CIVILIAN DEFENSE: Girded Loins

On the shores of the tiny Hawaiian island of Niihau, Major General Rapp Brush last week addressed elderly, squinting Benehakaka Kanahele and young, strapping, sober-eyed Howard Hawila Kaleohano. "You showed fine qualities," Brush said. "When put upon, you took the only action decent people could take." Thereupon he pinned American Legion hero medals on them. Said the spokesman for the Hawaiians in Niihau: "Thank you, we appreciate this greatly but the greatest award is that given us and our country: from on high [air raiders] we have nothing to fear."

Thus the U.S. paid a debt of gratitude dating from Dec....

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