In difficult times, small things become special: a single photograph, a favorite hat, or a kitschy souvenir from a dear friend. These little things are like a treasure for the soul.

By these standards, Lt. Col. Patrick Cichon of the California Air National Guard found a treasure in his father’s old trunk. But these treasures were only an ocean away.

Cichon, commander of the 129th Medical Group, came across letters, memorabilia, pictures and more from his father’s time in the military during World War II. The language was foreign yet familiar; it was Japanese, the language he now mastered after decades with his wife.

Cichon is committed to strengthening and building relationships within the Japanese American communities of Southern California. His nonprofit, the Nova Vita Foundation, hosts festivals, programs and clubs for adults and children. He knew clearly that he had to bring these things home. To their home, not his.

“It is an honor for me to be in Okinawa and to return to the people of Japan items that my father saved from destruction in World War II,” he said. “My father preserved them on the battlefield so that we can return them to their homeland today.”

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Casimir Joseph Cichon, the colonel’s father, fought in the 90-day Battle of Okinawa, which resulted in the most casualties of any conflict in the Pacific. He saved certain items with the intention of returning them home before he left.

Of these items, Cichon brought three different fabric artifacts. One was a simple sack with a name on it; another was a handkerchief woven with the image of a stylized kabuto, a samurai helmet; and the last was a towel with two names embroidered on it.

In addition, Cichon’s father brought photographs and letters, which Cichon himself placed in two separate exhibitions.

Once he had all five items in hand at Naha Airport, the easy part was done; Cichon had made it to Japan. Now he had to figure out how to get these items to the right people.

“I worked with the mission’s cultural officer,” Cichon explained. “We found three promising leads: the U.S. Consulate General in Naha, the (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) and a local peace museum.”

The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum is a symbol of the island’s ongoing peace. The museum, which commemorates the 200,000 dead of the Battle of Okinawa, was Cichon’s clear first choice.

Cichon spoke fluent Japanese and communicated his intention to the museum curator. The curator believed that the cloth artifacts should be given to the JASDF and the U.S. Consulate General, but the photos and letters were fascinating.

“One photo of a man on horseback actually shows a nobleman, an important Okinawan family,” he said during the presentation, translating and summarizing the curator’s statements. “Another photo shows boys in middle school; actually, it all tells a different story.”

The curator called the museum director, who also wanted to see the pieces. Cichon gave each of them his Commander’s Coin as a token of his appreciation, and they thanked him profusely in return.

Thanks to the identification by the curator and director, the other objects were also ready for transport to their new homes.

The sack was actually a care package with the name of a woman, most likely a nurse or administrative worker. The stylized handkerchief belonged to a soldier as a souvenir. Both were given by the 163rd Squadron’s public relations department to a Japan Air Self-Defense Force press officer stationed at Naha Air Base. The Japanese airman contacted a number of local and national Army and Navy military museums to collect the items.

Eventually, only the towel remained. With additional help from the U.S. Consulate General, which took possession of the artifact, the towel was identified as coming from a high school in Gunma Prefecture. It was provided to the high school by an insurance company, which in turn gifted it to a student who then most likely became a soldier immediately after graduation. At the time of this writing, the U.S. Consulate General confirmed that the Gunma Prefectural Museum has received the towel.

In just two weeks, all five items had completed their nearly 80-year journey. The letters, photographs and memorabilia had survived war, travel and time completely intact. These artifacts, forgotten by most, were nevertheless treasured by those who cared for them, whether Japanese or American.

Dozens of people worked to ensure the items were kept safe so they could be treated as they deserved: as precious gifts for soldiers and families fighting in a brutal war. These artifacts are now immortalized in museums across Japan and will forever cement the new friendship between the two nations.

Lt. Col. Cichon’s mission to return these artifacts reflects the United States’ unwavering commitment to its allies. The dedication he put into ensuring these artifacts made it to Japan is a testament to the values ​​of respect, understanding, and cooperation that underpin U.S. foreign relations. By persevering in the face of challenges and navigating the complexities of international cultural heritage, Cichon not only honored his father’s legacy but also strengthened the bonds between the United States and Japan.