FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Pearl Harbor veteran Dick Fiske hugged Japanese Zero pilot Zenji Abe at today's opening of a symposium on the 60th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. The symposium is held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

WWII foes embrace

Tears are shed as 13 enemies meet
60 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor

Japanese-American vets recall WWII prejudices

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

With America embroiled in its first military conflict of the new century, veterans and their families gathered here today to begin a week-long observance of another battle that rocked the nation 60 years ago.

In an emotional remembrance this morning, 13 former adversaries -- five Japanese Zero pilots and eight American sailors and soldiers -- from the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, embraced at the opening session of a symposium to discuss the effects of the attack.

Three of the Zero pilots participated in the Japanese attack -- Senji Abe flying off the carrier Akagi; Taisuke Maruyama off the carrier Hiryu; and Haname Harada off the carrier Soyru.

As each of the five pilots met their American survivor counterparts, they were warmly hugged.

Dick Fiske, a crewman for the USS West Virginia, described Zero pilot Jiro Yoshida as "my dear friend" as he gave him a bear hug.

Herb Weatherwax, a World War II veteran who was part of the American delegation this morning, said "you cannot help but get touched by that" as he wiped away his tears.

"It's a wonderful feeling of relief," said Weatherwax, 84, who works as a volunteer at the USS Arizona Memorial visitor center.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Pearl Harbor veteran Richard Fiske greeted Japanese Zero pilot Jun Tanaka before today's symposium at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. They have been friends since they met in 1991.

Kunio Iwashita, who also attended today's ceremony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, said in a written statement: "This will most likely be our last group effort, our final mission."

Iwashita, spokesman of the Zero Fighter Pilots Association, said 80 percent of the Japanese pilots who participated in the attack were killed during the four years of Pacific warfare.

Only 30 of the 777 Japanese pilots who took off from six carriers on Dec. 7, 1941, are still living today. Fifty-six were killed at Pearl Harbor.

Iwashita added: "We have survived into the 21st Century. The world is very different today with all of us working together in firm friendship and mutual respect. We are a ray of hope and a shining example to the rest of the world."

As the week-long observance of the attack that launched the Pacific war began, speakers at today's opening session noted that the events of Sept. 11 have placed similar challenges before America.

Phil Rasmussen, who was a pilot at Wheeler Field 60 years ago, noted in his invocation that the nation, like it was after Dec. 7, is "aroused to fight an even greater evil."

The Pearl Harbor attack resulted in 2,280 American deaths and 1,109 wounded. Sixty-eight civilians were killed.

At least 750 American survivors have registered to attend this year's memorial services, which will end with several ceremonies at the USS Arizona Memorial and the National Cemetery of the Pacific on Friday.