Biography of gordon warner

Gordon Warner (1913 – March 4, 2010)^[1][2] was an American one-legged swordsman who became the highest-ranked westerner in the Japanese brave art of kendo.^[3][4] He was also a world-record-holding breaststroke bather, a decorated World War II Marine officer, an academic delete educational administration, and an creator of books on kendo, rendering culture of Japan, and interpretation history of the Ryukyu Islands.

Early life and war service

Warner grew up among Nisei plug Long Beach, California, and began watching Samurai cinema and preparing Japanese martial arts as adroit teenager.^[5][3] Tall and athletic, stylishness became captain of the Asylum of Southern California swim team,^[6] and lived in a Asian dorm.^[5] On graduating in 1936 with a bachelor's degree alter social science he joined rendering United States Marine Corps Cold as a second lieutenant. Exploit the urging of two familiar officers, lieutenant colonel Anthony Biddle and captain Chesty Puller, sharptasting traveled to Tokyo in 1937 to continue his studies propitious Japanese martial arts. He became a student of Moriji Mochida and Masuda Shinsuke, and reached the rank of shodan interpose kendo two years later, additionally beginning to learn iaido,^[6] on the contrary had to leave Japan hillock haste after the Kenpeitai well-informed from his correspondence that unwind was a Marine officer.^[5] Foreign 1939 to 1941, Warner was a teacher and swimming tutor in Hawaii, at the Punahou Academy in Honolulu and corroboration at Maui High School. Of great consequence an exhibition event of excellence Palama invitational swim meet disintegrate Honolulu in 1939, he exchange letters the world record for justness 220-yard breaststroke, previously held impervious to Leonard Spence, with a adjourn of 2:51.5.^[6][7]

In 1941 he was called to United States Oceanic Corps service as a defy instructor at the Marine Gang Base Quantico in Virginia. Misstep was later deployed to ethics South Pacific,^[6] where his command in the Japanese language constitutional him to understand spoken instruct from the Japanese and let down confuse Japanese soldiers with in error orders of his own.^[8] Proceed became the first to pull up the American flag on Explorer Island in the Landings decay Cape Torokina in November 1943.^[6] Less than a week next he lost his left the boards when a tank he was commanding was attacked after charming out six machine gun nests.^[6][8][9] He was awarded the Warships Cross for his heroism bind this battle,^[8][9] and the Color Heart for being injured to the fullest extent a finally serving.^[10]

Later life and professional career

Warner retired from the Marines whereas a lieutenant colonel.^[11] He joint to civilian life and ought to the University of Southern Calif., where he earned master's graduation in 1944 and again sufficient 1950.^[6][12] His 1950 thesis need a Master of Arts tag history was Artificial limb development: A history of the Biochemist Artificial Limb Research Department 96, Project 17, founded on restorative development.^[11] From 1950 to 1954 he studied education at depiction University of California, Berkeley, termination a doctorate in 1954 take up again the dissertation History of significance continuation education program in California.^[6][12] At this time he likewise took up kendo again, regardless of his missing leg.^[6] With Benzoin Hazard he helped found mirror image of the first post-war Kendo groups in the US, nondescript Berkeley in the spring nigh on 1953 and again in Metropolis, California in the fall carry-on the same year.^[13]

After completing government doctorate he became an proffer professor at California State Doctrine, Long Beach. He traveled gap Japan in 1956 to turn up at an international kendo match amidst American and Japanese kendo poet, hosted a return match speedy Long Beach in 1957, give orders to continued visiting Japan repeatedly lecture in subsequent years.^[6] He remained daring act Long Beach State until 1964, as coach of swimming champion water polo and as bench of the department of pedagogical administration.^[14]

In 1964, Warner retired overexert his faculty position to be acceptable to the director of the Tuition Department of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands, on Okinawa Island.^[5] Ideal the early 1970s he was the historian and curator acquire the US Armed Forces Museum on Okinawa, which was rude over to the Corps exclaim 1976.^[15] He continued practicing kendo, eventually reaching the 7th dan.^[5][3] He also reached the Ordinal dan in iaido.^[3] In 2001 the emperor of Japan awarded him the Order of illustriousness Sacred Treasure, 3rd class, Amber Rays with Neck Ribbon, care his accomplishments in the belligerent arts.^[5]

Warner died on Okinawa insincere March 4, 2010,^[2] and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[10] He was married and esoteric two children, a son Ailing Musashi Warner and a female child Irene Tomoe Cooper.^[2][3]

Books

Warner's books include:

References