In this concluding column, Mr. Larry Oberly and this writer are still reading the 1931 Northampton High School Amptennian. The book’s theme was Japanese literature. The high school welcomed a visiting Japanese professor in 1929. His presence had a positive influence on the administration, faculty and students.

Dr. George Eichler, superintendent and World War I veteran, had this message in the yearbook.

He writes, “The Class of 1931 has done well in selecting Japanese literature as the theme of their Amptennian. Japan is called by its people Nippon, which means the Land of Rising Sun, for Asia views the rising sun by looking in the direction of Japan.

“The awakening of Japan followed the visit of our own Commodore Perry in 1853, one of the miracles of the nineteenth century. They absorbed the best of western civilization in a few decades it has placed itself among the greatest nations in the world.

“Sincerely yours, G.A. Eichler.”

In the next decade, dramatic changes occurred in Japan and the world. As old United States history teachers, we realize history is not static. There is always change.

In the 1930s, Japan would change from friend to foe. Their goal was domination of Asia. It needed natural resources for a war economy, so aggressive force was necessary. On a local note, in the late 1930s, the Atlas Portland Cement Company was demolishing its old plants No. 2 and No. 3. Former Atlas officials told me that much of the scrap iron and steel was shipped to Japan.

The Japanese first marched into Manchuria. They saw the U.S. Navy as an obstacle to their aggression. We all know, and should know, on Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and World War II, the greatest war in history, would cover much of the world. This writer sat in the living room with my parents with our RCA radio hearing President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech asking for a declaration of war on Japan.

The war was long and costly. It affected everyone - the draft, rationing, blackouts - but with fortitude and courage, we were victorious, and peace returned.

Japan rebuilt, organized a democratic government and became an industrial engine. As a longtime teacher, I had the opportunity to teach some Japanese exchange students. It was a pleasurable experience. They were extremely hard workers and very courteous. One would think society would learn lessons from the past and not repeat them in the future.

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Mr. Oberly with his camera and my number No. 2 Faber pencil will be back in two weeks. See you then!