Jimmy Stewart – They Don’t Make Them Like They Used to

February 29, 2020 Mustang.Koji 8 Comments

I’ve admired Jimmy Stewart for what he was.

A simple American.

I will always remember his poem about his dog “Beau“. A truly touching tribute to his beloved dog on Johnny Carson.

He rarely boasted of his military career and if it was brought up, he simply acknowleged it.

But the facts are he flew combat missions over Europe during WWII when any mission could end in death… through enemy action or mechanical malfunction. Face it. Mechanical reliability was often as best they could muster. No triple redundant systems like in our current Warthogs.

He also flew in B-52s over Viernam. Vietnam was also no milk run with SAMs.

I hope you will read this synopsis of his bravery in spite of his success as a Hollywood actor. Please click on the link. Thank you.

Jimmy Stewart, USAAF pilot.

https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/20-february-1966/

World War II

Dad Would Have Been 101 Today

February 25, 2020 Mustang.Koji 2 Comments

Last a — My last picture of Dad a month before he passed, flanked by my two youngest kids. 2018 Los Angeles.

As Dad passed away less than two years ago at 99 years of age, he would have turned 101 today if he were still around. I truly believed he would be the first Kanemoto to live to be 100. Unfortunately, he just quietly passed away after eating a good lunch – eating was his pastime.

When I was in elementary school, I remember being at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles. I might have been maybe eight years old. It was a breezy day and he had bought us brand new kites. A wind gust pushed the kite and therefore, the spool got pulled out of my hand. The kite took off – as did my Dad chasing after it. To this day, I thought to myself, “Darn. Dad can run fast.” I didn’t know until just a little over six years ago he was a high school track star in Hiroshima.

1962a — Dad trying to teach me how to ride a bike. East Los Angeles, 1962.

Anyways, I thought of him today and his high school yearbook.

A link to his 1937 Hiroshima high school story is here.

I hope you are playing jump-frog with your favorite brother at Zenshouji, Dad, and eating loads of odango.

Happy birthday!

c-10-492 — Dad at bottom left then (clockwise): younger sister Mieko, my Grandma Kono, older sister Shiz and younger brother Suetaro who was killed as a Japanese soldier in 1944. King and Maynard Streets, Seattle, WA. Circa 1925.

World War II

Prayers

February 22, 2020 Mustang.Koji 2 Comments

On this eve of the iconic flag raisings on Iwo Jima 75 years ago today, let us individually observe a moment of silence and offer reverance to those very 7,000 young Marines who gave their lives for our flag…

Iwo Jima Flag Raising(s) – the MOVIE (Part 1)

World War II

We are Iwo: Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Tony Stein

February 22, 2020 Mustang.Koji 2 Comments

In describing the Battle of Iwo Jima that began Feb. 19, 1945, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz said, “uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Throughout a battle-long commemoration of the 75th anniversary of one

Source: We are Iwo: Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Tony Stein

World War II

A Powerful Read

February 20, 2020 Mustang.Koji 3 Comments

This is Woody. He is our last surviving Iwo Jima MOH recipient still with us.

A most powerful read into his life.

https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2020/02/19/if-fear-takes-over-you-become-useless-medal-of-honor-recipient-recounts-the-battle-of-iwo-jima/

World War II

Iwo Jima

February 16, 2020 Mustang.Koji 4 Comments

The horrific battle for Iwo Jima would start in a few days 75 years ago. The iconic flag raising would be one week from now.

A story I wrote in 2013 about Iwo Jima and a little known fact that 50 Japanese-Americans US Army soldiers also fought there.

Masako and Spam Musubi

My two smallest kids had the honor to see the memorial first hand in June 2010.

Life has been quite unpredictable for me for the past six weeks or so – as well as tiring. I am quite behind in reading many of your fine blogs and that is on my priority to-do list. But it is a hollow descriptive for me to say I am tired.

I am still alive.

Twenty-nine thousand are not.

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The battle for Iwo Jima began 68 years ago on February 19, 1945.

Sixty-eight years ago. Just yesterday for many.

Sixty-eight years ago, about 29,000 young men met horrible deaths on that demonic volcanic island – 22,000 Japanese soldiers and 7,000 Marines. That unforgiving island still has not given up all of her dead to this day… American and Japanese.

Japanese Prime Minister Kan in blue visited Iwo Jima (now renamed Iwo To) in…