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In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
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'Tanouye' story: Film tells 442nd hero's tale
The story of Medal of Honor recipient Tech. Sgt. Ted "Tack" Tanouye as seen through the research of eight Torrance High School students in Southern California will be shown on March 24 at the Mission Memorial Auditorium. A discussion panel with veterans and the filmmakers -- Craig Yahata and Robert Horsting -- will follow the two screenings.
The documentary "Citizen Tanouye" won the 200th Chris Award from the 53rd Columbus International Film and Video Festival. Tanouye transferred from the safety of the mess hall to lead soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team through enemy fire in Ventoabbto, Italy, in July 1944 to take Hill 140. He later died of his wounds. Featured in the film are members of the 442nd RCT, Company K: Kenneth Inada, Eichi Oki, Kent Kajiwara and Hideo "Lefty" Kuniyoshi.
The screenings will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 24 at the auditorium, at 550 S. King St. next to City Hall. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended by calling Kathy Honda at 626-7813.
Tanouye's family was interned at the Jerome and Rohwer relocation camps after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. The eight high school students used Torrance school yearbooks, newspapers, the Internet and conversations with World War II veterans in producing the film.
Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Tom, U.S. co-director for exercise Balikatan, which began in the Philippines last week, says there were 13 medical and five engineering civil affairs projects totaling $300,000 this year. Working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. forces provided medical, dental and veterinary care, engineering support and other community relations activities.
About 160 sailors and soldiers from Hawaii were part of the approximately 390 U.S. service members and 1,200 Philippine service members participating in this year's exercise.
The exercise, which usually involves 3,000 to 5,000 troops and extensive field exercises, was initially called off on Dec. 21 by Adm. William Fallon, Pacific Forces commander, because of a custody dispute in 2005 involving convicted rapist Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith. Smith and three other Marines were charged with the rape of a 23-year-old management accounting graduate in a van in a former U.S. Navy base while on shore leave. The other three were acquitted, but Smith was sentenced to life in prison by a Manila court in early December. Balikatan culminated yesterday.
Dick Pacific Construction Co. has been awarded a $26.4 million contract by the Army Corps of Engineers to expand the aircraft parking area and a concrete water-rinse pad at Hickam Air Force Base for the C-17 Globemaster cargo jets stationed there.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.