Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 4

Star-Bulletin War hero Richard Sakakida praised for loyalty and dedication Sakakida's World War II service as an Army intelligence agent included imprisonment and torture in the Philippines after the fall of Corregidor. While a prisoner, he relayed intelligence data from Japanese 14th Army headquarters to Filipino guerrillas who relayed it to Gen. Douglas MacArthur's headquarters. He was credited with saving American lives and helping free fellow prisoners. His World War II decorations include the Bronze Star and Philippine Legion of Honor MedaL Ted Tsukiyama, an attorney and Japanese American historian who had known Sakakida since 1933, called him "first, last and always a loyal and dedicated American," disputing claims by three Filipino guerrilla leaders that Sakakida collaborated as an enemy prisoner.

"Any such accusations against Sakakida's loyalty are absolutely unprovable, totally without foundation and absolutely and completely false," Tsukiyama said. Sakakida helped prisoners when the Japanese required him to interpret at courts-martial, Tsukiyama said "Both American and Filipino prisoners who sxt-vived the court-martial trials have come forward to confirm that the way he translated their responses at the trial favorably probably saved their lives." Intelligence agencies completely cleared him of any suspicion of disloyalty, Tsukiyama said. Sakakida completed a 35-year military career, retiring as an Air Force lieutenant colonel, and in 1988 was admitted to the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. (, Sakakida's mother told him, Remember America is your country; serve it with honor," Tsukiyama said. "Do not stain the family In order to survive, he committed il himself to out-Japanese the Japanese iri'X terms that they understood, that he must -H be more samurai than his samurai cap" "1 tars;" Tsukiyama said.

When he Jiad the chancfc to I ly' oui' before the surrender, he gave his seat another nisei Who had a wife and chiIT dren, and after the war he even helped enemies who had mistreated him while a' prisoner, Tsukiyama said. Sakakida later escaped Sick and wounded, he reached an American unit in September 1945. "A By Harold Morse Star-Bulletin MAUI BORN war hero Richard M. Sakakida was praised as "first, last and always a loyal and dedicated American" during traditional Buddhist ceremonies yesterday. But one recognition that eluded him in life is still being sought, after Sakakida's Jan.

23 death in California at age 75. U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, among 200 attending the memorial service at Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin, is leading an effort for Sakakida to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Akaka said the statute of limitations was extended for such recognition after Sakakida's death.

By Kathryn Bender, star-Bulletin Cherry Sakakida embraces guests after the service in her husband's memory. A 4 Friday, February 23, 19 mp iingyniiii.ii.-jjiaiin.i...u. -r ni iwiiiMhw inn, i iii ir nn i awaii Guard, Tale of enemies sharing Christmas meal in '44 has final chapter ByRodOhira Star-Bulletin reservists push scholarships bill '11 RITZ Vincken and Ralph Biann rememDer unnsimas P.vp 1944 as the nicht find Jim came to dinner. 11 i' Mi l.v 4 i mm X. 1 ByPatOmandam Star-Bulletin Nineteen-year-old Eraina V.

Esh-leman takes pride in living on her own, having a 4.0 grade-point average at Leeward Community College, working in broadcast television and serving in the Hawaii Army National Guard. As one of the 434 Guard members this spring who received tuition waivers, she knows this balancing act is in jeopardy of collapse when the grants elimi ing the same story for years. Last month, Vincken, 64, was reunited with the 76-year-old Blank at Northampton Manor Home in Frederick. "When he told me 'your mother saved my it was the high of my life, the fulfillment of a dream," Vincken said. "Now, I can die in peace, My mother's courage be forgotten and it shows what goodwill will do." Blank's children heard the Christmas Eve story of ten.

"The story tells you lot about life," said Jiis Rex Blank. "To sit down and do what they did took a lot of trust." The elder Blank, who suffered a serious heart attack recently, served with the 121st Infantry, 8th Division. He recalls Elisabeth Vincken cooking chicken stew made from a pet rooster named Hermann, just as Vincken had noted in his story. "The best thing," Vincken said, "is that he has shared the story with his children. It is a legacy for my grandchildren, too." Blank has something to remind him of that night a compass.

The reunion was filmed for an upcoming episode of "Unsolved Mysteries." It occurred in a killing field as' opposing soldiers put down their weapons to share an evening of peace and goodwill with a German woman and her 12-year-old son. After a restful night, the soldiers went their separate ways but not before the Germans gave the Americans a compass and directions back 1 to their front lines. Vincken's account of how his late mother, Elisabeth, offered food and shelter to three American and four German soldiers on that harsh winter night in the Ardennes Forest has been well-publicized. The final chapter, however, was missing. "I've always wanted to know what happened to them," said Vincken, a retired Honolulu baker.

It took 51 years for Vincken to locate one of them. Following an "Unsolved Mysteries" episode last March on Vincken's story, he learned about an ex-GI and retired bricklayer in Frederick, who has been tell- nated last year The value of by the state Leg By Samuel Yu. Frederick News-Post Fritz Vincken, left, hugs Ralph Blank at a reunion last month at the Northampton Manor Nursing Home in Frederick, Md. They had not seen each other in more than 50 years. mittee on Higher Education approved the measure.

Maj. Gen. Edward V. Richardson, state adjutant general of the Hawaii National Guard, said the loss of waivers will impact military leadership, technical skills and the overall quality of the service. He warned legislators the lack of scholarships would affect enlistment in the Guard, which needs 6,059 members to remain one of 15 "enhanced readiness brigades" nationwide.

Those units receive a lot of federal funding. The National Guard last year received $141,271,034 in federal support, a portion of which was used to employ 1,282 full-time federal technicians and military duty personnel. "We are well-aware of the financial situation and the difficult challenges the state faces," Richardson said. "Nonetheless, by allowing tuition waivers for the Hawaii National Guard to continue at a modest expense, the state can take a positive step to ensure the flow of substantial federal expenditures in the years to come," he said. As a unit commander, Capt.

Dan Okamura said the value of tuition waivers and scholarships are big factors in recruitment and retention. More than a quarter of the soldiers in his National Guard unit use or have used tuition waivers to attend college. Eshleman testified she doesn't see tuition waivers as a free ticket for Guard members, but as something which was promised to them in exchange for their service. Eshleman, a private first class with a year of service, plans to enroll at UH-Manoa in a year to complete her bachelor's degree in communications. She also hopes to attend graduate school at Manoa.

But like many others, she can only do so if the Legislature approves tuition scholarships. "I was there when the government needed me," she said. "I can only hope that it will stand by me now." tuition waivers and scholarships are big factors in recruitment and retention. One military leader says the loss of waivers will impact leadership, technical skills and the overall quality of the service. islature run out for good after this semester.

"The government signed a contract promising me my academic future," she said. "Not only has the tuition increased, but my means of paying for it have been eliminated." Eshleman, a sophomore, works part time at Leeward's closed circuit television station. She and other Hawaii Guard members and Army reservists yesterday asked the House Finance There are many features about One Archer Lane that will impress you. 'J i 1 I to5' I I i ttl1' err- iit'i -5 Committee to support a bill that appropriates $1 million in scholarships to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 1996-1997. The scholarships would be given to Guard members attending the University of Hawaii system as a substitute for tuition waivers repealed in 1995 but extended this year by the university.

The Committee late yesterday approved House Bill 3890 House Draft 1 with amendments. The bill now goes before the House floor for discussion and a vote. On Feb. 12, the House Com POLICEFIRE None more than the price were in guarded condition at Kona Hospital. Captain of Kathleen dies from fire injuries The boat captain of the long-liner Kathleen that burned and sank off Ewa Beach early Wednesday died yesterday of injuries from the fire.

Arthur Muf fly, 50, of Kaneohe suffered critical burns over 95 percent of his body. He was pronounced dead at 10 a.m., said Wil Hokama, Straub Hospital spokesman. Tae Hwan Kim, 59, the only one awake when an explosion rocked the boat, escaped with minor injuries after helping the injured Muff ly onto some buoys he had tied together into a makeshift raft. He was treated for smoke inhalation and discharged yesterday from Kuakini Hospital. The Coast Guard and Marine Patrol suspended a search at 3:30 p.m.

yesterday for three missing crewmen who were aboard the Kathleen. The boat sank in about 600 feet of water. Car trouble may have sparked Waianae blaze An electrical short-circuit in a car engine may have sparked a blaze that spread to a nearby duplex in Waianae. The 11 a.m. fire yesterday at 85-709 Piliuka Place, caused $185,000 damage to the structure and $25,000 to the contents and a 1983 Ford Thunderbird.

The Red Cross is assisting a female resident and a family of six displaced by the fire. Reported by Star-Bulletin staff Woman, 20, arrested in husband's death A 20-year-old woman is under investigation for murder after she allegedly stabbed her husband at their Village Park home last night. The couple allegedly were arguing at their Hanauna Street home when she stabbed him once in the chest around 8:45 p.m., police said. The man was pronounced dead about a half-hour later at St. Francis West Hospital.

One killed, six injured in Kona auto accident KAILUA-KONA A German tourist was killed and six others were injured in a two-car accident in Kona yesterday, police said. The dead man was identified as Heinz-Karl Junk, 49, of Senden, Germany. He was a passenger in a sedan driven by Andres Junk, 24, of Muenster, Germany. The accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. when the younger Junk failed to yield the right of way while turning left from Kuakini Highway onto Kamehameha III Road, police said.

The car was hit on the passenger side by an oncoming flatbed truck driven by Anthona Kawaauhau, 31, of Captain Cook. Kawaauhau and an 11-year-old girl with him were admitted to Kona Hospital in satisfactory condition. Andres Junk was admitted to Kona Hospital in guarded condition. A 45-year-old woman passenger was taken to Queen's Hospital in guarded condition. Two other passengers, a 24-year old Kailua Kona woman and a 21-vear-old Senden.

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