Photo By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Pagan | U.S. Air National Guard Lt. Col. Patrick Cichon, Commander of the 129th Medical Group,...... read more read more
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In trying times, small things become more special; a single photo, a favorite hat, or a kitschy souvenir from a dear friend. Those small things are like treasure for the soul.
By those measures, California Air National Guard Lt. Col. Patrick Cichon found a treasure trove in his father’s old trunk. However, these valuables only held value an ocean away.
Cichon, 129th Medical Group commander, stumbled upon letters, memento pieces, pictures and more from his dad’s time in the military during World War II. The language was foreign yet familiar; it was Japanese, the language he now shared after decades spent with his wife.
Cichon is dedicated to empowering and building relationships within the Japanese-American communities in Southern California. His non-profit, Nova Vita Foundation, holds festivals, provides programs and hosts clubs for adults and children. Clearly, he knew he had to get these items back home. Their home, not his.
“I am honored to be [in Okinawa] to repatriate to the people of Japan items that were saved from destruction during World War II by my father,” he said. “My father preserved them on the battlefield so that today we could return them to their rightful country.”
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Casimir Joseph Cichon, the colonel’s father, fought during the 90-day Battle of Okinawa, which caused the most casualties of any conflict in the pacific theater. He preserved certain items with the intention of eventually returning them before departing for home.
Of those items, Cichon brought with him three different cloth artifacts. One was a simple sack with a name; another was a handkerchief woven with the image of a stylized kabuto, or samurai’s helmet; and the last was a towel embroidered with two names.
Additionally, Cichon’s father brought back photos and letters, which Cichon himself placed in two separate displays.
With all five items in hand at Naha Airport, the easy part was over; Cichon made it to Japan. Now, he had to figure out how to get these items to the right people.
“I worked with the cultural liaison assigned to the mission,” Cichon explained. “We found three hopeful leads; the US Consulate General in Naha, the [Japanese Air Self Defense Force] and a local peace museum.”
The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum stands as a symbol of continued peace for the island. Memorializing the 200,000 deaths at the Battle of Okinawa, the museum was a clear first choice for Cichon.
Speaking fluent Japanese, Cichon expressed his intent to the museum curator. The curator believed the cloth artifacts should be handed to the JASDF and US Consulate General, but the photos and letters were intriguing.
“One photo of a man on horseback was actually a member of nobility, an important Okinawan family,” he said during the transfer, translating and summarizing the curator. “Another photo is of middle school boys; really all of the stuff tells a different story.”
The curator called the museum director, who also wanted to view the items. Cichon presented each of them his commander’s coin to show his appreciation, and they in turn thanked him profusely.
Thanks to identification from the curator and director, the other items were also ready to go to their new homes.
The sack was actually a care package with a woman’s name, most likely a nurse or clerical staff. The stylized handkerchief belonged to a soldier, as a momento. Both were handed off to a Japanese Air Self Defense Force public affairs officer stationed at Naha Air Base by the 163rd Wing public affairs office. The Japanese airman contacted a number of local and national army and navy military museums for collection.
Finally, only the towel remained. With additional help from the US Consulate General, who took possession of the artifact, the towel was identified as originating from a high school in Gunma Prefecture. It was provided by an insurance company to the highschool, who in turn gave it to a student who then most likely became a soldier immediately after graduating. As of this writing, the US Consulate General confirmed the Gunma Prefectural Museum has received the towel.
In just two weeks, all five items had finished their nearly 80-year-old journey. Through war, travel, and time, the letters, photos, and mementos had survived, completely intact. These artifacts, forgotten by most, were cherished nonetheless by those who took stewardship, be they Japanese or American.
Dozens of people ensured the safe care of the items so they could be treated as they deserve; as the treasured gifts to soldiers and family fighting a brutal war. Now, immortalized in museums across Japan, these artifacts will forever cement the new friendship found between two nations.
Lt. Col. Cichon's mission to return these artifacts reflects the United States' unwavering commitment to its allies. The dedication he demonstrated in ensuring these artifacts reached Japan is a testament to the values of respect, understanding, and cooperation that underpin U.S. foreign relations. By persevering through challenges and navigating the complexities of international cultural heritage, Cichon not only honored his father's legacy but also strengthened the bonds between the United States and Japan.
*If you, or someone you know, are in possession of WWII artifacts, please contact your local Embassy of Japan in the United States of America for step-by-step instructions on how to properly repatriate the items back to their home.*
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2024 15:38 |
| Story ID: | 478022 |
| Location: | NAHA, OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 352 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, US Airman Returns World War II Artifacts Back to the Japanese people., by SSgt Austin Harvill, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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