My Very Heartfelt Letter to George Takei


Dear George Takei,

George, I hear you. I do.

I promise I do.

I am so glad you shared your family's life experience.

Like you, I do not want us to repeat this time in history. I hope everyone reads your story and mine so we never ever, ever, ever repeat it again.

I hear you. I do. I promise!

If there is one person on this earth who understands, it is me. We have a shared experience. Many miles away. But still shared.

You see my family lived in the Philippines when your family was interned in the United States.

My dad was a prisoner of war at Santo Tomas. He was a prisoner from the time he was 8 until he was 12.

I am a first generation American.

My father and my aunts were born in the Manila, Philippines.

My grandmother, who was from Spain lived there ever since she was a little girl.

My grandfather, who was French Canadian, moved there for a job.

How do I know this? So much was handed down from everyone that knew my dad.

And then I also have this treasure.

A letter from my aunt.


And stories from my mom. 

Though my aunt's letter said it all. 

I grew up learning about my dad's life. 

When he was eight he was placed in Santo Tomas prison camp

Like your family, his family had done nothing to provoke anyone to put him, my aunts, and grandparents in this camp. 

They lived there until General McCarthur liberated them. 

The night before they were slated to die. 

I have been told their names were put on a list, and then they had one week to make peace. 

My father, from the time he was 8 until he was 12 watched his friends die each week. 

My father, at 12 years old, made peace. He was ready to die the next day, because he watched all of his friend die. 

He did not die. 

General McCarthur, and the American forces saved him, my aunts and my grandparents. 

My grandfather was 80 pounds when he was liberated. 

If you look at the upper left hand corner of this photo, some think this is my grandfather. Truth be told, all the men looked this way, so it is hard to know if it is him or not. 80 pounds is pretty light on a grown man. 

George, I hear you. 

My family knows your pain and struggle. 

I am a first generation American. 

Thank you for sharing your story. 

Thank you for hearing mine. 

I am sorry that your family endured that pain. I am very very sorry. 

You are so much like my dad. You and your amazing family persevered. Just like we did. 

My dad said he forgave those who tortured him. My grandmother told me the same. 

After my dad was liberated he came to America. 

Chicago. 

They had never lived here a day in their life. 

Yet...

My dad graduated first in his class in high school after living in a prisoner of war camp at Santo Tomas. 

He then went on to earn a two degrees and was working on a law degree when he died. 

He died when he was 35. 

But he lived on.. 

...in me. 

George, I hear you. 

Thank you for sharing your real and honest painful story. 

Thank you for hearing mine. 

Together we can heal.





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