JOHN TSUKANO / 1924-2005

WWII vet told story
of fellow AJA soldiers

After returning from Europe at the end of World War II, John Tsukano began compiling and telling the stories of his fellow Japanese-American soldiers of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Battalion.

"He knew that most of the men had not discussed it with their children," his wife, Judy Tsukano, said. "He was their spokesman."

Tsukano, 80, died last week in Washington, D.C.

He was born in Mill Camp in the Maui plantation town of Puunene. When Tsukano was 12, he joined Soichi Sakamoto's 3-year Swimming Club, training in the irrigation ditch next to Puunene School with the goal of competing in the 1940 Olympics.

But the war in Europe dashed the dreams of Olympic hopefuls worldwide. Tsukano and many members of Sakamoto's swim club enlisted in the Army and became members of the all-AJA (Americans of Japanese ancestry) units, even swimming in international meets for the Army.

After the war, Tsukano studied journalism at the University of Hawaii, and in 1948, became a contributing writer for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, which published his articles and columns about 422nd RCT and 100th Battalion veterans.

Tsukano also helped establish UH's summer sessions and started a company that brought students, teachers and tourists to Hawaii. He later became the publisher for travel agencies. All the while he was researching and compiling material about WWII's AJA soldiers for his book, "Bridge of Love," which he published in 1985.

"He was really inspired, I'd even say driven, to get the word out about the quality of the issei and nisei (first- and second-generation Japanese in Hawaii)," said Deloras Vaccaro, Tsukano's former wife.

She said his goal was for peace in the world and better understanding between people, especially former enemies. For Tsukano, that meant frequent trips to Europe, usually at his own expense. He even covered the exploits of Hawaii swimmers at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, for the Star-Bulletin.

Tsukano helped set up a sister city relationship between Honolulu and Bruyeres, France, and brought together a former German POW, his AJA captors and the residents of the French town where the German soldier was held.

Tsukano is survived by wife Judy; former spouse Deloras Vaccaro; sons John M. and Tod J.; brothers Mitsuo, Jason and Itsuo; and sisters Kimie Shiotsugu and Betty Ward.

A committal service is at 10:30 a.m. next Thursday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, followed by a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. at Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary-East Chapel.

Guests are asked to wear aloha attire.

In lieu of flowers, Tsukano's family asks for donations to the Alzheimer's Association.