95, passed away peacefully at St. Francis Hospice Nuuanu on January 19, 2020. He was born on April 20, 1924 in Honaunau, to coffee farmers Sakamatsu and Tatsuyo (Tachibana) Yanamura.
While still a senior at Konawaena H.S. he joined the 442nd RCT (K Co.), trained at Camp Shelby, and due to his fluency in Japanese, transferred to the MIS Language School at Camp Savage, MN. During WWII Herbert served in the Leyte and Okinawa Campaigns. His war experience in Okinawa was portrayed in the 2015 film, The Surrender Call. In 1946 he attended UH Manoa on the GI Bill, then worked for the US Soil Conservation Svc., US Navy, and retired from the HI State Dept. of Land and Natural Resources.
Herbert was predeceased by his wife, Chiyo (Sasaki), in 2006. He is survived by son, Jay (Kalene); daughter, Amy (Russell) Young; brothers, Kenneth and Franklin; sister, Bertha Yanagida; grandchildren, Michael (Kaiemi) Young, Jennifer (Jon) Ono, Jayson (Gracia) and Jaclyn Yanamura; great-grandchildren, Kyrie Young and Aila Yanamura.
Private services pending. No monetary offerings. Donations may be made to MIS Veterans Club of Hawaii or UH Foundation in Herbert's memory.
Arrangements Provided By:
Hosoi Garden Mortuary
