On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, I sent out an email entitled, “A Final Resting Place,” which I had to do when my father was discharged from the United States Navy on Friday, December 7, 1945, at the end of World War II, and he brought a Japanese steel helmet home. He kept it all these years until he passed away on March 30, 1997. After his death, my mother gave it to me for safekeeping. I do not know how or why my father obtained the Japanese steel helmet.

And in my email, I indicated that I wanted to return the Japanese steel helmet to the family of the soldier who proudly served his country. I had contacted my good friend, Brian Notzon, who was extremely helpful in contacting his friend Hirosuke in Tokyo, Japan, in helping me to decipher the inscription found inside the WWII Japanese steel helmet. And I owe Brian Notzon an enormous amount of gratitude for all his hard work in putting me in contact with his friend Hirosuke and then with Dr. Hisashi Sam Shichijo, Honorary Consul General of Japan in Dallas, whom I contacted by telephone and explained my plans to return the helmet to the rightful family of the Japanese soldier who was killed during World War II. And I asked him, at his convenience, to let me know what the Japanese letters that are inside the helmet mean. Then, we communicated via emails, and I sent him the three photographs that are at the bottom of this email as attachments. Dr. Shichijo replied and said that the letters say, “SATO,” with some marks in between. The Japanese steel helmet also has a bullet hole on one side and the remains of dried blood are still visible. Dr. Shichijo was also kind enough to provide me with the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to obtain the Application Form for Research on Lost Artifacts.

A month before, on Monday morning, November 22, 2021, I had submitted, via an email, the completed Application Form for Research on Lost Artifacts to the Planning Division of Recovery of the Remains of War Dead, Social Welfare and War Victim’s Relief Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare and a courtesy copy to Dr. Hisashi Sam Shichijo. As attachments to the Application Form, I included the three photographs that are at the bottom of this email. Moreover, I agree to return the Japanese steel helmet without receiving any payment in exchange, and I also consent to returning the relic even if it is not the wish of the bereaved family to disclose their contact information with me.

In his last email, Dr. Shichijo made the following comment, “I want to thank you for your desire to return the item to the original owner. I hope they will find the owner’s family. Please let me know if you have any questions.” After all these years, I think that it is only fair and human to find the relatives of SATO, whether they are children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren, and let them have something that belonged to their father, grandfather, or great-grandfather. In the meantime, I indicated that I would keep you posted whenever I received some good news from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Consequently, Jorge A. Vela and Malena Charur, with the Laredo Morning Times, became interested in my story. Jorge published the first article. And the second article is a Spanish translation of my story that was done by Malena Charur.

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Laredoan wants to return mysterious WWII Japanese helmet to rightful owners

By Jorge A. Vela,Laredo Morning Times, Updated Dec 13, 2021 6:13 a.m.

https://www.lmtonline.com/insider/article/Laredoan-wants-to-return-mysterious-WWII-Japanese-16697417.php

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LMTenEspanol

Laredense relata su conexión personal con un casco de guerra japonés
By J. Gilberto Quezada,Especial para Tiempo de Laredo, Dec 6, 2021

https://www.lmtonline.com/lmtenespanol/article/Laredense-relata-su-conexi-n-personal-con-un-16680857.php

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Well, on Saturday, August 10, 2024, I received a response from Mr. Hirano Kouta, with the Planning Division of Recovery of the Remains of War Dead, Social Welfare and War Victims’ Relief Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, almost three years since I first contacted him. And, he indicated that:
“Despite our efforts, we regret to inform you that we could not identify the original owner of the item. In closing, we would like to say thank you for your patience for our long search period, and we would appreciate your understanding of this result.”

Thus, his letter puts closure to my earnest efforts to return the WWII Japanese helmet to the family of the soldier who died during the war. And I want to share the latest news with you since you were so wonderful in supporting and encouraging this project.
On Saturday, August 10, 2024, I sent Dr. Hisashi Sam Shichijo an email along with a copy of the letter from Mr. Hirano Kouta. And on the following day, Sunday, August 11th, I received his kind reply:

“Gilberto,

Thank you for your email and for letting me know the result of their search. I am sorry they could not be able to help you with the return of the helmet.

If there is anything else I can help you with in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Best regards,
Sam”

Photo Caption:
My father Pedro Quezada