Japan Apologizes for Bataan Death March
Ambassador Speaks to Last 73 American Survivors of the March
Tenney described to him the tortuous experiences that he and his comrades had endured.
The ambassador took Tenney's request to his government and wrote a letter of apology. Upon receipt of the letter, he was invited to deliver it in person to annual gathering.
This will be the last time the POWS will host the gathering, the group has said. Their families, the Descendants Group will take on the memorial mission in the future.
Speaking to reporters after the ambassador's remarks to the POWs, Tenney said he "feels good" about his efforts.
He compared finally receiving the apology to "going 15 rounds in a fight and knocking out your opponent."
Whatever Tenney's feelings about his Japanese captors during the war, today he said he admired the ambassador.
"It takes an great amount of courage to come in the lion's den" and to express the Japanese point of view, Tenney said.
Fujisaki ended his remarks,
"Today Japan and U.S. are the closest friends, best allies. But we should always keep in our minds that this good relations, this status of past experience and efforts," Fujisaki said. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are committed to carry on the torch to our future generations of this excellent and irreplaceable friendship and relations."
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