[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 around 110,000 Japanese-Americans, including small children, who were suspected of being "enemy aliens."

Personal Memories Marking the 80th Anniversary of WWII's End

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

My Father's Experience During the War

My father, Benjamin Pimentel Sr., was a teenager when Japan invaded the Philippines following the Pearl Harbor attack. Like thousands of young Filipinos, he joined the resistance. He was once detained and interrogated by the Kempetai, the Japanese secret police. His brother, my Uncle Jesus, was later taken and never seen again; our family believed he was executed.

Once an athletic young man, my father was physically devastated by his time as a guerrilla in the jungle and never fully recovered. For decades, he suffered nightmares but never expressed 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 spoke of his experiences with fairness and precision, never with anger. After moving to America, I never worried about introducing him to my Japanese-American friends.

Author’s Summary

This story reflects how personal suffering and historical events shape understanding and compassion across cultures, transcending past conflicts.

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Rappler Rappler — 2025-11-03

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