Regarding the Sept. 12 article "Witness: Military ordered mass suicides": Such events in the Battle of Okinawa are a very significant part of our history and we must come to terms with it. This story is also consistent with what happened in other locations such as Burma, Iwo Jima, Guam, Saipan, and many others when the military had ordered their own soldiers to do the same.

Our children have the right to know the truth of what happened. It should not be limited to what is written in the history books, but must be frankly and openly discussed for we all know "those who fail to remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Our shame will only prolong the ignorance while admission will bring about a renewed sense of our rightful standing in the eyes of history.

robert yamamoto