HANAPEPE — In reflecting upon 88 years of Masa Ajimura’s life, it seems only fitting that his first name means strength in Japanese. “He will be remembered as an otoko, which means a man’s man,” said long-time friend William Honjiyo,
HANAPEPE — In reflecting upon 88 years of Masa Ajimura’s life, it seems only fitting that his first name means strength in Japanese.
“He will be remembered as an otoko, which means a man’s man,” said long-time friend William Honjiyo, several days after Ajimura’s funeral. “A man’s man who did it all, who took risks and lived his life to the fullest.”
It’s hard to deny that Ajimura was a courageous man. He fought in World War II in company B, 100th Battalion of the famous 442nd Infantry Regiment, known as the most decorated combat unit in the U.S. Army. It was made up of Japanese American soldiers, who were “there to prove their Americanism,” Honjiyo said.
In the European theater, Ajimura earned multiple awards, including the Purple Heart, the Army of Occupation medal, the World War II Victory medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service medal and a European service medal, according to his Listed Record and Report of Separation. During the war, he suffered a wound to his left hand, and was honorably discharged as a private first class on Aug. 15, 1946. He entered active service in 1944.
Back on Kaua‘i, where he was born and raised, he fought fires for the county. The eventual fire lieutenant also fathered seven children with his wife, Yuriko.
On March 23, Ajimura’s flair for life ended in his Hanapepe home. He died at the age of 88.
Honjiyo, who is Ajimura’s junior by 14 years, said he knew the man since he was 10 years old, and was a good friend of his parents.
“He never told me anything about what they did (in the war). … He only talked about the drinking and the fun they had out there,” Honjiyo recalled.
He gave people nicknames, loved the game of chance, worked as a carpenter and provided for his family, added Honjiyo, who gave Ajimura’s eulogy. He was buried with military honors.
“At least I could do that,” Honjiyo said.
Ajimura’s oldest son, Wayne, said he doesn’t remember much about his dad. He described him as a good man who was skilled at fishing and carpentry. He also had a way with dice.
Although he doesn’t recall it directly, Wayne said his father taught him and his siblings how to swim on Sundays at Salt Pond and showed them how to sew fishing nets.
“I don’t remember that, but I know how to sew nets, so somebody must have taught me,” Wayne said.
He is proud of his father’s military history.
“It was an honor to be in an outfit like that,” Wayne said.
Yuriko Ajimura, Masa’s wife of 64 years, also didn’t have many memories to share of her husband. She said they met at the Quarter Master Laundry in ‘Ele‘ele after the war.
“He was a nice guy,” she said.
Having known Ajimura for most of his life, Honjiyo said he wishes his friend could have held on for a little longer. Japanese-American World War II veterans who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service, are expected to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in a future ceremony, according to the Associated Press.
The former rifleman and guard patrolman could have been counted among them.
“If he had lived a year more, he would have gone to Washington to receive the gold medal,” Honjiyo said. “He belonged in the greatest generation of all of the United States.”
• Jessica Musicar, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by e-mailing jmusicar@ thegardenisland.com.
