Thank you

Editor’s Note: The following are e-mails addressed to Phillip Mendiola-Long of the Tinian Mayor’s Office and Mayor Francisco M. Borja. Permission has been obtained to have these letters printed.

First I want to thank you and the Mayor for hosting such a wonderful experience. I can’t put into words my gratitude for the wonderful time I had. The Peace Conference was a big success. Meeting with the Japanese was wonderful. They all treated me with respect and love. I’m humbled to have been there and meeting with them. It was soul lifting. I think everyone that came felt the same way—the brotherly love that was felt by all of us as though we all had known each other forever. My many heartfelt thanks to all for the hard work and for their love and kindness. I will never forget and hope to return again. I am at your service. Love to all.

Woody James
USS Indianapolis survivor

As a daughter of a USS Indianapolis survivor, I felt the bringing together of the Americans and Japanese was a great success. When we got to Tinian, I wondered what would happen when the men who were enemies at one time came together. I knew what Dad had experienced when his ship was torpedoed and many men died and many suffered beyond belief. But, I knew my Dad had a big forgiving heart so I didn’t worry about his response. I did worry about the Japanese and how they would react because they too had suffered much during the war. A wonderful thing happened at the Commemorative Anniversary. I saw once enemies shaking hands and hugging and planting trees together and putting handprints on tiles together. I saw them sitting with each other at banquet tables talking and enjoying being together. I enjoyed talking to the Japanese and hearing their stories and meeting their families who were also there. A grandson of Mr. Chiei Sagara of the Japanese Imperial Navy, who was wounded during the war, took many pictures of all of us and shared them with us. Mr. Chiei Sagara gave dad a book before we left Tinian. We think it is his story and hope to get it translated. One of the atomic bomb survivors helped me make my Origami bird at the Student Peace Conference. The students at the Peace Conference had made pictures of what happened when the bomb was dropped on their people. It was hard for me to see these pictures but in the end they all came to the conclusion that war is not the answer and we need peace. We do need peace. We are all brothers and sisters with the same God. We found peace on the island of Tinian and I will ever be thankful for witnessing this event.

Ann Edwards
e-mail

Again I want to thank you and your staff for the fantastic job you did in organizing and executing the magnificent 60th Commemoration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic missions. As one of the last POWs of World War II—captured Aug. 14, 1945, the day before the Emperor announced the surrender of Japanese forces—and the first American to see Hiroshima on August 16, 1945, 10 days after the bomb was dropped, I was particularly impressed and moved by the many tours and events you presented to us veterans. I was especially moved by the presentation of the three Japanese Hibakusha—Mr. Keijiro Matsushima, Mr. Kiyoshi Nishida, and Mr. Fumiaki Kajiya. I know that all the American veterans who attended their presentation were equally impressed. Although dire enemies 60 years ago we found that we could be good friends with these gentlemen. It was a pleasure to meet them and to hear their stories. Thank you again and I send you and your staff my personal best regards.

S/Sgt. (ret.) Marty Zapf
e-mail