Tadao Hayashi

http://www.usag.livorno.army.mil/News003.asp: Ceremony spurs sergeant major to recount World War II Friendship On a hot spring Sunday in the rustic village of Tendola, elderly men wearing colorful scarves around their necks, clutching worn and weathered newspaper clippings and yellowed militia identification cards from years long past, slowly made their way up a dusty path. They gathered with folks dressed in World War II reenactment costumes, politicians wearing Italian sashes, townspeople and guests to pay their respects to a fallen Soldier.

“It seemed like the ceremony really meant something to the townspeople, ” said Arleen Vieira, an American visitor. “The old women were crying and the old and very proud men were toasting us saying ‘ liberato.’”. The ceremony was for a special unveiling of a marble monument commemorating an American Soldier who died April 24, 1945.

“To see this ceremony is for one American Soldier and getting to meet some of the men who worked with the American Soldiers 70 years ago is absolutely amazing,” said Capt. Renato Vieira, USAG Livorno provost marshal. “They hold the Americans so close to their hearts for what the Americans did; the patriotism and thankfulness was incredible. I don’t think there’s a person in this village that doesn’t know or understand the amazing history behind the monument.”

Sgt. Maj. Sergio Bondielli, an Italian Folgore officer at SETAF, recounted the story behind the monument, a story of sacrifice and pain that is harder than the marble which memorializes it.

“On April 24, 1945, Sadaichi Kubota, a battlefield-commissioned platoon commander with I Company, 3d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, was ordered to scout out the area surrounding Tendola village. He was to try to locate pockets of resistant German troops.

“He ordered his Soldiers to secure the village and decided to recon the hill by himself. He knew the Germans had control of the mountains and getting up the hills and sharp inclines would be not only physically challenging, but that the Germans had the strategic advantage. “His friend, Pfc. Tadao Hayashi asked to follow him. Sadaichi said no.

Tadao insisted, saying he had followed his friend everywhere from the beginning of the Italian campaign and they had always been together in times of danger.

“Finally, Sadaichi agreed and they started moving quickly up the hill.

“As they approached a ruined wall, Sadaichi heard a loud shot. He turned and saw Tadao fall down. Sadaichi called his friend’s name, but was answered with silence. Sadaichi battled internally. He was torn between wanting to reach his good friend and following the strict training received at Fort Benning – training that said ‘never go near a soldier shot by a sniper because you could be shot in turn.’ He called for a medic team and quickly went to get more Soldiers to attack the Germans. “When he got back, the medics told him Tadao was dead. Sadaichi didn’t have time to mourn as events came fast. His platoon advanced quickly to the Po River and the war would end shortly after.

“Sadaichi was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He went on to graduate from the University of Colorado. He worked for the Hawaii Department of Labor in Kona until he retired in 1973. But he always wanted to return to where his best friend died.

“In April 2004, he returned to Italy where Bondielli met and escorted him back up in to the mountains of Carrara.

“When he put his feet on that territory, I saw the light change in his eyes,” said Bondielli. “He wasn’t with me; he was back in time 60 years ago. He started walking fast through the village, urging me to follow him. Just out of the village, he started to climb the hill with a vigor that belied his 82 years.

“When he stopped in front of a ruined wall, he turned to me, his eyes full of tears and said “Sergio it’s here!”

“He had found the exact place in which Tadao died.

“Sadaichi got out a bag of items used to celebrate the funeral in Buddhist tradition, continued Bondielli. “He was focused and excited. Suddenly he cried out ‘Beanie! Beanie!’ That was his nickname for Tadao.”

Bondielli said he was deeply moved. He understood what Sadaichi was feeling. Bondielli had lost his best friend, Sgt. Maj. Stefano Paolicchi (Italian Medal of Honor awardee) in Somalia in 1993.

“I understood the desperation of that shout as a Soldier and as a friend,” said Bondielli. “I felt we were joined in the same emotion we felt when we were both young. The pain of a tragic loss never grows older.” During that visit, Sadaichi told Bondielli “Sergio, I lived 60 years with the desire to come back to this place and honor the memory of Tadao, because he lost his life to save mine. Now I’m happy and finally quiet. My good friend now rests in peace and me, too. If God wants, now I can die in peace.”

Bondielli said tears fell down his face and he remembered the friend he lost in Somalia. He understood his American friend’s pain and stated simply, “Soldiers are often joined by these kinds of feelings, no matter which war they fought in.”

Sadaichi returned to his home in Hawaii and died three months later. Three years later, Bondielli returned to Tendola to the unveiling ceremony to continue sharing the touching story of a friend’s great sacrifice.