PHIL KUROKAWA was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in February 1931. He is the son of a Japanese man and a Pennsylvania Dutch woman.  He lived in Japan from mid August 1936 until December 1945. He has a very unique perspective of being an American who was living in Japan during World War II.

(l to R) Mother Anna Laura (Cluck), Brother Dorsey Naoji, Philip Kenzo and Father Colbert Naoya.

When Phil returned to the United States, he graduated from Waynesboro Senior High School in Pennsylvania in 1952 and later attended the University of Hawaii. During the years he was in PA, he was involved in the High School Glee Club as well as the SPECIAL CHORUS, which consisted of 16 singers (4 Tenors, 4 Basses, 4 Altos and 4 Sopranos). He was one of the Basses who sang Baritone. He was also active in class plays each year, either working behind the scenes or acting. His class held One Act plays each year and in his Senior Year, he was given the part of THE ADMIRAL, a play by CORNELIA OTIS SKINNER. Not only did he sing in high school but in the Choir of the church he belonged to. During his only year at the University of Hawaii, he played Trumpet in the Army ROTC Band, as well as in the University Band. He no longer plays an instrument. While living in Inglewood, California, he became invovled with a group known as the KENTWOOD PLAYERS, where he was given the part of MR. OSHIRA, in TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON. The show ran for 6 weekends and he had "white" hair for the duration of the play. He loves to sing and will do so at the drop of a hat! His favorites are show tunes, although he will sing other songs (if he knows them).

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 9, 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1956. Since he had maintained Honolulu, Hawaii as his "home of record", he was sent to Schofield Barracks for discharge. At the time, he had an 8-year military obligation, so he joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team as a Reservist, where he was assigned as an Armorer with the 100th Battalion. In September 1958, he transferred to the Air Force Reserve where he became an Air Policeman upon arrival in California with his new bride!  He spent a little more than two years as a Reservist with the 100th Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, before transferring to the U.S. Air Force Reserve in September 1958, where he received training as an Air Policeman, then later became an Air Police supervisor. His unit was recalled to active duty in January 1968 after the North Koreans captured the USS PUEBLO. As a result, he spent the next 11 months at Hamilton Air Force Base (now defunct). He went back into the Army Reserve in June 1975 as a Sergeant in a Military Police Confinement Unit. He was an Operations Sergeant with the 91st Division (Training) in San Jose. Upon attaining the age of 60, he retired from the military as a Master Sergeant with 31 years.

Phil was married on June 14, 1958. This marriage lasted for slightly less than 6 years, during which time his son, Paul, was born in December 1961. After Phil was divorced in 1964, he moved up to the Bay Area.  He remarried in November 1970 and ended with the death of his second wife in July 1979. He remains single.

Phil's civilian career included working for Hawaii upon discharge from the Army; the U.S. Postal Service in Inglewood & Menlo Park, Calif., Division of Highways, State of California Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Kaiser Electronics in San Jose and at Onizuka Air Station in Sunnyvale. Phil was also a police reserve officer with the City of Palo Alto for 20 years.

Phil's son, Paul is a tenured member at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. where he teaches all aspects of music and is the Director of the Jazz Band! He became a father in Feb. 96.

Phil is very active in community groups and joined the Sons in Retirement Branch 57, South San Francisco and has transferred his membership to SIR #90 in San Mateo. 

He provides Honors for veterans by presenting the folded flag to the next of kin. 

ANYONE INTERESTED IN HEARING HIS STORY IN PERSON, MAY DROP HIM A LINE AT 804 17TH AVE., MENLO PARK, CA 94025 OR CALL (650) 322-6433 or e-mail mailto:PKK231@aol.com.

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