December 24, 2008 in Letters

A quiet, giving sailor

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Thank you for Sunday’s article by Alexandre Da Silva of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin honoring Navy veteran John Yoshikawa (“Navy veteran laid to rest in Hawaii”).

I noticed that the Web site of the USS Sargo SSN583 featured the fine article by The Spokesman-Review’s Bill Morlin. I appreciate the excellent coverage of the humble man who quietly gave of himself.

When I first read of John’s life in the Spokesman and noted he had served on the USS Sargo, it brought back memories of our time in Pearl Harbor. My husband’s father served as Chief of the Boat on USS Sargo. Chief Kuhn had been transferred to Sargo after John Yoshikawa had been honored for fighting the fire onboard Sargo.

My father-in-law was impressed at John Yoshikawa and his shipmates’ dedication to the boat and the crew. A fire aboard a submarine is no small matter.

Although Spokane was “home” to John Yoshikawa, I’m glad his life was honored at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. He is wished fair winds and following seas on his eternal patrol.

Donna Kuhn

Spokane

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