World War II

Collector To Return Japanese War Flag Nearly 70 Years After Capture

Tom Banse — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:22:46 +0000

A collector of World War II memorabilia has succeeded in a daunting quest thanks to help from the Japanese government. The veteran from Clarkston, Washington has found the right person to receive a Japanese war flag taken in battle nearly 70 years ago.

Years ago, memorabilia collector George Koller bought an inscribed "good luck flag." It originally belonged to a Japanese fighter pilot killed in combat.

Rosie The Riveter Had A Sister, Laura The Luthier

Tom Banse — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:46:23 +0000

PORTLAND - During World War II, a popular song called "Rosie the Riveter" turned female assembly workers into icons. Women filled in at places like the Boeing airplane factory in Seattle and the Kaiser shipyards in Portland while the men went off to war.

But one famous guitar company allegedly tried to hide the fact that it was using female replacements to keep making its musical instruments.

Washington Veteran Having Difficulty Repatriating Captured War Flag

Tom Banse — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:55:15 +0000

Wednesday will mark the 67th anniversary of the Japanese surrender to end World War Two. With each passing anniversary, there are fewer and fewer living witnesses to the event. Correspondent Tom Banse reports time is also running low for an aging U.S. Marine veteran who wants to return a captured Japanese war flag.

Life at Big Pasco: La Dona Madison and Michael Madison

Sueann Ramella — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:51:48 +0000

La Dona Madison worked at the "Big Pasco" military base in Washington during World War II. It was a busy place with soldiers eveywhere but not just American soldiers. She tells her son, Michael Madison, about some unusual guests at the base.