OSHITA, FRANK KAZUO (1920-2012)

Frank Oshita

      Frank Kazuo "Kaz" Oshita (219-10-C)  was born March 6, 1920 to Japanese immigrant parents, Takizo Oshita and Masu Oshita in Castroville, California. His siblings are: the oldest sister, Kimi; younger brother Tak (Jack) and younger sister, Sally. Frank attended school in Monterey since at the time school district covered Monterey-Castroville. He attended Monterey High School and graduated in 1939. He enjoyed mechanical drawing class and participated in cross country running.
      Frank began his agricultural career working for the Nakamura family near Nashua Road as a ranch foreman; then for the Yuki family on Wilder Ranch and on another in Gonzales, California. 

     During WW II, the Oshita family was forced with military escort to relocate temporarily at the Salinas Assembly Center.  They were moved to more permanent war-time living quarters in the desolate Arizona desert at the Poston, Arizona concentration camp II where they arrived on July 1, 1942.  During the incarceration, Frank "Roundhouse" Oshita participated in the sport of boxing. He took a agricultural seasonal leave to work in Welby, Colorado on May 5, 1943. He left Poston on September 5, 1944 to start agricultural work in Clinton, Iowa and resettle. His parents and sister, Sally remained at Poston, Arizona until September 10, 1945, when they returned to Castroville.
      After the war, Frank worked at many odd jobs including working for an apple cannery in Watsonville. Then he decided to go into farming for himself. He met his beloved wife, Miya Kubota, while picking up green onions for a market. He decided to grow green onions as a truck farm operation. Frank married September 1956. There are three children, Cory and Sue Kubota, both of Sunnyvale and Jan Oshita-Tokiwa of Salinas.
      Frank's imagination and intuitive understanding of plants started his career in Salinas Valley produce as an innovator and pioneer in mixed vegetables. By using new ideas and technology to keep green onions cold and fresh for shipment to the east coast, his product became successful.
      In 1958, Frank, his brother Jack Oshita and his brother-in-law, Don Mitani started Oshita Farms in Castroville then moved operations to Salinas in 1964 after purchase of the packing shed on Commission St. Forward thinking expanded operations to full line of mix vegetable farming in the Salinas Valley, Oxnard area and Imperial Valley. Frank's passion was the assessment for improvements in production for high quality products. In particular, he did plant selections to create his own varieties for green onion and bok choy. He enjoyed working with local Ag Extension personnel to find new production techniques.
      Frank served on the board of the Salinas Buddhist Temple and had been active in the local temple as well as Coast District affairs.
      Frank Oshita died on November 19, 2012 at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by two siblings, Kimi Sato and Jack Oshita.
      Frank is survived by his wife of 56 years, Miya Oshita of Salinas; son, Cory Kubota of Sunnyvale; daughters, Jan (Larry) Tokiwa of Salinas, Sue Kubota of Sunnyvale; granddaughter, Leslie Tokiwa of Osaka, Japan; grandson, Kazuo M. Tokiwa of San Francisco; and sister, Sally Mitani of Salinas.

Source: The Salinas Californian, Nov. 22 , 2012

ODA, GRACE YOSHIYE (MORI) 1915-2012

Grace Y. Oda

     Grace Yoshiye (Mori) Oda (Poston 327-5-A) was  born on May 16, 1915 in Kerman, California to Japanese immigrant farmers, Shunzo (Kuroda) and Sadame Mori. Grace was the eldest of the 5 siblings: Midori "Dora"(305-5-A), Yoneo Leo,  Meiko "May"(305-5-A), and Machiko "Marty" (305-5-A) in the Mori family.  Her father died from tuberculosis and a year later, her mother re-married a widower, Tamekichi "Tom Kiyomoto (305-5-A), with three sons, Seyichi, and George who lived in Reedley, California; and little Roy Takayuki Kiyomoto, who she never me since he returned to Japan when he was a toddler. Another sister was born, June Kiyomoto (305-5-A), and in a few years, her mother died from  tuberculosis. Grace attended Great Western School and graduated from Reedley High School in 1932. 

     Grace was the honored "ne-san" (older sister) who kept house and helped raise them when they were left motherless at an early age in Reedley.

     Following the signing of Executive Order 9066, the Grace's family was evacuated to the Poston, Arizona concentration camp in the Arizona desert.  They arrived on August 4, 1942 and lived at 305-5-A.  Grace became engaged and married Sadao Jack Oda in February 1943 at the Poston block 305 Christian Church. They lived at a honeymoon suite at Poston 327-5-A.  While in Poston, Grace gave birth to Sam N. Oda.  Her husband, Jack was drafted into the Army and served in the 442nd RCT Company D in Italy and France.

     Grace and Sammy left Poston, Arizona and returned with her family to Reedley in August 1945.  In 1946, Grace gave birth to a second child, Carolyn S. Oda in Reedley.  The Oda family moved to Fresno in 1952 and rented farm property at McKinley Avenue belonging to his brother-in-law, Yoneo Mori, until his early death in 1966, then from Fumie Mori and Carol (Mori) Visitacion.

     Grace was a house wife and worked part-time in the field. In 1962, Grace began to work at Del's Drapery factory in Fresno, and retired in 1970.  In her retirement, she began quilting as a hobby.  Grace was active in the Christ United Methodist Church as a Sunday School teacher, United Methodist Women,  and later at the United Japanese Christian Church and the church quilters, as well as the Biola Community Club. Grace welcomed into the world her many beloved nieces and nephews as they were born. 

     Grace Yoshiye Oda, age 97, died on  March 15, 2013 in Fresno, California. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Sadao Oda; brothers, Seyichi Kiyomoto and Yoneo Mori; and sisters, Midori (Mori) Katayama and May (Mori) Yahata.
      She is survived by her son, Sam (Allene) Oda; daughter, Carolyn (Gary) Soto; granddaughter, Mariko (Trevor) Lofthouse; brother, George Kiyomoto; and sisters, Marty (Mori) Suyama and June (Kiyomoto) Kitagawa.

OHAMA, HARUYE (ADACHI) 1918-2012

Haruye Ohama

     Haruye Adachi Ohama (Poston 222-11-C) was born on February 23, 1918, in Los Angeles, California to Asao and Fuji Adachi (Poston 222-4-A), who were Japanese immigrant gardeners and farmers. The Adachi family moved to Long Beach, California in 1936 where Haruye graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1935 and went on to complete a year of sewing school.

     After the passage of Executive Order 9066 in 1942, the Adachi family moved to Clovis, California and stayed with the Takahashi family. In July 1942, the Adachi family was incarcerated at the Poston concentration camp 2 in Arizona.  Haruye was a candidate for the "Queen of Greater Poston Fair".  She met Mr. George T. Ohama (222-9-C)  and they were married at Poston camp 2 in 1944.  The young couple left the Arizona camp on May 2, 1944 and went to work in Pennsylvania.  

     After the end of World War II, they returned to the Fresno area to farm peaches, grapes, and raisins, and 5 children in Sanger.

     For the last few years of their lives, Haruye and George Ohama  were residents of Vintage Gardens, and were happily married for over 66 years.  Haruye, a long-time Sanger area and Japanese- American farmer, died on January 15, 2013.  She was preceded in death by her husband, George T. Ohama (2010); sister, Kiku Imai; and  brother, Harry T. Adachi (2010).

     She is survived by her children, Abe (Darlene) Ohama;  Dan (Kathleen) Ohama; Irene (Steve) Domoto, all of Fresno; Ruth (Don) Fujinaga of Cutler, and Marilyn (Ted) Hasegawa of Santa Clara; grandchildren Joe, Jason, Jamie, Jacey, Sarah, Lance, Rebecca, Derek and Michael; and five great-grandchildren. 

Source:  Fresno Bee, February 10, 2013

OKA, SACHI (HIGUCHI) 1916-2011

     Sachi (Higuchi) Oka (Poston block 222) was born in San Francisco in February of 1916, but spent most of her life in Monterey.  She was a member of the Monterey Kendo Team in the 1930s.

          In 1941, she married Kazuo Kaz Oka. As a young woman, Sachi was employed as housekeeper for the renowned architect, Julia Morgan.  The Oka family moved to the Fresno area with his widowed mother (Same Oka) and siblings (Aiko Helen, Hisako, Yoshiye, Giro, Saburo, and Michiko) to escape evacuation however they were evacuated from Fresno  and arrived at the Poston Arizona concentration camp 2 on July 14, 1942.  On June 6, 1943. Kaz received employment and went to Detroit, Michigan, while Sachi transferred to Heart Mountain, Wyoming concentration camp.

    Upon their release, they moved briefly to Detroit, Michigan, where her daughter,  Patricia was born. Despite the hardship Sachi endured in the camp, she never spoke of the ordeal to her children when were young and never expressed any resentment toward the government. She did, however, always express pride in being a native-born American.

     When Sachi returned to Monterey with her family, she returned to her prior employment for the architect. After her husband died, Sachi raised her children as a single parent.

     Sachi kept a scrapbook of keepsakes and letters written to her by Ms. Morgan.

Acutely aware of the historical significance of these documents, four decades following Ms. Morgan's death Sachi donated nearly all of her collection to Hearst Castle so that the correspondence could be preserved and properly displayed.

     Sachi (Higuchi) Oka died on February 25, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kaz (1966).

     She is survived by her brother, George Higuchi; daughter, Patricia Hudson; sons, Stephen and Rodney Oka; and two grandchildren, Christopher and Adam Hudson.

Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel on March 2, 2011

OGATA, GILBERT TSUTOMU, SR. (1917-2012)

Gilbert T. Ogata, Sr.

   Gilbert Tsutomu Ogata, Sr (Poston 6-10-A) was born on June 18, 1917 in Los Angeles County, California to Japanese immigrants  parents, Heikuro and Yone (Fukushima) Ogata (Poston 6-10-B) who had immigrated to the U.S. in 1905. Gilbert graduated from high school and was a pitcher on a semi-pro team. In February of 1941, he was drafted for military service and served one year of duty before being released into the reserves.

      On May 25, 1942, Gilbert and his parents, were forcibly evacuated from his home in Bakersfield, California to the Poston, Arizona concentration camp 1.  His brother's family (Shoji George, Toshiko Agnes and Toyoko Betty Jane Ogata) were also evacuated at the same time with them from Bakersfield.

     At Poston, Gilbert met Florence Hiroko Ikeda, who had been evacuated from her home to the Salinas Assembly Center.  After a few months,  she was transported to the Poston concentration camp. Gilbert and Florence were married at Poston in the fall of 1942.  [On April 24, 1943, his brother, George Ogata, left Poston  after accepting an offer of employment in Toledo, Ohio.]  In the summer of 1943, baby Gilbert Jr was born in Poston.  Few weeks later, on August 16, 1943, Gilbert Sr. was called back to military service and reported to Fort Douglas, Utah. His brother's wife and daughter also left Poston on August 30, 1943 and resettled in Cleveland, Ohio.  

      Pfc. Gilbert Ogata, Sr. fought with the 442nd RCT  2nd Battalion Company F where he proudly served in the European Theatre during World War II.  He took great honor in "proving to the people his love of our country" as stated in a letter he wrote to the people back at camp in Poston.  Gilbert's wife and son left Poston, Arizona on September 3, 1945 and headed to Salinas, California.His parents left Poston, Arizona on September 11, 1945 and went to resettle in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

    Gilbert Sr. was honorably discharged in November 1945 and went to resettle in Idaho Falls, with his family. He was employed as a Superintendent with the Idaho Falls Parks Department.  He retired in 1986, and moved to Boise.

     Gilbert Tsutomu "Pops" Ogata, Sr., 95, died on September 29, 2012. He was preceded in death by his father, Heikuro (1968), mother Yone  (1980); brothers, Shoji George (1985),  Akira A. (2004), and Mickey Mikiro (2006).

     He  is survived by his wife, Florence Hiroko Ogata; children, Gib Jr., Candice Trovato, Cheryl Coburn, Brett, Jackie Croft, Jill and Marty; 18 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

Source:  Idaho Statesman on October 2, 2012

OGAWA, FUSAYE (KURANAGA) 1924-2012

     Fusaye Kuranaga (Poston 307-11-B) was born January 20, 1924 to Japanese immigrants, Masayuki "Frank" and Kitsu Kuranaga in Isleton, California. Masayuki immigrated to the U.S. in 1917 and was naturalized on November 11, 1954.

     Fusaye grew up in a farming family and moved several times to various locations throughout Central California.

     When World War II broke out, the Kuranaga family was living in San Luis Obispo, when Masayuki "Frank" Kuranaga was picked up by the FBI and incarcerated at the Sharp Park Department of Justice internment camp. The Kuranaga family members, Kitsu, Harry, Sayoko "Mary",  and Fusaye, were forcibly evacuated from San Luis Obispo and incarcerated at the Poston, Arizona concentration camp. They arrived at Poston camp 3  on August 2, 1942.  Masayuki Kuranaga was granted parole from Sharp Park and was reunited with his family on August 15, 1942 at Poston.  He became a member of the Poston Red Cross, worked as a landscape gardener, and was a Director of the Buddhist Church.

     Fusaye Kuranaga trained to become a Nurse's Aide at the Poston General Hospital located at camp 1.  She was on the "Californians' senior girls basketball team and the block 307 girls team. Her brother, Harry was an instructor of a weight lifting class and was a referee for the matches. He refused induction into the Army. Her sister, Sayoko was named 'Honorable Mention" by the Poston Chronicles as their selection for the 1944 Senior Girls Basketball All-Stars.

     The Kuranaga family left Poston, Arizona in the summer of 1945 and resettled in  Los Angeles with their relatives who had settled there.  Fusaye went to work as a Nurse's Aide at the Japanese Hospital and met Kanpo Joe Ogawa. Joe had been born in Sacramento and incarcerated at Tule Lake.

     Joe Ogawa and Fusaye Kuranaga were married in 1954, and raised two daughters. Joe had a 40-year career as a diesel mechanic in Los Angeles.  In 1993, Joe and Fusaye moved to Soquel, which was closer to their family, to enjoy their retirement years. After Joe died in 2009 in Soquel, and Fusaye moved to live closer to her daughters in San Jose.

     Fusaye (Kuranaga) Ogawa died on August 17, 2012 in San Jose, California at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kanpo Joe Ogawa (2009); and parents, Masayuki (1986) and Kitsu Kuranaga (1952).

     She is survived by daughters, Cathy (Dorian) Stonie of San Jose, and Julee Ogawa (George Kent) of Los Gatos; and grandchildren, Daniel and Rachel Kent and Matthew and Morgan Stonie.

Source: San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on August 24, 2012