On the eve of Irei no Hi, representatives of the National Basque WWII Veterans Memorial project and members of the Itcea family visited the Okinawa Prefectural Government, the Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum, and the Cornerstone of Peace in Mabuni, where they learned more about the history, memory, and legacy of the Battle of Okinawa.
The delegation was received by the Director General of Regional Diplomacy from the Governor's Office and by representatives of the Peace Memorial Museum, underscoring the importance that Okinawan institutions have attached to this effort to honor six Basque-American servicemen and reconnect their stories with their families and communities.
At the Cornerstone of Peace, flowers were placed at the inscriptions of the six servicemen whose names are memorialized there. This year's visit carried particular significance as Corporal Felix Ordoquihandy was honored at the site for the first time following the recent inscription of his name. As the only American serviceman added to the Cornerstone of Peace in 2026, his inclusion ensures that all six Basque-American servicemen connected to this initiative are now remembered together in Okinawa.
The visit attracted significant attention from Okinawan and Japanese media, reflecting the broader human and historical significance of reconnecting families with places of remembrance more than eighty years after the battle.
A particularly moving moment came when Pauline Itcea Iriarte, niece of Private First Class Alejandro Itcea, placed two pink flowers at her uncle's inscription—one on behalf of herself and one on behalf of her sister Bernardine, who was unable to travel to Okinawa. Pauline also brought with her a treasured photograph of a young Alejandro and his Purple Heart, creating a powerful personal connection to a life cut short during the war.
A deep sense of reflection is already present across Okinawa as thousands prepare to honor the memory of loved ones lost during what locals came to call tetsu no bōfū — the “Typhoon of Steel.”
Tomorrow, six young Basque-American servicemen who died during and in the aftermath of the Battle of Okinawa will be honored at the Cornerstone of Peace in Mabuni, where more than 240,000 lives are remembered, including over 14,000 Americans. Their names are:
· Private Lawrence Amoriza
· Private First Class Alejandro Itcea
· Private First Class Dominique Laxague
· Corporal Felix Ordoquihandy
· Staff Sergeant Steven Sahargun
· Staff Sergeant Joseph Uriola
Tomorrow is not only about remembrance.
It is also about human connection, memory, peace, and the quiet responsibility of ensuring that their lives and stories are never forgotten.
Photo: Pauline Itcea Iriarte, niece of Private First Class Alejandro Itcea, shares her family's story with Japanese media at the Cornerstone of Peace in Okinawa. More than eighty years after his death, Alejandro's memory returned to Okinawa through the presence of his family and the flowers placed at his inscription.