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| Kei Kitahara |
Kei Kitahara was born on December 29, 1920 Reedley, California to Ichizo and Kiyo Kitahara. He grew up on the family fruit farm in Parlier and participated in kendo, judo, attended Japanese School, Boy Scouts, and participated in the YMCA.
Following his graduation from Reedley High School, he entered the University of California, Davis, and studied viticulture and horticulture. After two years at University of California, Davis, his college education was cut short due to World War II. His father was picked up for questioning by the FBI due to his connections with the kendo school.
In August, 1942, the Kitahara family was evacuated into the Poston, Arizona internment camp III block 308-6-C. While at Poston, Kei took a teacher's training course, and became an agriculture class instructor for the camp 3 high school. Kei's father was able to rejoin the family at Poston. Kei volunteered from the detention camp for the U.S. Army all nisei combat unit. On May 12, 1943, he enlisted at Salt Lake City, Utah. Kei went through basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and traveled to Camp Savage, Minnesota, for the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Although he had studied Japanese as a youth at the Japanese School in Reedley, Kei was not fluent in the language, and had a difficult time learning Japanese. In the spring of 1944, he finished the course, and was assigned to the South Pacific with the 81st Infantry Division. Kei eventually became a Military Intelligence Officer as 1st Lieutenant and worked with the 1st Infantry Division, 33rd Infantry Division, 323rd Regimental Combat Team, in the Pacific Theatre, including on the island of Palau. His job was primarily to interrogate the captured Japanese POWs and some radio broadcasting, as well as teaching the G.I.s simple words and phrases in the Japanese language. He helped to train the troops about the type of Japanese Imperial soldiers they would encounter in combat. He served at Peleliu, then Leyte, Philippines.
After contacting hepatitis, he was hospitalized and Japan surrendered during that time. After he recovered, Kei was sent with the 81st Infantry Division to Japan to help with the Occupation. He accompanied the Artillery Division, interpreted for a brigadier general, and worked with the Occupation Forces and Japanese officials to help the local government with install civilian leaders. Kei was reassigned to Yokohama, Japan, where he worked with the defense attorney for the war crimes trials until 1946 when he was discharged and returned to the United States.
After contacting hepatitis, he was hospitalized and Japan surrendered during that time. After he recovered, Kei was sent with the 81st Infantry Division to Japan to help with the Occupation. He accompanied the Artillery Division, interpreted for a brigadier general, and worked with the Occupation Forces and Japanese officials to help the local government with install civilian leaders. Kei was reassigned to Yokohama, Japan, where he worked with the defense attorney for the war crimes trials until 1946 when he was discharged and returned to the United States.
When Kei returned from active military duty, he met Alice Osaki, and they were married in 1946. Shortly after they were married they purchased an 80 acre ranch south of Parlier, where he grew different varieties of stone fruit and table grapes. He eventually owned several ranches and a packing and shipping facility in Reedley. Kei was an active member of the United Methodist Fellowship Church, Lions Club, Ag One Foundation and Reedley College board.
Kei Kitahara passed away on June 24, 2011, at the age of 90. Kei is preceded in death by his parents, Ichizo and Kiyo Kitahara, wife Alice, sister Miyoko Mizuno, brother Heiji George, and Toru Kitahara.
Kei is survived by his son Larry (Alice) Kitahara; daughter, Susan (Craig) Lee; and grandchildren, Krystal and Chelsea Kitahara, and Jennifer, Mitchell and Jackie Lee; and his sister, Yoneko Minami.
Sources:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fresnobee/obituary.aspx?n=kei-kitahara&pid=152276557
http://www.discovernikkei.org/pt/resources/military/5746/?view=print
http://www.nikkeiheritage.org/misnorcal/profiles/profile.php?id=2029