Let’s Honor Local All American Heroes!

May 10

May is AAPI Heritage Month and this month’s blog honors 3 local Orange County, CA All American Heroes - faithful citizens who despite the injustice of the WWII prejudice and the incarceration camps, persevered forward to live fulfilling lives and contribute well to their communities into this generation. Join me to honor Mary Kageyama Nomura, Ruth Fusaye Sato Ono, and Sgt. John Ogawa!

Mary Kageyama Nomura
Entrepreneur, Shi’s Fish Mart, Garden Grove
“The Songbird of Manzanar”

January 21, 2023: With Mary Nomura and her daughter Lisa and son-in-law Gerald Ishibashi.

Ansel Adams Exhibit of Manzanar Photographs, Fullerton Museum.

As a little girl, there was only one shop where you could buy really fresh fish and Japanese groceries in central Orange County. It was Shi’s (pronounced Shy’s) Fish Mart of Garden Grove. Shi Nomura and his wife, Mary, were the entrepreneurs of this shop and I remember Mary's sweet smile at the cash register and Shi’s friendly conversation as he wrapped up the fresh fish my mom purchased. What I didn’t know then was that Mary was already famous in the Japanese American community; she was known as the “Songbird of Manzanar.”

Mary’s mother was a musician and teacher and instilled a love of music in Mary. Mary often sang with adult music students and her childhood was surrounded by music. But, by the time Mary was seven years old, she had lost both of her parents and one of her older brothers. Thanks to the resilience of her older brother and sister holding the family together, Mary and two younger sisters were well cared for - a parentless family of five.

Mary was just 15 years old when she and her siblings were incarcerated at Manzanar during WWII. E.O. 9066 forced them from their Los Angeles home into the strange, barbed wire world of Manzanar. Despite the loss of freedom and adversity of the incarceration, Mary’s love of music brought some welcome entertainment to the Japanese Americans, all who lost homes, businesses, and freedom as Americans. Mary performed at many camp functions, earning her the nickname “The Songbird of Manzanar.” Though Mary didn’t pursue a vocal career professionally, she continued to be sought after as a talented guest vocalist through the years.

I saw Mary at the Fullerton Museum exhibit opening of Manzanar photographs by Ansel Adams in 2023. I went to the same high school as her daughter, Nina, but that was nearly 50 years ago and I didn’t expect her to remember me. I went up to her and said, “Hi Mrs. Nomura… I’m … and before I could say my name, she said, “I know who you are, Janice!” She said she remembered our family as some of her very good customers at the store! Wow, at 98 years old, she remembered me. We had a great visit as she was honored that night as one of the survivors of Manzanar, a lovely songbird for sure!

Mary Kageyama Nomura is definitely an All American hero! I so admire her resilience to overcome many overwhelming challenges in life and “live to sing” a beautiful life to the fullest! Mary celebrated her 100th birthday in 2025, and sadly passed on April 6, 2026. She is survived by her 5 children and their families, including 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Mary’s “song” lives on in them!

Ruth Fusaye Sato Ono
Salutatorian
Garden Grove High School Class of 1937

I didn’t know this story until I posted my visit to Garden Grove High School on Facebook. I was there with a few others to speak about Japanese American history to 120 students. A friend, Margie Ono Jones, saw my post and replied with this story. Back in 1937, Margie’s mom Ruth was graduating from Garden Grove High School as an excellent student. In fact, she earned grades that made her the student with the second highest GPA in her class. The tradition is that she would be honored at graduation as the Salutatorian, but she was denied that honor because of her Japanese heritage. Despite the fact that she was born in the US and a citizen, and with the second highest GPA in her class, she was denied that honor because of her Japanese ancestry.

Margie shared that the following year, 1938, both the Valedictorian and Salutatorian were not awarded because both students were of Japanese ancestry - and this was BEFORE Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. Then, came the war years and incarceration camps. Ruth’s brother, Kaz, was drafted out of the Poston AZ incarceration camp into the U.S. Army. He arrived in Italy on VE Day as a member of the 442nd and was part of the occupation. Gratefully, he survived the war and returned to live the rest of his life back in Garden Grove.

Finally, in 2009 when Ruth turned 90 years old, the school reluctantly sent her a Salutatorian certificate. It brought her peace and closure for the acknowledgement, albeit 72 years late! I want to honor Ruth and her brother Kaz, and thank Margie for sharing this story of Ruth’s scholarship achievements and Kaz’ military service in the face of discrimination and like so many Nisei, moving forward even while facing adversity.

Sgt. John Ogawa
Garden Grove High School Class of 1935
442nd Regimental Combat Team, US Army

Sgt. John Ogawa, Garden Grove
1916-1945

I didn’t know this story of John Ogawa until my friend, Wayne Osako, told me earlier in 2026. Wayne’s daughters go to Garden Grove High and through the school, he connected with the Ogawa family and unearthed this story of Sgt. John Ogawa, Class of 1935.

Garden Grove High School is one of the oldest high schools in Orange County, opened in 1921 and students were known as the Garden Grove High School “Chili Peppers” for the popular agricultural crop grown in the area at that time. Some time in early years of the school, the name was changed to “Argonauts” - defined as a person engaged in a daring or adventurous quest, from Greek mythology. The school has a Hall of Fame and Museum in the campus corridors of one of its oldest buildings. Among the exhibit that honors alumni who served in the US Military, there is a photo of the young John Ogawa.

In the spring of 1941 (prior to Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor), John enlisted in the US Army and served in the All Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat team, the most decorated unit of its size in all of US military history. After Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan and President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, John’s parents and siblings were incarcerated at Poston, AZ. John fought in Europe and was in the battle for the valiant rescue of the “Lost Battalion” who were trapped behind German enemy lines.

As the war efforts looked to be coming to an end in spring of 1945, John wrote to his friend, Wayne Holt, asking what the situation was like back “home” in Garden Grove.

How would the Japanese Americans be received back after the war? Apparently, Wayne then asked his friend, Ernest Wooster of the League of County Employees Associations and Ernest sent this letter (below) back to John on April 5, 1945. His reply to the question:

“I don’t know.”

Yet, Wooster went on to say that the winner of the March 1945 Toastmasters speaking competition held in Whittier, CA spoke on “his intention of seeing that all possible is done to give absolute justice and equality to Japanese returnees, just as others are given this right.” This Toastmaster winner gave this speech in front of 175 persons, 9 clubs represented, and Wooster felt that if there was much disagreement toward the topic, the speaker would not have been rated first place. Wooster concluded the letter with his support.

“Probably if those with records such as yours and your companions come first, they will be received without any demonstration of any kind. It is unfortunate that we cannot consider persons on their own merits and reputations and forget complexions and races, but we have not journeyed that far into civilization yet.”

Much like the GGHS Argonauts, defined as persons engaged in a daring or adventurous quest, John had been in the battle for freedom and his life, representing the US while his family lived behind barbed wire fences on US soil. !

The 442nd’s “Go for Broke” motto represents taking huge risks to achieve great results and sadly, they were put in highly risky combat situations and suffered high casualty rates. Tragically, John died in combat on April 21, 1945 in Italy, just days before Germany surrendered.

It’s not known whether John ever received the letter from Wooster on the front lines of the war. His family was still incarcerated at Poston, AZ at his death. If John did receive it, I’m sure it would have warmed his heart to receive this letter with an encouraging message of support for his return. Meanwhile, his family mourned his death at the Poston AZ incarceration camp.

On August 31, 1945, John’s mother received another letter from Mr. Earl Finch and testimonies of honor commending her son’s bravery and heroism from officers and members of the 442nd. She received this letter at the Poston Camp, address Block 31, barrack 1, unit B. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have felt like to know her son gave his life, fighting valiantly for a US victory and for freedom - while she was still living behind barbed wire on US soil as US citizens and legal residents.

I honor John Ogawa, steadfast Garden Grove High School Argonaut, US Army Sergeant of the 442nd, Purple Heart recipient as well as other military awards for his bravery and heroism. I remember and honor his sacrifice and the sacrifice of his mother and family as an All American family this Memorial Day.

To preserve his memory, the Ogawa family has given John’s original military dog tag, photos, and letters to Garden Grove High Schools’ Argonaut Hall of Fame to accompany the original photo of John.

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These are just three of thousands of All-American stories of Japanese American heritage! Let’s remember and honor their sacrifice and live courageously as they did. May these stories give you hope and inspire you to move forward despite the adversity that confronts or surrounds you. Have faith in each other, and always strive to be the best you can! Gambatte! Never Give Up!