Great Uncle Roy Okubo

My great uncle Roy Sadato Okubo recently passed away on December 2, 2008.  I attended his funeral on Saturday, December 20, 2008.  He was 86 years old and my late grandma Bessie Karamatsu’s younger brother.  When my grandma’s health was failing in the Spring of 2006, Uncle Roy held her hand by her bedside at the Queen’s hospital.  Uncle Roy is a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 522nd Field Artillery Battery B.  For most of my life I didn’t know I had a close relative that was a member of the famed 442, and when people asked me if I had a relative from this unit, I would reply “no.”  I am glad I told my uncle how I appreciated his sacrifice for us.  I recently found out that during the war, he could have returned home, but decided to stay with his friends and continued to serve.  I am so proud of him, and I am sure he is happy with his late wife, family, and friends, including my grandma.