Memorial Services
A funeral and memorial service were held at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 13 April 2012 in Hong Kong at St. John's Cathedral, 8 Garden Road, Central.
The Committal took place at Cape Collinson Crematorium in Hong Kong.
A memorial service was held on Thursday, May 31st, 2012 at the Nelsen Funeral Home & Crematory, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23188
A memorial dinner was held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Inurnment services with full military honors were held at Arlington National Cemetery at 11:00 am on August 16th, 2013.
In Lieu of Flowers
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to one of the following organizations:
Hearing Loss Association of America
Attn: Development Office
7910 Woodmont Avenue
Suite 1200
Bethesda, MD 20814
(hearingloss.org)
Japanese American Veterans Association
The Teru and Victor Matsui Scholarship Fund
Mark Nakagawa, Treasurer
9455 Park Hunt Court
Springfield, VA 22153
(javadc.org)
R.F. Wilkinson Family YMCA
301 Sentara Circle
Williamsburg, VA 23188
(peninsulaymca.org)
Tributes
Leave a tributeIt 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.
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
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
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.
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
Victoria as well
and ....... I still remember that giant blackfish you caught
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
Fred and Mary Buford Hitz
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 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
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
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
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.
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.
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!
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!
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
Leave a Tribute
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.
Orchids blooming again!
Can't believe the two blooms appearing again just in time for the anniversary of Victor's passing! Same time as last year! Difficult month this year for me, so seeing the orchid bloom put a smile on my face.
Blooming Orchids
One of the orchids your children gave to me from your "private nursery" after your passingbloomed two days ago, Amazingly just in time for the anniversary of your passing - two beautiful, delicate purple flowers. When I saw the two blooms I immediately thought about Victor and Teru and all the orchids Teru tended to in the sunroom. Time passes quickly and we miss both of you!