For one Japanese American,  no amount of hardship stopped him from helping Japanese families before, during and after World War II, even while in confinement in the United States. In fact, Thomas Kobayashi, now 94, has been volunteering for more than seven decades. Kobayashi is one of the longest-serving lay members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the United States.

“So I knew what it was like to be poor . In 1934, while attending the University of Washington, Kobayashi joined the St. Vincent de Paul conference associated with Our Lady of Martyrs, a Japanese parish. The pastor was Maryknoll Fr. Leopold Tibesar, who was fluent in Japanese and also served as the spiritual advisor to the St. Vincent de Paul conference.

Reflection after reading the story:

• How many of those who are labeled today by the accident of their color of skin or country of origin may be the “Thomas Kobayashi’s” of tomorrow?
• Is there need for balance in reacting to legitimate concerns for a nations safety?

Disclaimer: As a boy growing up during World War II I remember my father’s garage being painted with a large Swastika solely on the basis of his name “Freund” and country of origin Germany.