Russell Tadao Ukita
After retiring, Russell Tadao Ukita took the opportunity to research and write about his family beginning with remembrances of his grandparents, who immigrated from Japan, and then his parents, aunt, and uncles with whom he had very close and rewarding relationships. He is a Sansei born (1940) in Los Angeles and was in Manzanar with his family during much of the war. The family moved to Chicago when released from camp and lived there until returning to Los Angeles when he was in high school. Even though his profession was as an engineer, he became comfortable writing from the frequent reports required for his work.
Updated December 2019
Stories from This Author
Some Recollections & Thoughts about Uncle Tachi - Part 2
March 18, 2020 • Russell Tadao Ukita
Read Part 1 >> In the 1950’s Tachi and May had their first daughter, Ruth Ann. Soon after, Hiro and Aiko had Linda, born in 1951, and Janice (Janni), born in 1952. All the Ukita family members in Chicago got together for holiday dinners. Friends of the family also gathered at our home. Those were wonderful times having relatives and friends gathering together on holidays. Christmas was like a toy store for me and Charlene. We must have gotten more …
Some Recollections & Thoughts about Uncle Tachi - Part 1
March 17, 2020 • Russell Tadao Ukita
James Tatsushi Ukita was born on December 14, 1920 being one of four children of Frank Masashi Ukita (Grandpa) and Tsuya Ukita (Grandma). He was called Tachi by his parents and Tachi, Tach, or Jim by his two brothers and sister. When he was born, he weighed 12 pounds—what a baby!!!! Tachi ended up being 5 ft. 8 inches—the tallest in their family. He must have been a real happy baby and kid. He had those twinkling eyes as shown …
Some Recollections & Thoughts of My Auntie Yochi
Jan. 28, 2020 • Russell Tadao Ukita
This story is about my Auntie Yochi based on family knowledge, my memories of her, several writings about her in letters and passages in books. Yoshiko (Yochi) Ukita was born in Los Angeles on December 8, 1918. She was the daughter of Frank Masashi and Tsuya Ukita. She was their only daughter and the second of four children. She passed away in Chicago on September 8, 1951 when she was only 32-years old. In her short lifetime, she had a …
Hiroshi Ukita’s Rescue Experiences in Late October 1944
Dec. 17, 2019 • Russell Tadao Ukita
When I was around 19- to 20-years old in 1959-60 during a family get together, I remember my Uncle Hiro telling me that he and his battery-mate Koji Konishi volunteered to be with an infantry company during the “Rescue of the Texas Lost Battalion” (rescue). This rescue is one of the U.S. Army’s most historic combat events. He told me it was a really frightening experience; and in saying so indicated to me that it wasn’t anything like being behind …
