Patrick Kazuo Hagiwara and wife Misako
Patrick Kazuo Hagiwara, an alumnus of Ketchikan High School (class of 1936), member of the 442 Regimental Combat Team (RCT), and part of the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC), recently passed away. He was 91 years old.
Hagiwara was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, as the second child of Frank and Shima Hagiwara. He workedas a member of the Alaska National Guard for a long time. Later, he became a staff sergeant with the much-decorated 442nd RCT, an Asian American unit composed of mostly Japanese Americans who fought in Europe during World War II.
During those years, he also served as an informal intermediary between the incarcerated Issei men and their families in inland internment camps.
Following the war, Hagiwara moved to Seattle with his wife, Misako, and growing family. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington. After he graduated from the university, he was employed by Boeing as an engineer and later as a manager. He was also a devoted member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, carrying on his father’s legacy and serving as a member of the bishop’s committee and vestry during his active years.
He was also involved in the Nisei Veterans Committee, addressing the declining proportion of veterans within the organization, maintaining veteran related activities, and maintaining its not-for-profit tax status.
Hagiwara is survived by his wife, Misako, his six children, two grandsons, and a growing number of great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. ♦
Services were held on July 3. An electronic guestbook is located at www.sunsethillsfuneralhome.com.