Yoshio Saito

Able Company, 100th Infantry Battalion

In March 1941, months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Saito enlisted in the U.S. Army. After the outbreak of the war, he would continue to serve in his unit, until becoming one of the original members of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) — a segregated unit of Americans of Japanese ancestry, that would go on to earn a reputation for extraordinary courage and sacrifice under fire.

On June 5, 1942, Saito left with the battalion for training on the mainland, eventually entering combat in the European Theater in September 1943. Assigned to Company A, Saito entered the brutal Italian campaign, where the 100th Infantry Battalion would endure some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Like many Nisei soldiers, he carried the weight of fighting for a country where his loyalty was still questioned, even as he faced the dangers of the front lines.

Saito rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. What is known comes in fragments discovered later by his family — quiet traces of a life shaped by war. Among his belongings was a small English-Italian translation book, a powerful reminder of his time overseas, navigating a foreign land in the midst of conflict.

Only after his passing did his family learn that he had been wounded in Naples in 1943. For that sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge — recognitions of valor earned under fire but seldom spoken of.

After months in combat, Saito left the European Theater on June 14, 1944, returning to the United States on July 10 and arriving home in Hawaiʻi on August 24, 1944. He was one of 53 soldiers from the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate) to return to Hawaiʻi at the end of August for furlough and reassignment, after 18 months away from the islands in training and combat. A local newspaper published a photograph of Saito, noting the group’s dedicated service and the tremendous sacrifices they had made overseas. They were welcomed home by Lt. Col. Farrant Turner, the original commander of the 100th Infantry Battalion, who had since retired. Saito was honorably discharged on August 30, 1945.

After the war, Saito built a life rooted in family, craft, and community. He married Betsy Sato, and together they raised three children — one son and two daughters. They were active members of Club 100, the veterans’ club established by the 100th Infantry Battalion. Within the Able Chapter community, Saito was affectionately known as the “coffee man,” always tasked with making coffee at club events. His wife Betsy was just as fondly remembered for her homemade pies, earning her the nickname “the pie lady.” Together, they became fixtures of warmth and hospitality, quietly supporting the veteran community they cherished. Their legacy continues through their descendants, who carry forward the values of service and remembrance as active members of Club 100.

Saito worked as a carpenter until his retirement, a trade that reflected his patience, precision, and pride in making things with his hands. Outside of work, fishing was one of his great passions. His brother-in-law taught him how to fish using sand casting, and Saito eventually made his own fishing poles. His love for fishing led him to join the club’s Fishing Club.

For his daughter Barbara Hanai, her memories of her father are vivid and personal—less about war, and more about the rhythms of everyday life:

“Hey! It’s kona wind. Can go catch mamo (fish).”

She remembers her father preparing to head out at 4:00 a.m., driven by instinct and experience. On one such morning, he returned home with 27 fish, which her mother cleaned. Barbara recalls with a smile that she ate only one—but the memory of that day, like so many others, stayed with her.

Though he left few words behind about his service, Yoshio Saito’s story endures in the legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion — one of quiet bravery, sacrifice, and an unshakable sense of duty. His life stands as a testament to a generation that gave much and said little, but whose actions changed the course of history.