A Grandson's Wish

October 13, 2007

Chris Chruma, Jotoku Asato and Richard Sword, Ph.D., at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

The Internet was in its infancy on July 7, 1999 when Chris Chruma logged on to search for information about his grandfather, a US Army sergeant who was killed in Korea on September 20, 1950.  Chris found the Korean War Project website and posted a request for any information about Sergeant Robert C. Bennett.

Seven years later his mother, Rosalie Chruma, who lives in Georgia, received a call from Dr. Richard Sword who identified himself as a psychologist from Maui.  Sword explained that he had been searching the Internet for the family of the late Sergeant Bennett, and found Chris’ request for information.

“I’ve been working with the 442nd veterans on applying for benefits from the Veterans Administration,” explained Dr. Sword.  “One of the fellas I was working with was Jotoku Asato, who had served with the 442nd in Europe.

“We’d discussed his military service in Europe, but it wasn’t until much later that he mentioned in passing that his most harrowing experience happened not in Europe, but in Korea where he had spent a night watching over the body of a fellow sergeant who had been KIA in their foxhole.”

Rosalie was astounded.  After the initial phone call, Sword sent an email with addition information, and Rosalie responded, “Once again, Rick, I am stunned by your email, and how appropriate that I would receive it today, September 20th, exactly 56 years from the day he died.  God is just so incredible to give us such an extraordinary gift on the anniversary of his death.  I feel like I have two new friends now, you and Joe.” 

On October 13, 2007, a little over a year after the initial phone contact, our Center had the honor of hosting the meeting between grandson Chruma, who now lives in Los Angeles, and 442nd and Korean War veteran Asato.

Jotoku Asato shares memories of Sgt. Robert Bennett with Chris Chruma.

“Your grandfather loved your grandmother,” said Asato.  “On that night on September 19, 1950 we were in a foxhole in the Posan perimeter.  We talked stories to pass the time.  We laughed: he married a lady from Germany, I married a lady from Japan.”

Later, artillery fire became severe, and in the early morning hours, as Sgt. Bennett looked up to check on his men in their foxholes, a piece of shrapnel pierced through his helmet and he was killed instantly.

Asato guarded Bennett’s body through the night until graves registry personnel could retrieve his body the next day.

Chris Chruma shares his grandfather's 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds" book with Jotoku Asato and Rick Sword.

For Chris Chruma it was the end of a long search.  “I am glad that he never suffered, and I am so grateful to Mr. Asato for watching over my grandfather.  Mr. Asato is my hero.  What his “Go for Broke” brothers did in France and Italy was awesome.  His going to Korea made all the difference for my family,” concluded Chruma. 

And the Internet made all of the difference in bringing together two families with a special bond.