Tsunejiro Udo
Born May 11, 1889 in Chida-mura, Kamoto-gun, Kumamoto-ken, Japan
Died June 1, 1968 in San Francisco, California
Died June 1, 1968 in San Francisco, California
Tsunejiro Udo, my maternal grandfather, was born in Japan in 1889 and immigrated to the United States in 1906 at the age of 17. Like most immigrants he was looking for a better life. Tsunejiro first lived with a Caucasian family in San Francisco, going to school and working as a houseboy. He said that he was treated as part of the family. In 1910 he moved to San Mateo and worked as a gardener and a butler, most of the time at "the Coleman.", which might be a reference to the Coleman Mansion in Menlo Park. By 1923 he had married Tsukio Mimori, a fellow immigrant from Kumamoto-ken, and had 3 American-born daughters. Having saved enough money, in 1923, the Udo family opened the Stanyan Cleaners located at 772 Stanyan Street in San Francisco.
Tsunejiro was well-respected in his profession, being elected the President of the Japanese Cleaning and Dyeing Association in 1941. He was also appointed in March 1940 an examiner for Cleaners and Dyers by the State of California, Department of State Fire Marshall. The family had money in the Bank of America and Yokohama Specie Bank, where Yukiko, the middle-daughter, worked as a typist. The family had a 1940 Pontiac.
Tsunejiro was well-respected in his profession, being elected the President of the Japanese Cleaning and Dyeing Association in 1941. He was also appointed in March 1940 an examiner for Cleaners and Dyers by the State of California, Department of State Fire Marshall. The family had money in the Bank of America and Yokohama Specie Bank, where Yukiko, the middle-daughter, worked as a typist. The family had a 1940 Pontiac.
On December 8, 1941 Tsunejiro was arrested by the FBI as an enemy alien. In papers dated December 15, 1941, the United States government classified him as danger class B2 (member of the Togo Kai) and danger class A2 (Japanese naval reservist or retired from the Imperial Japanese navy) .and ordered his internment. I'm sure his wife and 3 daughters were frightened and bewildered by this sudden action.
On December 19, 1941,he arrived at Fort Missoula, Montana. While there he was required to fill out an Alien Enemy Questionnaire. He stated that he belong to the Japanese Association of San Francisco, the Japanese Cleaning and Dying Association, and the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. He did not mention being a member of the Togo Kai. He mentioned that he had a checking account at the Bank of America and a savings account at the Yokohama Specie Bank. The official hearing document stated that his savings account was at the Yokohama Specie Bank in Yokohama, Japan, rather than being in the San Francisco branch. This misunderstanding would cause him trouble for the next two years.
From Fort Missoula, he was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Camp Livingston, Louisiana, and finally to Santa Fe, New Mexico. At various times, he petitioned to be allowed to return to his family. But petitions were denied because of his membership in the Togo Kai and having money in Yokohama. .
Finally, there was a hearing at the Santa Fe detention center in December 1943. The examiners listened when he explained that his money was never sent to Japan. It was just a savings account in San Francisco. The examiners listened when he explained that about ten years prior a Japanese acquaintance asked him to join the Togo Kai. He joined to please the acquaintance, but paid dues for only one year and never went to a meeting. He explained that he never was a member of the Japanese navy. The examiners read heart-felt letters from his wife, his youngest daughter, and my father asking that Tsunejiro Udo be allowed to join his family in the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp. Finally, the examiners recommended that he be "paroled" and be allowed to go to Heart Mountain. In January of 1944, he was re-united with his family in Heart Mountain, more than 2 years after his arrest.
On December 19, 1941,he arrived at Fort Missoula, Montana. While there he was required to fill out an Alien Enemy Questionnaire. He stated that he belong to the Japanese Association of San Francisco, the Japanese Cleaning and Dying Association, and the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. He did not mention being a member of the Togo Kai. He mentioned that he had a checking account at the Bank of America and a savings account at the Yokohama Specie Bank. The official hearing document stated that his savings account was at the Yokohama Specie Bank in Yokohama, Japan, rather than being in the San Francisco branch. This misunderstanding would cause him trouble for the next two years.
From Fort Missoula, he was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Camp Livingston, Louisiana, and finally to Santa Fe, New Mexico. At various times, he petitioned to be allowed to return to his family. But petitions were denied because of his membership in the Togo Kai and having money in Yokohama. .
Finally, there was a hearing at the Santa Fe detention center in December 1943. The examiners listened when he explained that his money was never sent to Japan. It was just a savings account in San Francisco. The examiners listened when he explained that about ten years prior a Japanese acquaintance asked him to join the Togo Kai. He joined to please the acquaintance, but paid dues for only one year and never went to a meeting. He explained that he never was a member of the Japanese navy. The examiners read heart-felt letters from his wife, his youngest daughter, and my father asking that Tsunejiro Udo be allowed to join his family in the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp. Finally, the examiners recommended that he be "paroled" and be allowed to go to Heart Mountain. In January of 1944, he was re-united with his family in Heart Mountain, more than 2 years after his arrest.
Among my father's papers was a wonderful scrape book from Fort Missoula. The first and second page were the names of the internees, followed by poems and one drawing of a cherry tree branch. The calligraphy is superb. These were done by educated men caught in an unfortunate situation. The fourth image is of the monument erected at the Fort Missoula.