Obituary of Paul T. Ito

Born November 9, 1922, Paul passed away on February 1, 2014 at Methodist Hospital. Paul was preceded in death by parents Kazuo and Isao, brother Fumio, and brother's-in-law Tak Takeuchi, Seiro Takemori, and Kay Tanaka. Paul is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shizue; daughter Christine (Gary Otani); sons Alan (Cheryl), Theodore (Linda Pacheco), and Glenn; grandchildren Travis Otani, Shelley and Scott Okimura, Edward Martinez, and James Pacheco. Also survived by brothers and sisters Tayeko Takeuchi, Tatsuko Takemori, Frank (Ellen) Ito, Tomio (Shirley) Ito, Loretta (Edward) Otani, sister-in-law Julia Mullican, Lois Tanaka, Gordon (Rose) Ito, Stan (Nancy) Ito, Grace (David) Hara, Kunio Ito, and many nieces and nephews. Paul was born in Fresno, CA, but grew up in Davis, CA, where he attended schools including U.C. Davis before the war interrupted his education. Paul's family was incarcerated at Tule Lake Internment Camp, but he left Tule Lake to live with relatives in Ogden, Utah. From there he was drafted into the US Army and volunteered in what later would become the highly-decorated Military Intelligence Service where he was deployed to General MacArthur's headquarters in Occupied Japan. While a liason to the Japanese city and prefecture government officials to help rebuild the country after the war, Paul met and married Shizue. In 2011, Paul was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor at a ceremony held in Sacramento, along with his fellow 442nd/100th/552/MIS veterans. After internment, Paul's family returned to Elk Grove where they began farming. After farming, Paul worked for Van Dyke Rice Dryer in Pleasant Grove, CA, as a farm advisor. After he retired in Sacramento, Paul became involved in many local and national organizations, including the Florin JACL, Elk Grove Lions Club, Ofu Tohokujin Shinwakai, Kenjin Kai, Military Intelligence Service Association of Northern California, National Japanese American Historical Society, and the Wakamatsu Colony Memorial. Paul was very dedicated to the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, where he served as choir director for many years and also served in various leadership capacities. A viewing will be held on Friday, February 7, 2014 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm, at Sacramento Memorial Lawn, 6100 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 1:00pm at the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church (SJUMC), 6929 Franklin Blvd., Sacramento.