Nobuo “Dick” Kishiue, husband, father and proud U.S. veteran died on
Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, at the age of 90.
Dick was born on May 20, 1920, in Armona, to Japanese immigrants
Nobataro and Yoshiko Kishiue of Wakayama Ken, Japan. Dick’s father
remarried to Japanese immigrant Otami after Yoshiko’s death in 1924.
After graduating from Hanford Union High School in 1938 as class
salutatorian, Dick was drafted by the U.S. Army in September 1941 and
completed basic training at Camp Roberts in Paso Robles. After
Executive Order 9066, his parents and siblings were interned at the
Jerome Relocation Center in Arkansas while Dick was transferred to
Camp Robinson, also in Arkansas. Due to his ability to speak and read
Japanese, Dick was selected in 1942 to be a member of the exclusive
and secret group of linguists used by the Army in World War II known
as the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and trained at Camp Savage
in Minnesota. Through his service with MIS, Dick served as a
translator, interpreter and soldier in U.S. tours in Makin (Gilbert
Islands) with the 165th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, and in
Saipan and Okinawa with the 27th Infantry Division, in addition to
other smaller tours. His years with MIS earned him several awards of
honor including a Bronze Star.
Dick left the Army in 1945 and returned to Armona to marry Emiko
“Emi” Shinagawa of Hanford in 1946. The couple raised three children
and ran a small farm in Hanford until retiring in 1990.
In addition to being a farmer and businessman, Dick was also active
in the local veterans’ community. In 1949, he helped found the Nisei
Liberty Post 5869 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Over his
years with the VFW he held the titles of Past Commander of Nisei
Liberty Post 5869, Past District Commander of Districts 24 and 9, and
State Blood Bank Chairman. Dick was also a member of the Military
Intelligence Service Veterans Association of Southern California.
With his wife Emi, Dick was also an active member of the Hanford
Buddhist Church holding titles of Former President and Former
Boardmember.
In between his veteran’s and church duties, Dick was also an avid
fisherman, a favored pastime he continued to enjoy even at age 89.
Dick is survived by his wife of 64 years Emiko; brother Henry and
sister-in-law Bessie of Cleveland, Ohio; sisters Setsu Hiraoka of
Sanger and Mary Toyota of Fresno; son Richard and daughter-in-law
Terrye; daughter Lucy; daughter Gail; grandchildren Susan and Robert
Kishue-Koval; grandchildren Scott and Elizabeth Isbell; grandchildren
Sara and Bill Cunningham; granddaughter Sabrina Sakaguchi;
granddaughter Tae Sakaguchi; and great-grandchildren Kaz, Charlie,
Claire, and Chloe.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 4, 2010, at the
People’s Funeral Chapel located at 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA
93230. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 5,
2010, at the Hanford Buddhist Church located at 238 North Green
Street, Hanford, CA 93230. Burial will be at the Hanford Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, it is requested that donations be made
to the Military Intelligence Service Veterans Association of Southern
California (707 E. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012) and the Nisei
Liberty Post 5869 of the VFW (P.O. Box 401 N. Irwin St., Hanford, CA
93230).
Condolences may be offered at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com.
Arrangements entrusted to People’s Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty St.,
Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 584-5591.
Nobuo “Dick” Kishiue
