[OPINION] What my father and Tule Lake pilgrims taught me about World War II

What My Father and Tule Lake Pilgrims Taught Me About World War II

I grew up unaware of the internment of approximately 110,000 Japanese-Americans, including small children, who were suspected of being 'enemy aliens.'

Memories Marking the 80th Anniversary of World War II’s End

Two memories stand out as we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II: my father’s nightmares and an elderly woman fighting back tears as our bus entered the former Tule Lake camp in California.

My Father’s Experience in the Philippines

My father, Benjamin Pimentel Sr., was a teenager when Japan invaded the Philippines shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Like thousands of young Filipinos, he joined the resistance. He was once detained and interrogated by the Kempetai, the Japanese secret police. Later, his brother, my Uncle Jesus, was taken and never seen again. We assumed he had been executed.

Though my father had been athletic, his time as a guerrilla in the jungle left him physically broken. He never fully recovered from the war and suffered decades of nightmares.

His Attitude Toward the Japanese

Despite his ordeal, my father never expressed bitterness toward the Japanese. He recalled his experiences with little anger and always spoke fairly and precisely:

“The Japanese soldiers back then were very brutal.”
“The Japanese imperial forces really caused a lot of damage.”

After I moved to America, there was never any concern about introducing him to my Japanese-American friends.

Author’s Summary

This story reveals how personal histories of war, pain, and resilience shape complex and humane perspectives across generations.

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Rappler Rappler — 2025-11-04

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