Stars & Stripes Newspaper - 1944
(Click photo to Enlarge)
"The Lost Trophy"
Over
the years, we have heard two different stories about where this trophy
may be. At one time, Charlie said the trophy was secured for him after
the swim meet by the Army with the understanding that it would be
returned to him at a later date. Charlie returned to his combat unit
and has not seen the trophy again. We have made numerous inquiries to
the US Army and Veterans Organizations in an attempt to locate or
determine the disposition of the trophy, but have not yet gotten any
clues or indication that they are in possession of the award.
At
other times, Charlie has said the trophy was returned to him after the
war and was donated to the 442 Veteran's Club in Honolulu, HI where it
was on display for many years. We have not yet been able to confirm
that it was ever sent to Hawaii or is in possession of, or was ever
displayed at, the Veteran's Club. The specific 442 Veteran's Club is
still an active club in Honolulu and they have kindly researched this
issue without results.
Click
Here - If you have any information regarding the possible location of
this trophy. We would appreciate your assistance or information. |
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We are looking for this trophy!
During
the late summer of 1944, at the height of WWII, the Tri-Theatre Allied
Games were held in Rome, Italy. The games were organized for
Allied athletes from the European & Mediterranean Armies in an
athletic competition that included Track & Field, Swimming &
Diving, and Team Sports. At those games, Pfc. Charles Oda
(Charlie) participated in the Swimming & Diving competition
for the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO) team. Competing
against several past and future Olympic Champions, Charlie individually
won the 200M, 400M and 1500M freestyle events and anchored the 400M and
800M relays to the team championship. As a result of his
efforts, Charlie was awarded the "Outstanding Performer" award and
presented a trophy for his accomplishments. Unfortunately, as
Charlie returned to his front-line duties as a close-support cannon
operator for the renowned 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Northern
Italy, he lost track of his trophy and we are now hoping to recover it
as a memento of his accomplishments and as reminder of his service and
contributions during that challenging time of our history.
Col. Leon T. David & Charlie Oda - Awards Presentation 1944
About Charlie Oda
Charlie
Isami Oda was born in the sugar plantation town of Puunene, Hawaii on
the Island of Maui in 1923. His parents, Japanese immigrants (Issei),
had come to the Islands for the opportunity to work the thriving sugar
plantations on Maui. In 1937, at the age of 14, Charlie joined the
famous 3 Year Swim Club (3YSC) of Maui. The team was organized to
train young swimmers from Maui to participate in the 1940 Olympic Games
only three years away...an unbelievable ambition for plantation kids
from a then remote part of the Hawaiian Islands. Under the disciplined
coaching of Soichi Sakamoto, the team scored impressive wins, winning
the AAU National Championships in 1939, 1940 & 1941 and many of the
team members were anticipated to make the the 1940 Olympic Team -
Charlie included. These kids were not to get their shot at the 1940
Olympic Games though, or the 1944 Games. The war in Europe caused both
Olympics to be canceled.
In
1941, Charlie attended the University of Hawaii in Honolulu on a
swimming scholarship and was a member of the ROTC command for the
University. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Charlie was assigned to
guard coastal installations against an expected ground attack against
Hawaii from the Japanese army. Although the ground attack never
occured, the subsequent backlash against Americans of Japanese ancestry
that ultimately resulted in the internment of Japanese Americans, also
prohibited Charlie from participating in the armed services. He was
dismissed from his ROTC unit and classified by the US government as an
"Enemy Alien". He remained in Honolulu and continued his studies at
the University.
In
1943, responding to a call for volunteers of Japanese Americans for
military service, Charlie volunteered for the newly formed 442
Regimental Combat Team (442 RCT) and was assigned to the Cannon
Company. The 442 RCT was a segregated unit made up of Japanese American volunteers from Hawaii and the Japanese Internment Camps on
the mainland. Charlie competed his military training at Camp Shelby,
Mississippi and landed in Naples, Italy in 1944. During the war,
Charlie engaged in combat against the Germans and Italians as part of
the 5th Army under the command of Gen. Mark Clark in Italy &
France. The 442nd RCT is still today the most decorated unit of it's
size in US history!
After
the war, Charlie returned to Hawaii and the University of Hawaii. He
completed his education and went on to marry, have a family, and live a happy and
productive life in the Islands.
As
of today, he is in fine health at age 88 and living near his family in
Centennial, Colorado. His swimming accomplishments, and service to
his country, are dear memories for him to this day. We are hoping to
locate this long lost award and return it to him as a tribute to his
accomplishments and a reminder of his service to the USA.
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