The 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Building — also known as the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) Clubhouse, has had an exciting first quarter of 2024, welcoming youthful energy and visitors eager to learn more about the 100th Infantry Battalion, World War II Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJA) experiences in Hawai‘i, and Club 100.
On January 9, we welcomed the ‘Iolani School “War in the 20th Century” class, taught by Mr. John Bickel, who visited the Clubhouse for an education center tour and service project for Club 100.
Mr. John Bickel and his students at the 100th IBV Clubhouse in January.
The students created a photo poster for each of our known living 100th Infantry Battalion veterans, and hand-wrote individual messages on the posters. We mailed them to the veterans, and received many kind responses from the men and their families. It was a wonderful way to connect the youth in our community with our living veterans with this first service project of the year, and we greatly appreciate the efforts of Mr. Bickel and his “War in the 20th Century” students.
On March 11, we were visited by students from Colorado College and their professors, Dr. Jason Weaver, PhD, and Dr. Amanda Minervini, PhD, during their visit to Honolulu to study “The Experience of Japanese Americans in Hawaiʻi during World War II.”
We delivered a presentation to the group, on the history of the 100th Infantry Battalion's formation and its distinguished war record. The students learned of the World War II experiences of the American soldiers of Japanese ancestry from Hawai‘i. They learned that the original 100th Infantry Battalion (Sep), formed in June 1942, was composed almost entirely of these men, and about two-thirds of the original 442nd Regimental Combat Team, formed in March 1943, was also composed of AJA from Hawai‘i. In addition to the battalion's training and combat history, the presentation also included topics from the pre-war experiences and and post-war contributions of the 100th.
Also accompanying the group was Colorado College alumnus and current Honolulu resident, Gordon Aoyagi, who assisted with the coordination of their visit. Following the visit, he stated, "several students mentioned that talking with soldier descendants brought meaning to what they had read. The students were impressed with the intergenerational nature of the 100th Inf Bn representatives they met. They saw how building and maintaining pride in a community of interest not only involves recording its verbal and written history but also sharing stories among generations to perpetuate fellowship and deep relationships. This was a good lesson in how to perpetuate legacy."
Attendees of the March 11 presentation for Colorado College, with 100th IBV representatives.
At the month's end, we were also thrilled to welcome very special members of our Club 100 'ohana to the Clubhouse, when Jot Turner, grandson of Lt. Col. Farrant Turner (HQ), brought his lovely family from Minnesota and California to visit with us.
Jot Turner (center, wearing 100th Inf Bn cap) and family pose with 100th IBV representatives in Turner Hall, under a portrait of Lt. Col. Farrant Turner, to whom the hall is dedicated.
We had the honor of taking the Turner family on a Clubhouse tour, sharing stories of the 100th Infantry Battalion and Lt. Col. Turner, first commander of the 100th, who provided the men with unwavering support and leadership. Everyone listened intently about the 100th Infantry Battalion, and how the 100th soldiers adored their Commander. Mahalo to Jot Turner and the Turner family for continuing to remain connected with the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans. We are so grateful for the bonds that we share with so many families, which took root with the men of the 100th over 82 years ago.
It was an Easter blessing to host a tour of the Clubhouse on Good Friday, with organizations promoting peace. Mahalo to José Barzola – University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Conflict and Peace Specialist, for introducing us to representatives from the Japan-America Society of Hawaiʻi (JASH) and Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
We welcomed two visiting high school students from Hiroshima, Japan, who are part of the inaugural Hawaiʻi Heiwa (Peace) Scholarship (HHS) program. Through this program, the students learn about World War II history, Pearl Harbor, and the Japanese American experience.
▶︎ Read more: Peace Scholars from Hiroshima Welcomed in Hawaii https://www.jashawaii.org/news/hhs |
We were happy to share the stories of the 100th Infantry Battalion to the HHS students and coordinator from Hiroshima, and had a wonderful time participating in a bilingual presentation and discussion on the complex situations faced by the American soldiers of Japanese ancestry from Hawaiʻi during World War II. We also spoke of ways to collaborate in the future for better understanding, sharing and communication toward conflict resolution and peace.
José Barzola and representatives from the Matsunaga Institute, JASH, and the 100th IBV pose with HHS high school students and program coordinator from Hiroshima, Japan.
JASH was founded “to promote understanding and friendship between the people of Japan and the United States through the special and unique perspective of Hawaiʻi.”
The Matsunaga Institute is dedicated to honoring the memory of United States Senator Spark M. Matsunaga (100th Infantry Battalion, Dog Company veteran), and implementing his hope that “every student enrolled in Hawaii’s public university system will be exposed to peace studies.”
We are grateful to these organizations for the opportunity to include the 100th Infantry Battalion and its post-war veterans club history as a portion of this program.
Mahalo to our visitors for joining our efforts to perpetuate the identity and legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion, through learning and sharing their stories.
The 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) Clubhouse was built in 1952, on the 10th Anniversary of the 1942 formation of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate). While training on the mainland, the men of the 100th began to save monthly towards a post-war organization, including a clubhouse, and the building is dedicated to the men of the 100th who gave their lives in defense of America.
Clubhouse Education Center tours are by appointment only, and available to all members of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans and friends of Club 100. Please email us at info@100thibv.org to schedule a tour.
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