The MIS (Military Intelligence Service) Veterans Club installed its 2016 officers and 2016 and 2017 directors at its shinnenkai on Jan. 24 at the Dole Cannery Ballroom. Lt. Col. James B. Cogbill installed the officers. Lawrence Enomoto was installed as president. Supporting him will be first vice president George Arine, second vice president Glen S. Arakaki, secretary Karen Aoyama Kikukawa, treasurer Gale Kumasaki Wilson and auditor Harry Kawaoka. Serving as 2016 directors are James Moy, Gregg Hirata, Kenzo Kanemoto, Mark Matsunaga and David Sakai. The 2017 directors will be Ted Tsukiyama, Yoshinobu Oshiro, Annie Inouye and Sherman Takao.
Cogbill told the banquet attendees that the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade’s new headquarters building at Schofield Barracks was dedicated last November in the name of one of their own — MIS veteran Harry Fukuhara. A kibei-nisei from California, Fukuhara was one of the early MIS inductees. His family would be separated by the war. A retired Army colonel, Fukuhara was inducted into the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame in 1988. Fukuhara decided to live out his life in Hawai‘i, where he died in the spring of 2015.
Dr. Ellen Sawamura, a licensed clinical psychologist and member of the San Francisco-based National Japanese American Historical Society’s board of directors was the guest speaker at the banquet. She spoke about the NJAHS’ MIS Historic Learning Center, which was built in the refurbished Building 640, a former airplane hangar that was converted into the first home of the MIS language school. Building is located along Crissy Field in the Presidio of San Francisco. Gaye Miyasaki, the Hawai‘i representative for NJAHS, followed Sawamura, speaking about donating to the center.
All of the MIS veterans at the banquet were presented a rice paddle inscribed with the logo of the MIS Veterans Club. The rice paddles were donated by Jenelle Henderson and her sons, Luke and Logan, who were inspired by the MIS story as told to them by retired Gen. Eric Shinseki, and wanted to show their appreciation to each veteran.
