Ekiji Sam Shiotsuka was born on December 1, 1915 in Salinas,
California. He lived with his aunt, Fusaye Shimotsuka in Los Angeles when he
was 4 years old, and then went to Japan.
He returned to Salinas when he
was 16 years old from Fukuoka-ken, Japan.
Sam
enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 20, 1941. In March of 1943, Sam traveled
to Poston, Arizona concentration camp 2 and married Misao Yamano (Poston 215-2-A) in a
Buddhist ceremony. He had sized her engagement ring with
a piece of string that he sent to camp. After Sam and Misao's
wedding, Misao accompanied Sam to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for his Army
training.
His wife, Misao
Yamano
(Poston 215-2-A) had been evacuated from Gilroy with her family members: Teiichi
and Shige Yamano (parents); and William,
Ben and Helen. Her brother, Ben
Yamano left Poston to attend college in Madison, Wisconsin on September 28,
1943 and her sister, Helen Yamano left Poston on February 29, 1944 to join Ben in
Madison.
Misao returned to Poston and gave birth to Ruri Barbara Shiotsuka,
in 1944. Misao's father, Teiichi Yamano found a higher paying job working in
Grand Junction, Colorado and left Poston on July 1944. On February 22, 1944, Misao, her mother, and Ruri
finally left Poston and resettled in Fruita, Colorado, where her father had
found a place to live.
Tec/4. Ekiji Sam Shiotsuka served with the
442nd RCT, 100th Battalion and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat
Infantryman Badge.
Ekiji Sam Shiotsuka died on March 22, 2000 at the age of 84 years, in Hollister,
California. He is survived by his wife, Misao.
Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17981106
http://articles.sfgate.com/2003-08-16/entertainment/17503471_1_people-of-japanese-ancestry-japanese-person-flo-oy-wong
