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| Fred Nishida |
Fred Ryuzo Nishida (Poston 318-2-AB) was born on October 6, 1917, in Dinuba, California. He was the first child born to Japanese immigrants, Joe and Yasuye Nishida. Fred and his siblings were raised in the Dinuba area. Fred graduated from Dinuba High School in 1936. Four years later, the Nishida family moved to Reedley and purchased farmland on South East Avenue.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the signing of Executive Order 9066, Fred Nishida, his parents, and siblings-- Kenneth, John, Terry, Thomas, James and Agnes Nishida were evacuated from their home in Reedley, California. They were sent by train to the wartime living quarters in the Arizona desert at the Poston internment camp. The Nishida family arrived at Poston block 318-2-AB on August, 6, 1942.
Fred's brother, George Nishida, enlisted for the Military Intelligence Service, and left Poston on May 10, 1943 to attend the Military Language School at Camp Savage, Minnesota. Meanwhile, Fred Nishida found farm work opportunities outside of Poston, and went to Utah, and then to Nevada. His younger brother, Kenneth left Poston and joined Fred in Logandale, Nevada on January 10, 1944. Younger brother, Terry Nishida, received an invitation for employment in Detroit, and left Poston on July 25, 1944. His brother, John received an employment offer in Chicago, and left Poston on November 14, 1944. The rest of the Nishida family remained at Poston until January 29, 1945 when they left Poston and returned to Reedley, California.
On June 28, 1953, Fred Nishida married Haruye Grace Koga. Together, they raised their two children in Reedley. Fred worked on his farm in Reedley, raising tree fruit and a vineyard for over 55 years. Fred and Haruye were both able to travel to the Poston camp III reunion held at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas in the spring of 2010.
Fred Nishida of Reedley died at the age of 94 on November 7, 2011. Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Haruye (2010); and his brothers, George (2001), Kenneth Kenji (1999), John Yoshiharu (1996), Terry Kaoru (2007), and James Shigeru Nishida (2003) and parents, Joe Nishida (1958) and Yasuye (1982).
He is survived by his daughter, Julia (Dean) Ueda; and son, Steven (Susan) Nishida; brother, Thomas S. Nishida; and sisters, Rosie Watanabe, and Agnes M. (Hide) Nakamura.
Sources: Fresno Bee on November 13, 2011
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fresnobee/obituary.aspx?n=fred-nishida&pid=154566394
