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| Gilbert T. Ogata, Sr. |
Gilbert Tsutomu Ogata, Sr (Poston 6-10-A) was born on June
18, 1917 in Los Angeles County, California to Japanese immigrants parents, Heikuro and Yone (Fukushima)
Ogata (Poston 6-10-B) who had immigrated to the U.S. in 1905. Gilbert
graduated from high school and was a pitcher on a semi-pro team. In February of
1941, he was drafted for military service and served one year of duty before
being released into the reserves.
On May 25, 1942, Gilbert and his
parents, were forcibly evacuated from his home in Bakersfield, California to
the Poston, Arizona concentration camp 1.
His brother's family (Shoji
George, Toshiko Agnes and Toyoko Betty Jane Ogata) were also evacuated
at the same time with them from Bakersfield.
At Poston, Gilbert met Florence Hiroko Ikeda, who had been evacuated from
her home to the Salinas Assembly Center. After a few months, she was transported
to the Poston concentration camp. Gilbert and Florence were married at Poston
in the fall of 1942. [On April 24, 1943, his brother, George Ogata, left
Poston after accepting an offer of employment in Toledo,
Ohio.] In the summer of
1943, baby Gilbert Jr was born in Poston. Few weeks later, on August 16, 1943, Gilbert Sr. was called back to military service
and reported to Fort Douglas, Utah. His brother's wife and daughter also left Poston on August 30, 1943 and resettled
in Cleveland, Ohio.
Pfc. Gilbert Ogata, Sr. fought with the 442nd RCT 2nd Battalion Company F where
he proudly served in the European Theatre during World War II. He took great
honor in "proving to the people his love of our country" as stated in
a letter he wrote to the people back at camp in Poston. Gilbert's wife and son left Poston, Arizona on
September 3, 1945 and headed to Salinas, California.His parents left Poston, Arizona on September 11, 1945 and
went to resettle in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Gilbert Sr. was honorably discharged in November
1945 and went to resettle in Idaho Falls, with his family. He was employed as a Superintendent with the Idaho Falls Parks Department. He retired in 1986, and moved to Boise.
Gilbert Tsutomu "Pops" Ogata, Sr., 95, died on September 29,
2012. He was preceded in death by his father, Heikuro (1968), mother Yone (1980); brothers, Shoji George (1985), Akira A. (2004), and Mickey Mikiro (2006).
He is survived by his wife,
Florence Hiroko Ogata; children, Gib Jr., Candice Trovato, Cheryl Coburn,
Brett, Jackie Croft, Jill and Marty; 18 grandchildren and 31
great-grandchildren.
Source: Idaho
Statesman on October 2, 2012
