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

Reflections on World War II and Tule Lake

I grew up unaware of the internment of about 110,000 Japanese-Americans, including children, who were suspected as "enemy aliens."

Memories of War and Internment

Two vivid memories mark the 80th anniversary of World War II's end: my father’s nightmares and an elderly woman holding back tears as our bus approached the former Tule Lake camp in California.

My Father’s Experience

My father, Benjamin Pimentel Sr., was a teen when Japan invaded the Philippines soon after the Pearl Harbor attack. Like many young Filipinos, he joined the resistance.

He was detained and interrogated by the Kempetai, the Japanese secret police. His brother, Uncle Jesus, was taken and never seen again, presumed executed.

The guerrilla warfare left my father physically broken and haunted by nightmares for decades. Yet, he bore no bitterness toward the Japanese.

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

He described his experiences calmly and fairly, without anger. After moving to America, I never hesitated to introduce him to my Japanese-American friends.

Lessons From History

These stories highlight the human costs of war and the resilience required to reconcile with its painful legacy.

Summary: My father's wartime struggles and encounters with Japanese-American history taught me the importance of fairness and understanding in remembering World War II.

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Rappler Rappler — 2025-11-04

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