Fred Tsunezo Yonemoto
Early years - 1912 to 1941
Fred, my father, was born in Colma, California on December 11, 1912. Fred was sent to Japan at the age of one to live with his grandparents at the Yonemoto family home in the village of Ono in Wakayama Ken near Osaka. His mother was sickly and couldn't take care of him. There he attended grammar school and then returned to California at age 9 in July 1922. He kept in touch with his fellow grammar school students all his life. He loved his life in Japan and had to be tricked into returning. He was told his father was very ill. His father wasn't sick at all. His father just wanted to see his son.
The family was living in Sunnyvale when he returned. There were changes to the family. His mother had died on September 7, 1915 during his absence and his father had remarried in 1917. Fred had two younger brothers, Yoichi Takeshi born November 9, 1920 and Goichi born February 25, 1922, just a few months before his return.
The family was living in Sunnyvale when he returned. There were changes to the family. His mother had died on September 7, 1915 during his absence and his father had remarried in 1917. Fred had two younger brothers, Yoichi Takeshi born November 9, 1920 and Goichi born February 25, 1922, just a few months before his return.
Fred later returned to Japan on March 2, 1926 and attended high school in Japan for 2 years. He mentioned that Japan was a sadder place. War in Asia was affecting everyday life. Mothers said good-bye to their sons, telling them to come back soon. But the mothers knew that a happy reunion probably would not happen.
Fred returned to Sunnyvale on May 4, 1929. After his return, he attended Fremont High School from 1929 to 1933 and received his high school diploma. He attended San Jose State College from 1933 to 1935. He had to stop his formal education because his father's carnation nursery required his full-time attention.
When he was born, his parents were growing field flowers in Colma. At some point, Fred became a land owner. Because of the alien land laws, his father had to purchased land for a nursery in Sunnyvale, California, in Fred's name. In 1941, the T. Yonemoto Nursery was celebrating its 30th year in business.
Fred returned to Sunnyvale on May 4, 1929. After his return, he attended Fremont High School from 1929 to 1933 and received his high school diploma. He attended San Jose State College from 1933 to 1935. He had to stop his formal education because his father's carnation nursery required his full-time attention.
When he was born, his parents were growing field flowers in Colma. At some point, Fred became a land owner. Because of the alien land laws, his father had to purchased land for a nursery in Sunnyvale, California, in Fred's name. In 1941, the T. Yonemoto Nursery was celebrating its 30th year in business.
* After my father's death, Yo (Yoshiko) Hironaka called me. She said that Konosuke Kiwata, her father, was the one who accompanied my father to Japan He was very proud that he was chosen for this task. Yo Hironaka was very active in the Japanese-American community in San Francisco until her death in 2012. Mr. Kiwata was one of the partners in the Colma nursery. Takajiro Imai was the other partner.
|
The 1930's were good for business and for Fred personally. Fred said it was very prosperous time. Fred had a car and a camera, and enjoyed traveling the country. He attended the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1939 World's Fair at Treasure Island. He traveled the west. The photos show that he was a bit of dandy. Even in his last years, he was particular about his clothes and always wanted his shoes to be polished.
Fred wasn't always traveling and having a good time. He had to work at the Nursery. I believe he was the one who reached out to the outside community by exhibiting at the World's Fair in Treasure Island in 1939 and various California State and County Fairs. He was instrumental in arranging the USO benefit in 1941. His English was better than his father and his older brother who were both born in Japan. His two younger brothers were still in school during this pre-war period.
Fred was always civic minded. He joined the Japanese American Citizens League in 1937 and was a member of the Junior Floricultural Society of Northern California. Fred also supported purely American organizations. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, and in 1938 he joined the Sunnyvale Rotary Club. In 1941 Fred organized a benefit for the USO. The benefit raised $102.44 for the USO. In 1942 Fred was elected Treasurer of the California Flower Market. Always athletic, Fred joined a tennis club and a golf club.
Heart Mountain - 1942 to 1945
Just before the war-time relocation, Fred married Yukiko Udo of San Francisco. His family and his in-laws were sent first at Santa Anita Race Track in southern California and then to Heart Mountain, Wyoming where he taught classes in English for the Issei (pioneer) Japanese immigrants. Fred was known as a Kibei, a person who was born in the United States but spent considerable time in Japan. He was truly bi-lingual, speaking and writing both English and Japanese. He also worked as a cook at the rate of $16 a month, one of the better paying jobs in camp.
He was responsible for so many people, his wife, his first born child, his step-mother, his wife's mother and sister, and his 2 younger brothers. Both his father and Yukiko's father were taken away shortly after Pearl Harbor by the U.S. government and didn't rejoin the family until many months later. Fred was very active at Heart Mountain, involved in various activities and organizations. To read more about Fred's life at Heart Mountain, click here.
He was responsible for so many people, his wife, his first born child, his step-mother, his wife's mother and sister, and his 2 younger brothers. Both his father and Yukiko's father were taken away shortly after Pearl Harbor by the U.S. government and didn't rejoin the family until many months later. Fred was very active at Heart Mountain, involved in various activities and organizations. To read more about Fred's life at Heart Mountain, click here.
After Heart Mountain - Home to Sunnyvale
When In September 1945 Fred and his family left Heart Mountain, they had a house and a business waiting for them in Sunnyvale. My family was lucky. Fred continued to run the nursery until the land was sold in 1974.
He and Yuki had five more children after their return to Sunnyvale, a daughter Katherine Sachiko followed by four sons, Fred Kikyoshi (known as Kiki), David, Arthur, and Leslie.
Fred remained civic minded. Fred was a co-founder of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple. He helped lead a fund-raising campaign to purchase the current site in 1954 and to build the first temple in 1957. Fred was the president of the temple for 4 years and a long-time director. He also was a co-founder of the Tri-Cities Association in 1972 and a member of the Japanese Speaking Society. And he proudly rejoined the Sunnyvale Rotary Club
Fred had an artistic side. He was active for many years as a leader and teacher of shigin (Japanese classical singing) and continued to take sumi-e lessons (Japanese ink brush painting) even after arthritis affected his fingers.
And as noted before, he had an athletic side. He continued to play golf until the last few months of his life with his friend, Bud Nagase, a retired Colonel in the United States Army. They got preferential treatment at the Moffett Field golf course. They went early and were allowed be a two-some and take as much time as they needed.
In the 1950's Fred traveled to Japan often for business and to visit his family and his grammar school class mates. In later years, Yuki joined him in his travels with a special group of friends to Europe, Australia, China, and Japan. Fred was a very sociable person and loved a few Scotch, Chivas Regal only, with his friends. While Yuki was alive, she would make them treats and have her glass of milk.
Fred Yonemoto passed away Saturday, April 8, 2008, in Sunnyvale, California at the age of 95 after a seven month battle with cancer. His nursing home was just around the corner from his beloved high school, Fremont High.
Notes: The dates of Fred's stays in Japan and school history were found among Fred's archive. He must have compiled the information in preparation for relocation to Heart Mountain.