Congress bestows the Congressional Gold Medal on mil- itary heroes, plus leaders in the arts. athletics, diplomacy, medi- cine, public service, science, space exploration and more. The medal, alongside the Presidential Meda of Freedom, is considered the highest civilian honor in the United States. Past recipients include George Washington, Walt Disney and Rosa Parks. Tokyo," he said. "The only things that were standing were brick fences and concrete smokestacks." Stationed in Nagano, a city about 100 miles northwest from Tokyo, lnui served as the interpreter for a medical officer in the U.S. occupa- tion force. (Nagano attracted inter- national attention as the host for the 1998 Winter Olympics.) Most Japanese citizens accepted the Nisei or children of Japanese immigrants soldiers, after some initial confusion. "At first, they couldn't figure out what we were or who we were. We could hear people talking who Refugees made homes in were standing on the street cor- shanties and makeshift structures, ners and they would be lookingat Inui landed in Yokohama, a port us, sizing us up," he said. "They city leveled in air raids, and board- would be saying, 'He looks ed a train for Tokyo. Japanese hut he's in an American "Everything was just burnt to the uniform.' They were bewildered, ground between Yokohama and but the wora got .around very CONTRIBUTED quickly that there were Japanese- Americans in the U.S. Army." [nui returned to the United States in 1946 and enrolled at the University of Washington to study foreign trade. Japan needed raw materials to rebuild industry and infrastructure in the postwar years. Inui joined a successful import-export business, and sere lumber, iron and steel materials from the Pacific Northwest to Japan. Roy married Bette and raised a family in Seattle before retiring to Hawaii. The couple relocated to Sammamish in the late 1980s and then settled in Issaquah during the past decade. President Barack Obama signed legislation last year to honor the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion, plus Inui and other Japanese- LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENTS Japanese-American World War II veterans from Issaquah and more than 30 others from Washington received the Congressional Gold Medal - highest civilian honor in the nation at a U.S. Capitol cere- mony Nov. 3. The ceremony at the Capitol honored Issaquah recipients Roy H. Inui and FrankT. Matsuda Matsuda served in the storied 442nd Regimental CombatTeam - the most-decorated regiment in U.S. military history. Japanese- American soldiers made up most of a substantial portion of the unit. The motto for the regiment - "Go for broke" - offered a glimpse at the tenacity the soldiers brought to the fight in Europe. Inui served as a Japanese interpreter in the Military Intelligence Service. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell joined the ceremony to honor Inui, Matsuda and other veterans. "In the face of grave injustice dudng WWlI, the Nisei veterans fought to preserve America's free democracy/' shesaid in a state- ment. "In fact, they went on to become one of the most highly decorated groups of veterans in United States military history. These soldiers fought for what this country could be~, even while their families lived in internment camps. In the process, they paved the way to victory in WWll and a brighter future for all." American soldiers in the Military Intelligence Service. lnul planned to attend the even- tual Congressional Gold Medal cer- emony. The celebration included police escorts and honor guards for the veterans. Speaker of the House John Boehner and other congres- sional leaders presented medals to representatives from the units. (Inui and other honorees received bronze replicas.) "It was mind-boggling for a little old man in a retirement home," he said. Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress, com. Comment at www. issaquahpress, com. Find up-to-date election information, results online The latest information and results from the Nov. 8 election is available from The Issaquah Press at www.issaquahpress.corn, on Facebook at www.facebook, com/issaquahpress and on Twitter at www. twitter, com/issaquahpress. King County Elections plans to release updated results at 4:30 p.m. weekdays until every ballot is counted. Local voters cast ballots behind-the-scenes look at ballot ing last year's general election, to in City Council, Issaquah School processing activities, watch our ballot opening process," Board and Port of Seattle See streaming video at Elections Director Sherril Huff said Commission races, and for www.kingcountg.gov/elections/ statewide ballot initiatives, aboutus/webcarn.aspx. The cam- The results remain unofficial eras display activities in the sort- until the county Canvassing Board ing, opening and scanning areas of meets Nov. 29 to certify the elec- elections headquarters in Renton. tion. The certified results should Officials plan to broadcast the then be posted to the elections activities until the election is certi- website, www.kingcounty.gov/ fled. elections. "Local voters and people from all In the meantime, King County over the world used our first web- F.lections is offering voters a cam, which was put in place dur- in a statement. "I'm very happy to announce our decision to expand this system to include some addi- tional views of our ballol process- ing area." King County is the largest county in the United States to conduct elections entirely by mail. The elec- tions office expects to process more than 500,000 ballots for the Nov. 8 election. On all bottles $30 or under Great Flavors, Great Wine, Great Prices The fine print: lVith tbe purcbase of one entree or2 appeO'zers not including Happ3 Hour menu or $20 [Vine List Your family will enjoy our stofe-of-the rf, fun, home-like environmenfi Cleaning & Fluoride Treatment wilh New patient exam and x-rays PLUS $25 Gift Card (can chase between a $25 Whole Foods ~t card or a SZSgas ~,d Uut not born) G,ft cards sub ect to ava,lab Ity. W,m coupon on~ One coupon per ~a~en~ Coupon onnot ~e combined ~th any omer promotion, Lim~ t me only p ease use by 12J31n I , Comprehensive oral health care • Preventive Dentistry t Restorative Dentistry • Oral care for children andadolescents with special health care needs, NOW ACCelMing New Patients We Shop have ate you eor/F we'tl store :2011 snow season! "ders to S # es King County Metro Transit bus riders should prepare for reduced service in upcoming weeks, starting Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The transit agency operates on a reduced weekday schedule on several holidays through January -- including a full week of reduced service at the end of December. WHAI10 KNOW Call the King County Metro Transit Customer Information Office at 206-553-3000 or go to Metro Online, http://metro.king- county.gov, to learn more about holiday schedule changes. The planned reductions arrive during a slow period, because Thanksgiving Metro Transit usually serves 20 , Sunday, Dec. 25 Christmas percent to 40 percent fewer week- * Monday, Dec. 26 Christmas, day riders. The mass transit observed agency uses a Sunday schedule ~ Sunday, Jan. 1 New Year's for several of the upcoming holi- Day days. * Monday, Jan. 2 -- New Year's The reduced weekday schedule Day, observed and regular fares take effect for: For reduced weekday sched- Friday, Nov. 11 Veterafis ules, some commuter and school- Day oriented routes do not operate, Friday, Nov. 25 the day after and Metro Transit cancels some Thanksgiving trips on other routes. Tuesday through Friday, Dec. The reduced weekday schedule 27-30 winter holiday period features more bus service than Monday, Jan. 16 -- Martinon weekends, but less service Luther King Jr. Day than on regular weekdays. Expect Sunday schedules and Officials estimate the limited fares on the following holidays: schedule saves Metro Transit Thursday, Nov. 24 about $1 million per year. Deadline looms to remove campaign signs Relief ~s in sight for local around Issaquah. The usual motorists and residents tired of hotspots included the. cluttered seeing signs for City Council. intersections at either end of Issaquah School Board and other Northwes! Gilman Boulevard: political candidates. Front Street North and state Though the ballot count contin- Route 900. ues, Election Day is done, and the Illegal signs can limit drivers' deadline to yank political signs sight distance and litter the road- from along state highways and city streets looms. Under state law, property own- ers must remove temporary polit- ical signs visible from state high- ways by Nov. 18or 10 days after the election. Issaquah rules call for cam- paign signs to be removed by Nov. 15, or within a week after Election Day. City Code Compliance Officer Michele Forkner starts to round up rogue side. Only signs used for traffic con- trol can be used inside the state right of way. Utility poles can typ- ically be found inside the right of way, so no signs can be added between the pole and the state highway. Many locations also have a fence line separating the right of way from private proper- ty, so no signs can be added between the fence and the state highway. signs after the deadline passes. Tossing the signs poses a Besides council arid school challenge, too. Manufacturers board candidates/cor/tenders for claihV ~c~'/'ti~td(i~~l~~16'~fii~h the. Port of Seattle Commission material is recyclable, although and even Sammamish City no local hau]ers accept' the Council hopefuls planted signs material. November 17tb 3- moo o • CheeseSamples • Roasted Chestnuts • Prime Rib • Holiday Treats Enter to win fun prizes! 80 Front Street S. lssaquah • 425,392.5371