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| Mitsugi "Mike" Kusuda |
Mitsugi Kusuda was born on May 15, 1920, in Huntington Beach, California to Gonzo and Yoshi Kusuda. He graduated from Tustin High School. On February 10, 1942, he enlisted into the U.S. Army at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, California, and his family was evacuated to the Poston camp I, block 43-3-C. He was a baker for the Station Hospital, Camp Grant, Illinois, then served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team Company E, as a battalion runner, and saw action in northern Italy and France during WW II. Private 1st Class Kusuda was discharged at Fort McArthur.
Mitsugi was a gardener and a nurseryman, and owned and operated the Garden Grove Nursery and Flower Shop with his siblings. In 1957, he was a founding member of Kazuo Masuda Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3670 in Garden Grove, California.
In December of 2009, Mitsugi's wife, Mary Kusuda with her sons represented her husband, Mitsugi, who was bed-ridden from Alzheimer’s disease. They brought home his honorary degree from UC Davis. He passed away in Garden Grove on June 18, 2011
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary; and children, Susan (Chris) Bacon, Ernie (Sandy) Kusuda, Nancy (Dan) Esterly, Frances (Dave) Sheegog and Dave (Pam) Kusuda; and many grandchildren. He also leaves his sister, Yuki (Kusuda) Ogata.
Source: Orange County Register June 22, 2011
