NPS hosts two programs with Catherine Ladnier about California WWII's Greatest Generation

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News Release Date: March 16, 2017
Contact: Elizabeth Tucker, 510-232-5050 ext. 6624

(Richmond, CA) – On Saturday, March 25th at 11:00am, Catherine Ladnier, a native of Los Angeles, California, will highlight two stories from California’s World War II Greatest Generation. One of the stories describes her discovery of letters written between Mills College students, who were incarcerated in WWII Japanese American camps, and the President of Mills College, Aurelia Henry Reinhardt. Ladnier will discuss the research that led her to write a play based upon the letters. The other story is about Guy Gabaldon, a United States Marine, who learned Japanese as a child when he lived with the Nakano family in Los Angeles. He became famous because he was able to speak Japanese, and during the battle of Saipan, he persuaded over two thousand Japanese Soldiers and civilians to surrender. Ms. Ladnier heard his stories when she grew up in Los Angeles.

On Sunday, March 26th, 2017 at 11am, Catherine Ladnier will direct a reading of a play using current Mills theater students to read the letters between Mills College President Aurelia Henry Reinhardt and the Japanese American Mills students in the incarceration camps. Learn how Reinhardt, one of the first female Ph.D. graduates from Yale University, and her staff defied the prejudice and hysteria of the time to support their Nisei students. 

“Why not tell the story of these “ordinary” folks who faced extraordinary challenges during a time when the world was at war” – Catherine Ladnier.

Space is limited and reservations are required for both programs. Please call 510-232-5050 x 0 and leave a message with your name, phone number and the specific date of the program you would like to attend. 

The Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM and is located at 1414 Harbour Way South, suite 3000, Richmond, CA 94804. For more information and directions to the Visitor Education Center, please call [phone] x0 or visit to https://www.nps.gov/rori/planyourvisit/directions.htm. Admission to the Visitor Center and programs is free. 

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