Licensing

Tom Ikkanda

Tom moved to Sawtelle as a boy in 1923. He raced hot rods and became a mechanic.

During the war, because of his mechanic skills, he was let out of the camps to service airplanes for the Navy. He was actually sent back to California and was taught how to fly the planes he was working on. Tom said, "Here was this Japanese guy flying military planes over the state of California," and got a laugh from the audience.

Tom started some businesses on Sawtelle and even owned property after the war. He missed out on one property purchase that is worth millions today.