 |
| Martin Lloyd Ito |
Martin Lloyd Ito was born on April 21, 1917 in Oakland, California. He was the oldest child born to Yenkichi and Masaye Mabel (Uyeno) Ito. His father immigrated from Japan in 1882, and his mother was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1920, the family was living in the Santa Cruz area, where his father was a lumberman for the railroad. By 1930, they moved south to the San Diego area, where Lloyd graduated from San Diego High School and worked with his father, raising and selling vegetables. Lloyd's siblings were Ruth J, Jean Genevieve, and Walter Raymond.
In the spring of 1942, Lloyd and his family were evacuated to the Santa Anita Assembly Center. On August 28, 1942, they were transported to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 327-1-C. While in Poston, he loved to fish in the Colorado River, and later volunteered for the Army's all nisei combat team. He left Poston on May 26, 1943, and reported to Fort Douglas, Utah. He had basic training at Camp Shelby, then assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, joining Canon Company as a radio operator. He was wounded in action on October 28, 1944 while in France. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart for his service during world War II.
When he returned to Encanto, he was refused a haircut because of his ancestry. The barber told him “Your people killed my son.” Lloyd explained to the barber, whose son had been a classmate of his, that he had served in Europe for three years. He got his haircut and a new friend.
Lloyd continued vegetable farming in Encanto, and in 1946, married Emiko "Emi" Horiye. Together they raised a family of four. In 1952, Lloyd and his father gave away nearly 40 tons of tomatoes when the wholesale market prices fell too low to make it profitable for them to ship the last of the harvest to the cannery. The previous year, the Itos volunteered to transport children to school during a school bus strike. Using the farming company trucks, Lloydand others drove Encanto children to and from school because they believed it was important that students not miss school. In the 1960s, he won a Rambler station wagon as the local yellowtail fish derby championship.
When he returned to Encanto, he was refused a haircut because of his ancestry. The barber told him “Your people killed my son.” Lloyd explained to the barber, whose son had been a classmate of his, that he had served in Europe for three years. He got his haircut and a new friend.
Lloyd continued vegetable farming in Encanto, and in 1946, married Emiko "Emi" Horiye. Together they raised a family of four. In 1952, Lloyd and his father gave away nearly 40 tons of tomatoes when the wholesale market prices fell too low to make it profitable for them to ship the last of the harvest to the cannery. The previous year, the Itos volunteered to transport children to school during a school bus strike. Using the farming company trucks, Lloydand others drove Encanto children to and from school because they believed it was important that students not miss school. In the 1960s, he won a Rambler station wagon as the local yellowtail fish derby championship.
Lloyd enjoyed ballroom dancing, extended Baja fishing trips, ocean and lake fishing, woodworking, and making and sharpening knives. Lloyd and Emi volunteered for the Blind Recreation Center fishing program and Lloyd taught people to fish, prepared lunches and repaired equipment for the recreation program. Lloyd was a member of the San Diego JACL, the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego and Pioneer Ocean View United Church of Christ.
Lloyd Ito passed away peacefully at 94 years of age on June 23, 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Walter Raymond Ito (2010).
Lloyd Ito passed away peacefully at 94 years of age on June 23, 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Walter Raymond Ito (2010).
He is survived by wife, Emi, sons, Mike (Rhonda), Robert (Edna), George (Carol); daughter, Marlene (Steve Mishler); and sisters, Ruth and Jean.
Sources: Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on June 28, 2011
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/signonsandiego/obituary.aspx?n=martin-lloyd-ito&pid=152265309
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/09/world-war-ii-veteran-martin-lloyd-ito-dies-at-94/
