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MISSIONARIES TO OKINAWA AND JAPAN, 1951 - 1982
| Injustice... In 1955, Harold witnessed the destruction of Okinawan homes and farm buildings by the United States Army on Iejima, an island near northwest Okinawa. It was at this time that Harold met Shoko Ahagon, the man he now calls "The Gandhi of Okinawa". Mr. Ahagon's land, as well as that of 12 neighboring families, was confiscated at gunpoint for use as a missile practice range by the U.S. Ahagon and his neighbors could only watch in dismay as their homes and buildings were bulldozed or burned and as field crops were torched. The injustice was the beginning of a life-time of effort on Ahagon's part to regain their land and livelihood. For 45 years, Ahagon led a non-violent movement for justice. Harold and Margaret were to learn much from Shoko's Christian spirit. It was the start of a life-long friendship. Above: The destruction of Shoko Ahagon's home (1955). Right: Destruction caused by the U.S. Army. |
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"The U.S. military rule of Okinawa is not by law |
| Harold and Mario Barberi, an agricultural missionary, met with General James E. Moore, the U.S. High Commissioner for the Ryukyu Islands. Harold and Mario spoke on behalf of the Okinawan people and and for specific changes in policy that would benefit Okinawan's daily lives. Yet later that summer, Harold saw the Okinawan village of Isahama seized at gunpoint, homes and farm buildings destroyed, and fertile rice fields filled with stones in preparation for constructing yet another U.S. military base. |
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| Above: L-R: Rev. Harold Rickard, an Iejima farmer, Mario Barberi, Shoko Ahagon, and two Iejima farmers stand at the ruins of of an Iejima farm home that had been destroyed by the U.S. Army. | ||
| Next: Yaeyama... [click]. |
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Last Revised: December 8, 2002.