Lt. Col. Farrant L. Turner

Headquarters, 100th Infantry Battalion

 

To the men of the 100th Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Farrant Lewis Turner was more than a commander — he was a presence they trusted, admired, and, in the language they themselves used, loved. In an era when Japanese Americans in Hawai‘i fought not only global war but the weight of local prejudice, Turner’s steadfast belief in their worth made him an anchor during one of the most turbulent chapters in American history.

Born in Hilo on July 16, 1895, Turner came of age in a Hawai‘i still sharply stratified by race and class. After attending local schools, he traveled to O‘ahu to study at Punahou School, then continued on to Wesleyan University in Connecticut. With the United States’ entry into World War I, he entered the Army through the Plattsburg Training Camp, earning his commission in 1917 and serving nine months in France with the 66th Regiment. By the time he returned home in 1919, he was a seasoned young captain preparing for life beyond the battlefield.

Turner built a civilian career in Hawai‘i’s business community, marrying Helen Van Inwegen and rising through the ranks at Lewers & Cooke. Yet military service remained in his blood. In 1924, he joined the Hawaii National Guard, eventually becoming executive officer of the 298th Infantry Regiment. Turner’s reputation for fairness quickly resonated with the young Japanese American soldiers who found themselves serving in a country that still doubted their loyalty.

In 1942, Lt. Col. Turner requested command of the newly formed Hawaiian Provisional Infantry Battalion — soon redesignated the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate). He shaped the unit with relentless training, unwavering discipline, and a deep sense of responsibility for the men under his command.

At Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, he defended his soldiers before skeptical civilian audiences and dismissive Army brass, insisting on their right to prove themselves in combat. When assigned to guard duty in North Africa, Turner refused, arguing that his men had come “to take our part in combat to prove our loyalty.” The Army relented.

By the time the 100th landed in Italy, Turner was 48 — old enough to earn the affectionate nickname “the Old Man.” He led his men through their first brutal month of combat before he was relieved of his command in October 1943. His departure was a blow to the battalion. In the book, “Honor by Fire,” renowned wartime correspondent and author Lyn Crost shares a quote from the 100th Battalion Journal: “Col. Turner’s relief was a cruel blow to the officers and men. In sixteen months he had organized, trained, and led the 100th in combat, exemplifying the highest qualities of a leader. Ever mindful of the welfare of his troops when they were committed, his thoughts were first and always for them.”

As later recalled by 100th veteran Thomas “Fundee” Shirai (Co. B):

“I first got to know the Old Man in the 298th Infantry at Schofield Barracks just before Pearl Harbor. He had the respect and confidence of the men serving under him because he was frank and fair in his dealings with them, whether they were Orientals or Caucasians.

When I learned that he would command the newly created 100th Infantry Battalion, I was overjoyed. I knew that he had faith in us, and in those days just after Pearl Harbor, it was good to know that somebody believed in us…

I can still recall what he told us later: ‘Many of you will never return. Many of your loved ones will grieve for you. But this is your mission.’”

Turner returned to Hawai‘i in 1944, but the bond with his soldiers endured. He visited families of the 100th soldiers, including those who had died in service, helped veterans find work and materials to rebuild homes, and fought against discriminatory employment practices. As recalled by his wife Helen in an interview with 100th veteran and historian Ben Tamashiro, “The boys who were coming back kept dropping in to see him. And my husband went to all the other islands talking to parents and friends of the 100th. Baron Goto was his interpreter. My husband even got to learn a few Japanese words!”

His postwar career carried him into public service — as Secretary of the Territory of Hawai‘i, a congressional candidate, and later an official with the Small Business Administration — before his death in 1959.

Following his passing, the 100th Infantry Battalion veterans dedicated the main hall of their Clubhouse to Lt. Col. Turner, naming it “Turner Hall,” in his honor. The Clubhouse, built in 1952 on the 10th anniversary of the 100th Infantry Battalion’s formation, is dedicated to the men of the 100th who gave their lives in defense of America in World War II.

To those who served under him, Colonel Turner’s greatness lay not in rank but in conviction. He believed that loyalty, courage, and kindness transcended race, and he lived that belief at a moment when it mattered most. For the men of the 100th, he would always remain their “Old Man”.

A collection of 111 letters written to Lt. Col. Farrant L. Turner in 1944 and 1945, mostly by officers and enlisted men of the 100th Infantry Battalion who had served under his command, are part of our Letters Collection. The letters highlight the deep respect the men of the 100th had for Colonel Turner, and strong bond they shared.

View Letters to Lt. Col. Farrant L. Turner