Independent in Long Beach, California

French boy's WWII hero found in Gardena reunion tale

A sentimental reunion unfolds as Maurice Zeller, once a 7 year old mascot to Japanese American Private First Class Chiyoto Kaneshina of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, travels from Hawaii to Gardena to thank the soldier who befriended him in wartime France. Kaneshina now runs Kay's Cattee Shoup in Gardena. The Zeller family traced him after decades of letters and a Honolulu Advertiser photo, culminating in a hopeful meeting and plans for future visit.