‘Tinian event is about learning from the past’

The Tinian government is all set to hold its much-awaited “peaceful commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the atomic missions to Japan.”

Phillip M. Long, who chairs the event, said yesterday that there is no doubt about the holding of the event, which will bring together U.S. veterans and atomic bombing survivors on Tinian next month.

The intent of the event, he said, is not to stir up controversy or assign blame on either side, but to hear and learn firsthand from the people who were involved during the war.

“It’s not only to commemorate the memories or impact of the first use of the atomic weapon but what we can learn from that, what you can take forward from that event. We’re not in a position to ask someone to blame or choose sides. It’s never been a part of the event to invite someone to tell us whether the U.S. was right or wrong in utilizing atomic weapon,” said Long.

He said the event would be a once-in-a-lifetime event that can happen only on Tinian, noting that both the U.S. veterans and the Hibakusha or the atomic survivors are getting into their twilight years.

“We have a rare but capable opportunity to embrace the knowledge that they can give us, whether it is the ugliness of hand-to-hand combat or the beauty of finding morality in the middle of war,” he said.

For instance, he said that Martin Zach, who is coming to Tinian, was a prisoner of war in Japan and was about to be executed on Aug. 8, 1945, but a Japanese officer saved his life.

He said it is sad that a lot of disinformation is being spread within the Commonwealth, while outside groups, including the international media, appreciate the significance of the event to the world.

He said the peace ceremonies, which would take place on Aug. 2 to 10 on Tinian, will be covered by CNN, NHK, New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and South China Morning Post, among others.

He said the event will be attended by over 100 U.S. veterans, including at least 10 individuals who played key roles in the Manhattan or Tinian projects.

He said the peace ceremonies will be attended by people who represent a significant period in Tinian World War II history.

Among them are the Okinawans who were on island before and during the war.

Choken Goniza, who was born on Tinian, will be a keynote speaker, and will talk about life when it was peaceful and when the imperial Japanese army arrived.

Two imperial army veterans are also arriving to represent the imperial army’s takeover of the Marianas. A member of the army, Mr. Asano, who became a prisoner of war on Tinian, is now part of the Japanese peace movement.

Three Hibakusha representatives are also coming: two from Hiroshima—85-year-old Keijiro Matsushima and 75-year-old Fumiaki Kajiya—and one from Nagasaki—85-year-old Kiyoshi Nishida. They are expected to arrive on July 29.

During their stay, the three survivors would give firsthand accounts of the atomic bombing during at least four separate occasions on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

“We’re not bringing in individuals who have hard feelings or want to start a problem. These are people who have lived with the past, and understand that the main point of all that is to learn from it,” said Long.

Keynote speakers from the United States side include two 2nd Marine veterans, Donald Swindle and Donald Milleson; two Seabees who were involved in the building of the Tinian harbor, runway, and bomb pit; two USS Indianapolis survivors, Woody James and Mike Kuryla Jr., who brought parts of the atomic weapon to Tinian; and two who were involved in the assembly of the bombs, Dr. Harold Agnew and Leon Smith.

About five or six B-29 bombers involved in the actual atomic strike will be coming to Tinian.

Three other keynote speakers are scheduled to speak: Anderson Giles, an expert on Tinian’s World War II history; John Coster-Mullen, known across the U.S. as an expert in World War II weapons; and professor Haguchi from Kyoto University and an adjunct faculty at Harvard, who has been featured in the History Channel and Discovery Channel for his historical knowledge about the Japanese Imperial Army.

Long said the Tinian commemoration aims “to balance” the presentation of World War II history as far as Tinian is concerned.

While others fear that the presence of the Japanese visitors may ignite bitter memories, he said the Japanese side cannot be ignored “because they’re part of history.”

He said the commemoration of the atomic mission “does not belong to the Commonwealth but to the world.”

“Although it may belong to Tinian, Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the countries of the U.S. and Japan, the act and the historical significance belongs to the world,” he said.

Long said Tinian organizers, the Office of the Mayor and the Tinian Municipal Council have developed a website for the event: www.tinian60.org.