I wish with all my heart that we were having your 100th birthday party right now!

10 years and my family and I still miss you more with each passing day!

It could be 100 years and we will never forget you or stop being grateful for your kind and loving presence in our lives.

Your example is still guiding us, your light still shines in our hearts and fond memories still bring a lasting smile. 

It's finally spring and I miss you so much grandpa - I hope you and grandma are smiling down on us from heaven.

You are missed more than words can convey. I think of you almost every day.
I miss you more often than that.

I hope you and all that loved you smile upon reading this:

Fragrance of friendship
Lingers in our hearts and minds
Never departing

Fred and I were so lucky to overlap with the Matsuis In the Ivory Coast. We miss both Victor and Teru in our lives. I am so sad for the horrible situation in Hong Kong, and wonder how it is affecting the family.

Happy 97th Birthday Dad. The world is quite unbelievably suffering a global pandemic, and now we have protests throughout the nation, indeed throughout the world, over a grave police injustice, following many, many like injustices against people of color. Despite these trials, some necessary, the family remains safe and healthy, for which we are grateful. Peace. 

Vic Matsui served for many years on the board of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People later renamed to Hearing Loss Association of America. Vic was a true gentleman, intelligent, thoughtful in his contributions to board discussions and respected by all who were fortunate to know him. From all of his friends and colleagues at HLAA, our sincerest and warmest memories of Vic endure. Peter Fackler, HLAA Chair, 2011-12.

Matsui Scholarship

a JAVA Memorial Scholarship for High School Seniors

During the COVID-19 outbreak, JAVA is taking the opportunity to profile the sacrifices and contributions made by the men and women honored in our scholarship program. The next in our series of scholarship profiles is the Matsui Scholarship. The scholarship honors MIS veteran Victor Matsui, and his wife Teru and is sponsored by their children. The Matsui Scholarship is one of many $1,500 JAVA Memorial Scholarships that will be awarded to a high school senior. Application information can be found at the end of the article as well as on the JAVA website.


Teru and Victor Matsui
Matsui Scholarship

Both Victor and Teru dedicated their lives to serving others, whether in the Army, in the Foreign Service, Nursing, or raising their children. Victor was born on June 2, 1923, and raised in Southern California. His UCLA education was interrupted in 1942 when he and his family were evacuated and interned in Arkansas. He received an honorary degree from UCLA in 2011. Although an American by birth, he was classified as an alien in 1942 for military service. However, in January 1945, he was reclassified and conscripted into the Army and received basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida. He became a staff cadre. When the war in Europe ended, he was transferred to the Pacific Theater, Camp Ritchie, to study Japanese tactics and strategies. After VJ day, he was transferred to the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) and shipped to Japan in November 1945. He served in Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Pacific, G-2 until June 1952.

He received his field commission as Chief Warrant Officer II in 1946 and did parachute training with the 11th Airborne Division in Sendai, Japan. Subsequently, Victor received the Legion of Merit Medal for his service during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge in July 1952, he joined the American diplomatic service where he served until 1985. After retiring from government service, Victor and his wife moved to Williamsburg, VA and became involved with the Williamsburg chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America. Victor was also involved with the Japanese American Veterans Association. On November 2, 2011, he was one of many deserving recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal for his service with Military Intelligence Service during the Second World War. 

In 1955 Victor married Teru Kamikawa Matsui. Teru was born May 1, 1933, in Fresno, CA, to Toshiko and Kaoru Kamikawa, and spent her childhood in Fresno and Seabrook, N.J. She graduated from the New Jersey College for Women (now Mills College) and Johns Hopkins University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Teru accompanied Victor on his diplomatic assignments and served as the U.S. Embassy Clinic Nurse at these postings while raising the family. At the time of her retirement, she served as the Occupational Health Nurse at Camp Peary, Williamsburg, VA. Among her abiding interests were education, wood finishing, gardening and cultivation of orchids and roses.


JAVA Scholarship Eligibility and Applications

Eligibility:
Descendants of a WWII Nisei military service member who served in the:
100th Infantry Battalion
442nd Regimental Combat Team
Military Intelligence Service
1399th Engineer Construction Battalion
Other United States military units, including the Women’s Army Corps or Army Nurses Corps
Current members of JAVA whose membership began prior to April 1, 2018
Children of current JAVA members are eligible to apply if the applicant’s parent or guardian was a member of JAVA prior to April 1, 2018
Past or present members of the Army’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, are eligible and encouraged to apply to the Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship
Applications:
Applicants should first review published rules and forms. Applications and supporting documents must be electronically submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2020, to javascholarship222@gmail.com with either “2020 Inouye Memorial Scholarship,” “2020 Founder’s Memorial Scholarship,” "Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship," or for the other named scholarships, “2020 JAVA Memorial Scholarship” and the applicant’s name in the subject line. Applications not received by that date or that fail to meet the submission requirements will NOT be considered. Applicants will be notified of a decision by early June 2020. Awards will be presented at the annual JAVA scholarship luncheon on July 18, 2020.

2020 JAVA Memorial Scholarship Program Overview here.

2020 U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship here.

2020 Founder's Scholarship here.

2020 Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship here.

2020 JAVA Memorial Scholarships here.

Scholarship information can also be found on the JAVA website:
https://java.wildapricot.org.
Questions or Suggestions: Please contact Neet Ford, at javapotomac@gmail.com.

Japanese American Veterans Association: Address: P.O. Box 341198, Bethesda, MD 20827 I https://java.wildapricot.org

Hi Dad and Mom,
We have a new addition to the family with Casey and Andy's wedding on October 5th in Victoria, BC. The whole family added their love and well wishes to the weekend except for Matthias who had classes to attend. 
As we had all traveled far, we stayed on for our annual reunion. The torch has been passed to the cousins as they are now an active part of the reunion venue selection process for next year. 
We miss you and know that you are watching out for us all. 

Dear dad & mom, you were both very much with us during graduation weekend (May 27-29, 2017). Martin and Vincent, the two Lawrentians, were present for your youngest grandchild's graduation from L'ville. We were a total of 6 Brown alums who cheered Madeleine on at hers in Providence. All the other aunts and uncles and cousins who could make it turned out in full force. My aunt Julia, uncle Henry, my cousin Henrietta, her spouse Paul and their son Christopher, and Madeleine's guardian during her term in Beijing, Sau Kwan, all joined us for a celebratory meal on Sunday. Your grandchildren, like us, are appreciative of all that you have done and the examples you've set in emphasizing the importance of education, a lifelong project. Grandparents Matsui and Kamikawa and my mother Annie were smiling as they looked down upon us. We rely on your guidance and strength of spirit as the children begin a new chapter in their young lives.

Happy Birthday Dad; Hello Mom. Madeleine graduated from Brown last week-end, and Matthias from Lawrenceville; he's matriculating... Brown. All aunts and uncles accounted for at the festivities in Providence, though the cousins lives are getting understandably busy - Victory and Alex representing the other three. We are looking forward to the big Matsui reunion in August, though we have lost cousin David, following Mark last month. Peace!

Much love and appreciation to Vic on his birthday and Teru - you two are in our pantheon of the most important people in our lives. Thank you for your guidance when we were starting out, and for the atmosphere of family that you created for all of us serving in the Ivory Coast.

Warm greetings to the Matsui family!!!
today i offered special prayers for a WONDERFUL man, father, GPa and friend....your Dad,
on his 5th (?) anniversary. i know youe mom's is coming up sometime in mid-July. 
There are very few parents of my friends & Cliff's, who have made us feel welcomed with open arms, loved and cherished.
In those few beautiful years, we felt like "family", which of course we yearned for since Cliff's parents have been gone since 1981
and both of my parents are back home in Manila.
THANK YOU for welcoming us to your loving family and for sharing your wonderful Mom & Dad with us. I am sure you miss them soooooo much, as we also do. You know, we bought our first house in Wmsbg knowing they were around and got the approval from your Dad
when we bought it. And then built one to retire in knowing our hearts belong here with their LOVING MEMORY!!!


With much gratitude for all your love,
Chato, CLiff, JT & Vincent

Five years in. Two graduations this year. All in good health. Peace.

I'm keeping and eye on Vince and Mary...... they're doing well
Victoria as well
and ....... I still remember that giant blackfish you caught

Hard to believe 3 yrs at Arlington Dad. All good here. 20 in attendance at the reunion this year - 4 significant others. Lots of uncle/auntie vetting but we must ultimately rely on their good judgement!

Hi Mom - hard to believe it's been 8 years. Everything good here. Reunion in a month - you'd enjoy meeting the latest members! Vincent

Happy birthday Dad. Wow 93! All good down here. No graduations this year, two next. Everyone healthy and one year wiser. Hugs to Mom. Vincent

Dear Matsui family:
We've left messages before telling about our friendship in Kinshasa, Zaire. One memory we have is how embassy nurse Teru treated our son Jim when he got chiggers in his feet after a trip in the country. She was so gentle in helping Jim treat the problem. Jim was visiting us from the states and wanted to travel eastward toward Kivu as an adventure. He went by truck and that's when he got the chiggers. That experience and Teru's help are well remembered. Our memories of our life in Zaire and our friendship with Victor and Teru are fond ones and we remember them well.

Sincerely,

Ike & Ruth Hatchimonji

So glad Vic and Teru were part of our lives. We miss them both.

Memories flicker and dance in the sunlight, in the moonlight and by lamplight, and entwine themselves in abundance in the fabric of our daily lives. They provide us with comfort and guidance and now, finally, with a deep sense of peace for the blessings of your shared lives. Thank you Mom and Dad.

Happy Birthday to Victor....hard to believe 3 years has passed. We are thinking of you and Teru. I'm sure the band of angels are trumpeting on your special day!

Missing both Victor and Teru on Vic's birthday.
Fred and Mary Buford Hitz

5 college graduates, with 3 to go. Congratulations Alex for your degree and the new job! And go Miami Hurricanes!

Uncle Vic,

As you must know by now, my mom has joined you, Auntie Teru, Grandma and Grandpa. Please give them all a big hug for me and tell them that I miss each and every one of them.

I enjoyed reading your emails and miss our conversations via AOL.
I was always surprised to see that you were online into the wee hours of the night! I remember you had told me that older people need less sleep and that you slept only three to four hours a day!

Remembering your kind and generous spirit, adventures and stories at the reunions and realizing how much all the Matsui siblings are so much alike in their hearts and souls.

Dear dad & mom, 2015 is upon us. Martin, the children & I spent a week (Dec 24 - 31) in Kyoto, Osaka & Okinawa. We thought it was important to expose them more to part of their cultural roots. We discovered ninnaji on the less visited western side of Kyoto with its superb zen rock gardens, replete with carved shoji doors with scenes of spring, Osaka teeming with the brash liveliness of a commercial center (welcome,okonomiyaki) & Okinawa with 11 world heritage sites (Ryukyu Kingdom). We talked about you and mom often, as we looked for mochi in different forms and Matthias went slightly nuts over natto over Okinawan & white rice for breakfast.

We thought of you and Mom as some of us spent the New Year in Miami. Your mochi maker was back to its best making sekihan and mochi for our group. Of course, soba was on the menu as well, although this year, we had it on New Year's Day.

A good Thanksgiving celebration this year Brooklyn, with all in attendance except for Martin and Pumpkin, Leila, and Shak. A serious play, not a musical, for once... Authentic Korean BBQ... Lots of temaki zushi... Two turkeys!... New significant others! Lovely. Next stop Miami! Vincent

Hi Mom and Dad - we celebrated Celeste's Lawrenceville graduation this week-end - a tradition started 40 years ago with my graduation. In three years time, Matthias will close out our high school graduations. Next year is Alex's college graduation from Miami, then we have a couple years hiatus for college grads, then in quick succession Madeleine, Celeste, another year off, then Matthias. Then we're really done, and more importantly, Martin and Chris are done. Vincent

Happy Birthday Victor. Must be a glorious celebration with our "Maker". The boys are officially teenagers now....Yikes....I could use some of the "grandfatherly" advice....Love and miss you and Teru.

Hope you've found a new group of mermaids and also good reliable help planting Satoimo. I've driven by redondo beach several times and think about your abalone and lobster diving stories often.

What's the weather like upstairs?

Dear G'pa,

Madeleine reminded me it's been exactly two years since you left this good earth. Everyone is OK. Smoke-free Vincent is going to take your place for the JAVA march in Washington DC this year. Marcia is moving back from Turkey, land of the lentil soup that you enjoyed. Linda is enjoying her retirement from Caylex which is now part of a bigger company. Christine and I will be going to Tokyo next month for Mr Tanabe's memorial service. I think you may see him from time to time.  After this year only one more high school graduation is left. Time and life are passing in ways that you know well. 

Martin

Victor and Teru are deeply missed and seeing the empty house on a daily basis is a constant reminder....no garden, no one picking weeds from among the rocks in the driveway, not seeing the lights on in the middle of the night knowing Victor was busy at work or play on his computer, no long talks....etc.  Thinking of times spent together always brings a smile to our faces and joy and love to our hearts!

You had a wonderful, quiet influence on so many lives, Vic and Teru, including Fred and mine. We count ourselves lucky to have known you both.

Dad,
Full of grace and dignity, your inurnment services were a fitting tribute to a life of service to our country. You and Mom can rest easy. Your family continues to thrive.
Your Family

Victor,

Thinking of you today, on your birthday. We miss your physical presence in our lives, but know you and Teru will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

April, Eric, Conner & Carson

Dear dad, we're celebrating your energy and intrepid ways by partially re-creating what would have been our annual Easter trip together last year by going to Taiwan this year. It is Spring here; with fog, occasional rain and rising humidity. Your shiitake logs are bursting with new life, and, among other things, you'd be busy with your latest projects in the garden!

Victor -
Almost every day we think of you, and you are still such an important part of our lives. While we miss you and Teru, please know that we know you are still with us in your special way. Thank you for watching over us.

Dad,
You and Mom were greatly missed at this year's reunion in Las Vegas. All your brothers and sisters were there. We were some 53 Matsuis strong. You and Mom hosted everyone for dinner, at a Chinese restaurant of course. The event reminded us again of how important family is.

Victor,

It's 2:46 AM on July 4th and I was wishing you were up sending out emails and then as usual spending the day at the pool with us and then trecking into CW to watch the fireworks. As we watch from below I'm sure you will be watching from above. We will be thinking of you!

Vic, You almost made your 89th! But seeing your beautiful family again on the 31st reinforced the importance of the years you lived.

Happy Bday Victor and GPA Matsui. Today would have been your 89th birthday and you are in our thoughts. I pray God lets you be an angel looking out over my sons and being the voice of reason whispering in their ears alongside the Holy Spirit. How I wish you were celebrating another birthday with family or having dinner with us today! We will celebrate your life! Much love, The Horne's

Choosing to live as though this were our last moment on earth by loving more deeply, forgiving more readily, giving more generously and speaking more kindly is how to handle life with care. Victor emulated all of these traits. Psalm 90:12 states, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Victor was definitely a man with much wisdom!

Victor,

As we gathered at your home this evening after the memorial service, how I wished you were there! A picture of you in the dining room was the perfect reflection of how I always remember you with your kind eyes and warm smile. You are missed!

Vic, I will certainly miss you.  It was an honor to work with you on the HLAA board of trustees. What a fine gentleman you were and a dedicated messenger for our wonderful organization. To Vic's family, I wish to extend my most sincere condolences on your loss.

Victor: Thanks for teaching me to throw African spears, to grow mushrooms, for sharing your Mother's black bamboo, for pretending that you didn't know about the 250 people coming to your goodbye to Africa surprise party, and for 32 years of friendship. Thanks for leaving big footprints that we can only hope to follow. Say hello to my great friend, Teru.

Judy and I were very sad to learn of Victor’s passing. He was a remarkable man and we will always think of him when we hear the phrase “the greatest generation.” If you are someone who defines “gentleman” as an educated man of good and courteous conduct, then you have an accurate term to describe Victor. We will always hold him in our hearts. It was an honor to know him.

April 07, 2012
It was sad to learn of the passing of an old and admired comrad from the days of the old 441st in Sendai
~  Bob Cronin, Irvine, California

Vic Matsui was a true friend, a man who defined what it means to be a gentleman. His friends and colleagues on the board of Hearing Loss Association of America will miss him greatly but we are the richer for having known and worked with him. My deepest sympathy to Vic's family. Pete Fackler

I met Vic when we served on the national Hearing Loss Association of America board. Vic's kind smile and serene demeanor added so much to our gatherings. He was a wonderful man.