SABURO NISHIME
442-100th Battalion- Dog Company
Born In Lawai Kauai - February 4th 1918
Went back home - October 26th 2011
Saburo Nishime, the Japanese "Clark Gable", spent the last days with his family at home, watching his favorite movies and listening to his favorite songs, spending time with his family. At age 93, Mr. Nishime had a long, fruitful and happy life.
His birth certificate reads, Saburo Nishime was born in the Territory Of Hawaii, February 4th 1918 at home in Lawai, Kauai. He was the 7th child of 13 born to Okinawian immigrants, Sokichi Nishime and Nabe Kunchan. They had come to Hawaii together in 1905, and ultimately farmed above Poipu.
Mr. Nishime attended Kalaheo School, Class of 1936, and then was drafted into the Army November 15th 1941. After training he moved to a rooming house on South Street where on December 7th, 1941 he was awakened by a loud boom, turned on the radio and heard that we were under attack. Taking a bus to Kaimuki he watched the planes from a friends house on 8th Avenue.
Off to the Army he went with the Kauai group of soldiers and soon after they formed the One-Puka-Puka, the 100th Battalion-442. He was assigned to Company D, Dog Unit, and went to Camp McCoy for training.
The Army sent Mr. Nishime to Italy where he bravely fought for his country. While fighting on the front lines, a grenade exploded next to him, killing his friend and leaving him with shrapnel in his legs. He refused to be sent home. He collected his Purple Heart and re-joined his battalion on the front lines, putting the Purple Heart in his pocket. After the war, he decided to attend a trade school and become an electrician working until retirement for the US Air Force Civil Service, Kadena AFB Okinawa
Though Mr. Nishime wanted very much to attend college but being one of 13 children on a farm in Kauai, well, there was no money. Still education was very important to him and though he was not able to go himself, he generously helped his two children obtain Doctorial degrees. His son Michael is a respected Implant Dentist in Honolulu and has been practicing implant dentistry for the past 30 years. His daughter, Jeanie, a Dr. of Education, is the Vice President of El Camino College Los Angeles and was recently elected as a board member to the El Segundo Board of Education
Mr. Nishime authored his memories in his autobiography, which will be published in January 2012. It is called An Autobiography, Memories with the 442-100th Battalion: Dog Company. He has written a very good book about his experiences in WWII as a Japanese Soldier from Hawaii as well as his life before and after the war. He contributed factual accounting to the making of the movie "Only the Brave", has his oral history published online by the University of Hawaii and one of his stories is a feature on the website.
Mr. Nishime was very active in the 442-100th Club in Honolulu. He served for 10 years as the President of the 100 Club, retiring as President in 2008. Mr. Nishime was also a member of the Hawaii Sashiki Chinen Doshikai as well as a Mason with the Okinawa Lodge # 181. Always sharp and very funny and in good health until the morning a stroke took him down. We will miss his company and wit, very much.
Mr. Nishime leaves his wife, Setsuko, son Dr. Michael and Elaine Nishime, daughter, Dr. Jeanie Nishime, son-in-law Spence Bauer, grandchildren Quinten Nishime (LMU Los Angeles), Scuppy Nishime (Punahou School), Jessica Briesacker (SDSU and now in Belize Central America, Peace Corps) and Phillip Briesacker (SDSU). Also leaving behind sister Tomi Taba (Kauai), Ralph (Yoohachi) Nishime (Los Angeles) and Kiku Okamura (Ewa Beach) as well as their spouses and many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.
Services are being held at Hosoi on November 26th at 2 pm. Internment will be at Punchbowl on December 22nd at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorializing Mr. Nishime by gifting in his name The 442-100 Battalion Clubhouse in his name or Punahou School Legacy Gifts. The school memorial is tax deductable. (elainenishime@hawaii.rr.com)
SABURO NISHIME
442-100th Battalion- Dog Company
Born In Lawai Kauai - February 4th 1918
Went back home - October 26th 2011
Saburo Nishime, the Japanese "Clark Gable", spent the last days with his family at home, watching his favorite movies and listening to his favorite songs, spending time with his family. At age 93, Mr. Nishime had a long, fruitful and happy life.
His birth certificate reads, Saburo Nishime was born in the Territory Of Hawaii, February 4th 1918 at home in Lawai, Kauai. He was the 7th child of 13 born to Okinawian immigrants, Sokichi Nishime and Nabe Kunchan. They had come to Hawaii together in 1905, and ultimately farmed above Poipu.
Mr. Nishime attended Kalaheo School, Class of 1936, and then was drafted into the Army November 15th 1941. After training he moved to a rooming house on South Street where on December 7th, 1941 he was awakened by a loud boom, turned on the radio and heard that we were under attack. Taking a bus to Kaimuki he watched the planes from a friends house on 8th Avenue.
Off to the Army he went with the Kauai group of soldiers and soon after they formed the One-Puka-Puka, the 100th Battalion-442. He was assigned to Company D, Dog Unit, and went to Camp McCoy for training.
The Army sent Mr. Nishime to Italy where he bravely fought for his country. While fighting on the front lines, a grenade exploded next to him, killing his friend and leaving him with shrapnel in his legs. He refused to be sent home. He collected his Purple Heart and re-joined his battalion on the front lines, putting the Purple Heart in his pocket. After the war, he decided to attend a trade school and become an electrician working until retirement for the US Air Force Civil Service, Kadena AFB Okinawa
Though Mr. Nishime wanted very much to attend college but being one of 13 children on a farm in Kauai, well, there was no money. Still education was very important to him and though he was not able to go himself, he generously helped his two children obtain Doctorial degrees. His son Michael is a respected Implant Dentist in Honolulu and has been practicing implant dentistry for the past 30 years. His daughter, Jeanie, a Dr. of Education, is the Vice President of El Camino College Los Angeles and was recently elected as a board member to the El Segundo Board of Education
Mr. Nishime authored his memories in his autobiography, which will be published in January 2012. It is called An Autobiography, Memories with the 442-100th Battalion: Dog Company. He has written a very good book about his experiences in WWII as a Japanese Soldier from Hawaii as well as his life before and after the war. He contributed factual accounting to the making of the movie "Only the Brave", has his oral history published online by the University of Hawaii and one of his stories is a feature on the website.
Mr. Nishime was very active in the 442-100th Club in Honolulu. He served for 10 years as the President of the 100 Club, retiring as President in 2008. Mr. Nishime was also a member of the Hawaii Sashiki Chinen Doshikai as well as a Mason with the Okinawa Lodge # 181. Always sharp and very funny and in good health until the morning a stroke took him down. We will miss his company and wit, very much.
Mr. Nishime leaves his wife, Setsuko, son Dr. Michael and Elaine Nishime, daughter, Dr. Jeanie Nishime, son-in-law Spence Bauer, grandchildren Quinten Nishime (LMU Los Angeles), Scuppy Nishime (Punahou School), Jessica Briesacker (SDSU and now in Belize Central America, Peace Corps) and Phillip Briesacker (SDSU). Also leaving behind sister Tomi Taba (Kauai), Ralph (Yoohachi) Nishime (Los Angeles) and Kiku Okamura (Ewa Beach) as well as their spouses and many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.
Services are being held at Hosoi on November 26th at 2 pm. Internment will be at Punchbowl on December 22nd at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorializing Mr. Nishime by gifting in his name The 442-100 Battalion Clubhouse in his name or Punahou School Legacy Gifts. The school memorial is tax deductable. (elainenishime@hawaii.rr.com)Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
