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Island Images
Star-Bulletin photographers
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Once rivals, now friends
A Japanese torpedo pilot and U.S. Navy signalman reconcile and reminisce
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Pacific Aviation Museum held opening ceremonies yesterday on Ford Island.
Takeshi Maeda, left, and John Rauschkolb, both 85, shared a spontaneous hug in front of the Japanese Zero exhibit inside the museum. Maeda, a torpedo pilot, was the only Japanese pilot directly involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor who could make it to the museum ceremony. Rauschkolb was a Navy signalman who stood on USS West Virginia's port side when the Japanese planes hit the ship with bombs and torpedoes. "Old enemies become good friends," Rauschkolb said. "We were just following orders. I'm sorry they did such a damn good job. ... I never hated the Japanese. If you hate, you cannot think right." Earlier when they met for the first time, Maeda said "I'm sorry." CLICK FOR LARGE
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