QUINCY VALLEY POST-REGISTER |
PARTNERS |
AFFILIATED SITES |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Copyright 2008 World Publishing Company. All rights reserved. |
|||||
To Quincy by way of Korea
Tammara Green/Post-Register
Hitoshi “Tosh” Tsukamaki came to the Quincy Valley from Idaho after he served in the Army during the Korean War.
Hitoshi Tsukamaki, or “Tosh” as he is known by his friends, has a long, rich, life history which eventually led him to the Quincy Valley. He was born in Sumner, on a vegetable farm. His father delivered the fresh produce to the Pike Place Market in Seattle. Eventually the family moved to the small town of Notus, Idaho, where he lived until he got out of the Army in 1952.
During the Korean War, Tsukamaki was positioned behind a two-wheeled truck with a half-track on the back loaded with four 50-caliber machine guns.
“We were close to what was called “Sniper’s Ridge. Our squad saw a lot of combat and we were bombed at and shot at,” he said.
When he returned from the war, he was glad to be able to sleep.
“They treated me well in my outfit,” said Tsukamaki. He also made it known that all prejudice had to be put aside to accomplish a common goal. Everyone had to give 100 percent effort. In Christmas of 1952, Tsukamaki got off of the bus in Notus, and got his hair cut before returning home. He appreciated home a lot more when he came back from the war and was glad to get out.
Tsukamaki and two of his brothers farmed in Winchester and formed the 3-T produce label. They grew onions and sugar beets, and also grew potatoes, but ended up losing too much money on them. Their farm shipped produce all over the United States. In 1990, the farm was sold.
In 1960, Tsukamaki went to Hiroshima, Japan, where his aunt lived. There he met his future wife, Sue.
Their only daughter, Janet, made her grand entrance into the world as the first baby of 1961 born at the Quincy Hospital. Janet grew up to attend Quincy High School, and eventually graduate from the University of Washington School of Nursing. Today, she works as a nurse at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue.
Now that Tsukamaki is retired, he enjoys traveling. The most interesting place he has been to is Mt. Rushmore in Rapid City, S.D. His favorite thing about Quincy is the weather and the people around here.
Rex Lawyer commented, on January 7, 2012 at 8:36 a.m.:
Glad to see Tosh is in good health and doing what he likes.
I went to school with his brother George and that whole family were realy nice people.
Request removal