Valley Resident’s Life Changed By Pearl Harbor

CATHEDRAL CITY – December 7th is the day in history, 68-years ago, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor drawing the united states into World War II.

A long-time Coachella Valley resident saw his life forever changed by the day, although he wouldn’t know about it for more than a year.

Ken Iyenaga of Cathedral city says “Maybe it’s all personal. But it isn’t because I’m after any personal gain, because I’m 82, almost ready to leave this earth.”

Iyenaga suffered a tragedy he’s lived with nearly his entire life.

It happened years ago while in high school. That’s where Iyenaga played volleyball, basketball and football.

He was a gifted athlete, and 100-percent American.

He grew up in upstate New York during World War II.

“Little Ken” Iyenaga was the son of patriotic Japanese immigrants.

His mother Katie was one.

And his father they all called “Big Ken.”

Iyenaga says “My father taught me a lot, even how to play chess which was a lot in those days. He did everything like that. It was all up here.”

His young life would be changed forever as America was drawn into World War II with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the anti-Japanese sentiment to follow.

It was a year later, December 23rd, 1942 his principal called him out of the school’s Christmas pageant.

Iyenaga says “He didn’t say nothing, led me out of the auditorium. And all the students— and if I cry a little bit, It brings back.”

Iyenaga’s coach, Duncan, took him to the hospital.

Iyenaga says “The nurse says ‘Kenny, we gotta take your ma down to the operating room now.’ The minister came in, and said ‘Kenny your father is dead.’ I still don’t know how or why!”

A local bartender, who would later spend time in a mental institution, was upset about the war.

He was upset about a critical comment Ken’s father, Kenneth, made about the president.

64-year Joseph O’Toole entered the Iyenaga home yelling “I’ve come to shoot the Japs!”

He then opened fire on Iyenaga’s father, killing him instantly.

His mother was gravely wounded.

So was his 77-year old grandmother, Yui.

She crawled through snow to the driveway yelling for help.

His mentally challenged brother, Yoni, escaped the violence by running into the woods.

“Little Ken,” now all alone, returned home.

Iyenaga says “I saw all these police cars in the driveway. I walked up to the kitchen door, and before I opened it, I saw was holes, opened the door, all I saw was blood on the floor. “

His life was shattered, and changed forever.

Iyenaga had to plan his father’s funeral– a blur.

Then he lived with a minister for six months until his mother recovered.

He joined the army, served, then came home to finish his schooling.

He was resilient.

The shooting tragedy didn’t stop him.

A long and successful life followed.

Iyenaga was a standout athlete.

He attended college, and then became coach Iyenaga, “Mr. I” a teacher molding young minds.

Iyenaga has worked hard to move on.

His advice to others is to work and to work hard.

He says “I Hope they receive the word. I gotta have tolerance, I have to have respect.”

It was the most extreme act of violence against a Japanese-American outside of California during the war, according to newspaper reports.

He’s never really gotten over it.

So he’s sharing his story.

Iyenaga says “I’m the only one who can give it now. There’s nobody else living that’s been through all of this.”

He doesn’t want anyone else to ever experience the same.

And he says “I’m doing it for one last thing. I’m doing this for my family up there who I haven’t seen in 67 years, since I was 15 years old. And this is why I think I’m still here alive to do this.”

If you see him, say “hello.”

Iyenaga will share his story, and his hope his story might help future generations.