George Haruyoshi Ishihara

George Haruyoshi Ishihara / February 22, 1921 - March 17, 2009

Ishihara Park is named in honor of Mr. George Haruyoshi Ishihara, a resident of Santa Monica’s Pico Neighborhood from 1958 to 2009. Mr. Ishihara was a Japanese-American raised in Washington and Northern California.

During World War II, Mr. Ishihara enlisted in the United States Army and served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

He was a member of the 552nd Field Artillery Battalion that liberated Jewish people held captive at the Dachau Germany Internment Camp and other surrounding camps.

During this same time, Mr. Ishihara’s family was separated and interned at two relocation camps in the United States due to their Japanese heritage.

Given his enlistment in the US Army, Mr. Ishihara was able to negotiate the reunion of his family at the Minidoka Relocation Camp where they stayed until their release on September 25, 1945.

Mr. Ishihara moved to Santa Monica in 1958 where he and his wife, Chizuko, raised two children.

He was well-regarded by neighbors and served the local community through volunteer work and involvement in the Santa Monica Gardeners Association and the Japanese American Museum.

In 2009, Mr. Ishihara passed away in Santa Monica at the age of 88. In memoriam.

[americanifesto - 場黑麥 - jpr - urbanartopia - whorphan]

through quarters cramped

I've been to some death-camps and seen some mass graves into which were hurled chucked tossed innocent slaves; I've stood in the oven rooms smelling their reek and wandered through quarters cramped barren and bleak. The stories and tales of Survivors I've heard; did soak lap and sponge up each soft quiet word; did stand before mountains of shoes and shorn locks; did witness the stolen gold teeth and arm-clocks. I've been to Jerusalem's own Yad Vashem, examined the causes from which hatred stems, examined the lessons that our past imparts and struggled to understand cold callous hearts. This world we now live in is once again filled with racist small-minded and misguided swill – we see it in Europe and in the U. States where there are hot heated and brutal debates. These are though concerning the Islamic creed and ask if for tolerance there is still need and ask if the people who've made it their own should be whipped and murdered or just left alone. I know not the answers, my mind is too small, my intellect lacking in due wherewithal, I will though say one thing then leave well alone: Let he who's not sinned pick and cast the first stone.

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