In 1999, I received an email from an old G.I. who was captured in the Philippines after the general left and became a prisoner of war. He said he arrived in Moji, which is my hometown, and worked in Fukuoka as POW.
Emails from An Old G.I. 1999
Dear child, Seina,
God bless you dear lady. May your visit to this country be pleasant and a joyful memory forever. I am an "old" GI, a form "horiyo" I was held in Kyushu from August 1944 until September 1945. The village where I was detained was called Futase City near the city of Izuka. Futase no longer exists, I am told. I will write you a longer message after this when I am off line. I enjoyed your web site and think it is wonderful that you have it.
My best wishes to you this holiday week. An eisei friend gave me the clipping about you from a local, Japanese language newspaper. Your picture was in the article. You are a very pretty lady.
Sincerely
Don Versaw
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Dear Shoko "Seina" Shiraishi,
It is my great pleasure to send you this message. I was surprised to get this one from you so promptly. I talked to my good friend, XXX-San telephone last evening and thanked him for telling me about you. He had sent the clipping from the New York, Nippon Go Shimbun, to me by a mutual friend. I don't read Japanese writing so he told me much about newspaper story. I was impressed by what you have done and wish you well doing what you plan to do when you return to Japan next year.
The old Great Pacific War was a long time ago. The reasons for it were very complicated. Many cruel things happened of course. People of Japan must not continue to suffer because of it. During my captivity I was sometimes shocked at the cruelty of the soldiers. I also so many kindness' among them. After the war ended and waiting to return home to the U. S. the people I met were all very kind and gentle and I learned how very gentle and gracious Japanese people were really like. Later, during the Korean War I visited Japan on two occasions. In September of 1950 I was in an old army camp called Camp Sakai near Osaka. A very bad storm struck and almost demolished the camp. While there I made a visit to Osaka and met a wonderful lady who worked in the Post Exchange (PX) she was helpful to me to purchase gifts for my family and have them sent back to the states. I still have two of her nice letters from her. I wonder what happened to her. She would be an elderly lady now. Her brother was an interpreter in the First Calvary Division in Korea.
When my duty in Korea was ended in August of 1951 I visited Kobe for a few days. I met a nice lady there who escorted me by train to Nara and also to Osaka again. She was a very nice person and helped me enjoy my short stay there and purchase gifts to bring home. I remember her pleasantly too.
Before the war I was stationed in Shanghai and played in a military (Marine Band). Of course I am very fond of music, all but the unpleasant type that seems to be so popular among very young people. I favor that which pleases the ear and uplifts the spirit. The songs listed on your home page are of course very well known to me and I remember them when they were listed in the "top forty". I like big band music very much as well as the smaller groups. I like to hear large brass and wind bands live but don't listen to much of it on records because too much of it is lost in the recording process. I have a large collection of piano works. I expect the piano is my favorite instrument.
I would love to have one of your CD recordings but I would want to pay for it. I think it is very nice of you to want to furnish nursing homes with your art. I hope those old GI's who like it yet get to hear it there.
I have been corresponding with a gentleman in Kagoshima recently. He is a teacher there and writes ever so beautifully about the area, the people and the history of Japan. Every long E-mail I receive from him is like a lesson in school. I learn from them greatly.
I will be gone from my home for two or three days visiting my daughters and their families in a community called Temecula (Old Spanish name) about two hours drive from here. If you don't get a message from me for a few days that will be the reason. I will answer your messages soon after I return home. I live very near Long Beach, California which is about 18 miles from Los Angeles. I live alone in the old family home that I bought for my family many years ago. Last month my wife of 52 years died. It was too bad. She became sick very quickly and ever so seriously. There was nothing that doctors could do for her. I was hoping she could live a few more years because she enjoyed our family so much. It is sad of course but we all are thankful that she did not suffer long or severely.
I have many friends and many interests so I stay busy and that is helpful to avoid depression and grief. I enjoy being with others a lot especially young people. If I can't be with them it is nice to be able to exchange letters and messages with many like yourself. Good health to you and I wish you happiness in everything you do.
Sincerely,
Don Versaw
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Dear Shoko,
May I call you Shoko? Is that proper? I learned bad manners and language from Nihojin Hatai. You have already touched my heart dear lady and I have yet to hear your music. When I do I might be overcome and shed tears of joy. I will try to wait patiently but it will be difficult. My address is: ----
When I returned from Korea by the way of Kobe I brought several 78rpm records. I still have them but have cassette tape recordings of them. Two of them are my favorites, Ari Gang (The Korean Folk song that was very popular with both American and Japanese soldiers) and Shi Na No Yoru (China Night). I think you have heard them. A Korean lady at our shoe store was trying to teach me the Korean words to Ari Gang. She laughed a lot at me and the words too. Do you know what they mean? They tell a story of love gone wrong.
Yes, I will be glad to share the music on your CD with others. Can I make copies of it on tape to give to my friends? I won't if you say not to do that. I have a portable CD player so I will take it to where other "old soldiers" and play it for them. That is my promise to you.
It is very sweet of you to make a gift of your art to all of us. I think I should pay at least something. I am not rich but I can afford to pay.
I made My friend's wife some Brownie Cookies and today she sent me a very nice thank you message. She is a grand lady. Her compliments about my cooking are very gracious. I will share your CD with them too because it was through them that I found out about you and I am grateful to them for that.
With kindness regards, very sincerely yours
Don Versaw
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Dear Seina,
Your beautiful CD recording came today. I couldn't wait to play it and quickly opened the package and put it in the machine. It is a good one so your lovely voice came into the room almost like you were there in person. It's so quiet here now and the room where my player is a good one for listening to music - yours especially - because it's so clear.
I like the pitch of your voice. Some ladies sing in a much higher range. I think yours it just right for the kind of songs you selected to perform. I tell you the first few strains of the first number nearly brought this old man to tears. I got control of myself quickly but my skin wrinkled with excitement all through the recording.
Now I need to take it around for those you made it for and share your wonderful talent with them. One of my older comrades who would really enjoy it is home from the hospital now but his poor wife broke her hip and she is in a convalescent hospital. He is in his middle 80's and a native of the Philippines. He authored a very fine book about his experience as a soldier. He plays a little piano and sings with great artistry himself - or did a few years ago. Sadly, he is failing rather rapidly and won't be with us to many more years.
Seina, my dear, I can't thank you enough. You have brought a lot of happiness to me today and for tomorrow - lots of tomorrows. I wish I knew how to repay you. May the saints of good fortune lead you to great days ahead.
