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| Saburo Oka |
Saburo T. Oka (Poston block 222-5-B), was born on October 18, 1923 in San Juan Bautista to Japanese immigrants, J. and Same (Chayama) Oka. The Oka family had eight children, Kimiyo, who was born in Japan, and immigrated in 1913, Kazuo, Helen Aiko, Hisako Louise, Yoshiye, Giro, Saburo and Michiko. The family relocated to Monterey in 1929, where Saburo and his siblings attended local schools and high school.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred during Saburo's senior year in high school. His mother, who was widowed, voluntarily evacuated her family with her married son, Kazuo and his wife, Sachiko. They left the Monterey area and went inland to central California to Fresno. Unfortunately after a few months, the family was forced to evacuate by train to their new living quarters in the Arizona desert. They arrived at the Parker Arizona railroad station on July 14, 1942 and were transported out to the Poston internment camp, block 222-5-B.
Helen Aiko Oka (Poston block 222-5-B) was nominated a contestant for the Queen contestant in the Poston County Fair. She found employment at camp II working as a block 222 dietitian. Later, she became engaged to "Juichi" Nick Nishi, who played baseball on the block 221 Shamrocks "AA" baseball team as a pitcher or left fielder. He had won 2nd place in the summer of 1944 Catfish Fishing contest. Nick later volunteered for the Military Intelligence Service. On March 16, 1943, Aiko Helen Oka was the first in the Oka family to leave Poston, as she followed Nick Nishi to Camp Savage in Minnesota.
Kazuo Oka and his wife, Sachiko left Poston camp II on June 7, 1943, as Kazuo had found a job in Detroit. Sachiko transferred to the Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming to join her family.
Saburo Oka (Poston block 222-5-B) played on the block 222 Clippers basketball team, and got a job working at the Poston Warehouse. On August 25, 1943, he volunteered for the all nisei U.S. Army unit. Saburo was hired for a job in Minneapolis, and he left Poston on July 11, 1944. On February 12, 1945, Saburo went to work in Detroit. He reported for military service on 12/22/1945 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Giro Oka (Poston block 222-5-B) was a pitcher for the block 222 Horsehiders softball team. He located a job in Detroit, and left Poston on July 18, 1944. Later, Giro enlisted into the U.S. Army on March 19, 1946 at Camp Beale, in Marysville, California.
Hisako Oka (Poston block 222-5-B) was a member of the Red Cross, the only successful organization in Poston. She was hospitalized at the Poston General Hospital in August of 1945.
Michiko Oka (Poston block 222-5-B) was in the first high school class to graduate at Poston II, the class of 1943; and nominated for Queen candidate in both the Greater Poston Fair, and the FFA Winter Gathering . She was a member of the Sub Debs Club, and a block 222 Girl Scout leader. Michiko decided to join her family members in Minneapolis, and left Poston on September 19, 1944.
Yoshiye, Hisako and their mother, Same Oka (Poston block 222-5-B), were the last of the Oka family to leave Poston on September 3, 1945 and they returned to Monterey, California.
After Pfc. Saburo Oka was discharged from the U.S. Army, he returned to Monterey, got married and raised a family with 3 children. He worked briefly at the wharf, and then with the Monterey Transfer and Storage for 33 years before retiring. Saburo Oka, age 83 years, died on December 25, 2006. He was preceded in death by his mother, Same (1960); sisters, Michiko (1988), Hisako Louise (1997), and Aiko Helen (1998); and brothers, Kazuo (1965) and Giro (1991).
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty (Yaemi) Oka; daughters, Marsha (Al) Holmes of Union City and Ellen of Elk Grove; and son, Todd of Fremont.
Sources: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montereyherald/obituary.aspx?n=saburo-oka-sabu&pid=20450915&fhid=6695
The Monterey Herald, December 28, 2006
