I am so happy that an Arroyo Grande World War II casualty, Felix Estibal, will remembered at an exhibit at Polys Kennedy Library this month. The exhibit, Objects of Affection, tells the personal stories of Filipino-Americans and will include a wonderful letter from Felix that I ran across many years ago while doing research on local history. It had been printed in the Arroyo Grande Herald Recorder, and it was wonderful because he had a terrific sense of humor and you kind of knew instantly that he would have been a good friend. In the segregated navy of World War II, Felix was a steward--a servant--like the young sailors photographed with their dog on the light cruiser Seattle in 1923, and that was the only rating to which Filipino-Americans and African-Americans could aspire. Before the War, hed worked for the Waller family at their seed farm in the Upper Valley. Shortly after his letter was published, Felix died in one of the horrific naval battles for Guadalcanal when his ship, the destroyer Walke, was hit by two Japanese Long Lance torpedoes; her bow and most of the forward third of the little ship were blown away, and Felix and over eighty of his shipmates died. The Navy took a horrible beating off Guadalcanal--another local young man, Donald Runels of Nipomo, died when torpedoes sank his ship, the cruiser Northampton. Runels, promoted from the ranks, was an elderly ensign and was so admired by his brother Northamptons that a destroyer escort was named for him. The Navy took a beating, but they prevented the Japanese from reinforcing Guadalcanal and so helped to make it one of the first turning points in the Pacific War. Felix Estibal helped to make it one of the first turning points in the Pacific War. Seeing his letter make it into this exhibit is such a small gift for such a good friend. The fact that we never met makes no difference at all.
Posted on: Sat, 10 May 2014 06:01:30 +0000
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