マーティンデール氏と八藤雄一先輩の手紙
| マーティンデール氏と八藤雄一先輩の手紙
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| December 31, 2002 |
| Dear Yuichi: I have delayed in writing to you so that I could tell you about what my children did for me as a birthday gift. On my birthday in October they told me that they were having a plaque made which would be placed on the Memorial Wall at the Adm. Nimitz Museum. The placing of the plaque on the wall would have to be delayed until it was made and a time could be arranged that would be convenient for each of them. My youngest daughter and her family lives in North Carolina. The other two children are in Texas. The event finally took place on Saturday, December 21st. Fortunately, the weather was good for the 25 people in attendance. The invited guestlist was kept small and the ceremony was brief. I had been very surprised that my children wanted me honored and remembered in this way. I was over-whelmed by the words of love that they expressed for me on this occasion. This made me feel very proud of them and I wanted to let you know about this important event in my life. I am enclosing some items which will allow you to share the occasion. The Japanese Garden of Peace, which was a gift from the people of Japan was built by the Japanese, is on the other side of the Wall. Trances Lipe, the lady in the multi-colored jacket , is the person who produced the map which showed the locations of all Japanese P.O.W. camps in Japan and the Pcific area. Her father, Col.Worthington, was captured on Corregidor and held with General Wainwright in Manchuria. She and her husband were our long-term friends when we lived in Brownsville, Texas. The foregoing statements and the enclosures are being sent to Nori and Taeko. I thank you veru much for providing me with the lists of Japanese military ranks and the war crimes sentences received by some of the men in the staff photograph. All of this information gives me a better understanding of these men. On this last day of the old year I want to give you and your family my best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. I also hope to be able to give you the same greetings at the end of 2003. Sincerely Bob Robert R. Martindale |
| HOLIDAY GREETINGS(2002) Once again I am thankful to be wishing each of you the very best for the "Holiday Season" and that you will have a "Happy New Year". My most noteworthy moment of this year came in October when my children told me what they had planned for a belated birthday gift for me - I was to be "hung" at the The National Center for the War in the Pacific"( formerly the Adm.Nimitz Museum ) in Fredericksburg, Texas ). The actually "hanging" would be delayed for about two months because of the need to arrange a convenient time for all of the family to be there and to have a bronze plaque made. The plaque with mn name on it will be placed on "The Wall of Rememberance" on the grounds of the museum. I am deeply impressed that my family think that I am worthy of being honored and remembered in this manner. I am very glad to say that the replacement aorta heart valve is working well and that my arteries are clear. I do not mind the "pig" jokes to which I have been subjected. Some healing problems have restricted me in enjoying my favorite past-time; traveling. Two short trips were made to the West Coast. One in April culminated in the fulfillment of a youthful desire sparked by the reading of the Lewis and Clarke journals which told about their journey of exploration up the Missouri River and down the Columbia River to its mouth. I flew to Portland, Oregon, and drove to Astoria where I saw their encampments and the infamous sand bar at the mouth of the Columbia. The sand bar and bad weather has made it the most dangerous entrance to a port in the world. The weather was beautiful while I was there. In June I went to Philadelphia for a reception and showing of the drawings and other items done by the Japanese who had been convicted of "war crimes " and held in Sugamo Prison in Tokyo. I was disappointed that Tokio Tobita was delayed in being there at that time. I am glad to have copies of some of his drawings which are very good. He had confirmed that he and General Tojo were held at the former Omori Prisoner-War camp in Tokyo while awaiting transfer to Sugamo Prison. He had also told me that Tojo had occupied the same room and bed in Barracks #5 that I used while I was there during the war and that the general had also complained about the bed bugs and lice. May you and your families enjoy a "Happy Holiday Season" and have a "Well and Prosperous New Year". Sincerely Bob Robert R. Martindale |
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如水会 実務英語研究会
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