Takeshi Teshima

Baker Company, 100th Infantry Battalion

 
Takeshi Teshima was born in Pāpaʻaloa, Island of Hawaiʻi, just north of Hilo, in January 1920. The first of two Teshima children born in America, Takeshi returned to Hiroshima, Japan with his family during his childhood. The Teshima family soon grew to ten with six boys and two girls.

When he was 17, Takeshi returned to Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. He proudly won an English speech contest and began working as a delivery boy for Fujii Trading Company. Joining the U.S. Army on November 14, 1941, Takeshi was an original member of the 100th Infantry Battalion, Company B. Takeshi saw combat in both Italy and France, serving with distinction until his discharge on November 18, 1945.

Following the war, Takeshi returned to Honolulu for several months before returning to Japan in 1946 to work in intelligence for the United States Central Intelligence Section of GHQ, Civil Censorship Detachment.

It was during this period that he met and fell in love with Hiroko Ogawa. They married and had two children, Margaret Kazuyo and Theodor Toshiaki. With his wife’s encouragement and support, Takeshi started trading companies, “Americo” and “Japan Bars.” These companies thrived under his leadership and continued under the stewardship of his son and son-in-law.

Despite his professional success, Takeshi never forgot his military comrades. He often hosted members of the 100th Infantry Battalion for banquets and golf outings when they visited Japan. When he visited Hawaii, they always got together, maintaining friendships that spanned decades.

In his later years, Takeshi enjoyed a quiet and peaceful retirement in Gotenba, Shizuoka, where he could admire the majesty of Mt. Fuji and savor sushi with visiting family and friends.

Takeshi Teshima passed away in September 2012. Two months later, a memorial service was held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, attended by several of his fellow 100th Infantry Battalion comrades — a testament to the enduring bonds he had forged through courage, loyalty, and friendship.