Shigeki J. Sugiyama's Obituary
SHIGEKI J. SUGIYAMA
December 19, 1927 – January 14, 2019
Like so many of his generation, Shigeki J. Sugiyama was a soldier once. He was born on December 19, 1927, the eldest of eight children of the late Keichiro and Shizue Sugiyama. He grew up in Alameda.
With the advent of the Second World War, “enemy aliens” were ordered to leave the West Coast. As a result, Shigeki accompanied his parents and siblings to French Camp and then to the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California in 1942. He later moved with his family to the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah in 1943.
While only 16 years old, Shigeki accepted an offer to work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He left Topaz on July 12, 1944, never to turn back. At Ann Arbor, he attended University High School while working on campus. In June 1945, he enrolled at the University of Michigan with the support of an Alumni Regents Scholarship.
Finishing his freshman year, Shigeki began working two jobs to earn money to cover his living and academic expenses. But in April 1946, he was drafted into the Army. He attended Officers’ Candidate School, receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry. He trained further in the basic infantry officers’ course from which he graduated with the highest standing in his 58 member class. He was then ordered to serve in Japan where he arrived in January 1948
In May 1950, Shigeki was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, to be the division’s order of battle officer. Only weeks into his new duties, North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. A few months thereafter, Shigeki landed at Inchon on September 16, 1950, with the advance party of the headquarters for the 7th Division. His pre-landing estimate of enemy forces that could be encountered included a tank unit with 15 Russian-made T-34 tanks. His estimate was confirmed by the destruction of all 15 tanks by units with the 1st Marine Division.
After the liberation of Seoul, Shigeki flew to Wonsan, North Korea, with the 7th Division’s forward command group. He then traveled about 150 miles farther north to Puckchong for an advance to the Yalu River. On reaching the river, the division was ordered to relieve the 7the Marine Regiment on the east side of the Chosin Reservoir.
The night that the 7th Marine Regiment was relieved, two infantry battalions and an artillery battalion of the 7th Division were overwhelmed by the troops of a Chinese Communist army group. The division over the coming weeks had to fight its way south to avoid encirclement by the overwhelming Communist forces.
Shigeki served as assistant G2 operations officer with the 7th Division when the United Nations forces resumed their offensive to force the Communist forces north of the 38th Parallel. In July 1951, as armistice negotiations began at Panmunjom, Shigeki, now a Captain, was reassigned to the General Headquarters, United Nations Command and Far East Command in Tokyo to serve as the North Korean Army Order of Battle Officer.
Finally returning to the United States accompanied by his wife Kimiko and son John, Shigeki arrived in Ft. Meade, Maryland in September 1952 to serve in the headquarters of the Second U.S. Army. In 1956, he returned to Korea to serve with the Support Group of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission. Returning to the United States in 1959, he served as the executive officer of an infantry battalion at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. In June 1961, he was assigned overseas again to serve in the 4th Armored Division in Germany, initially with the 3rd Brigade, then as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G2.
Returning to the United States in July 1964, Shigeki served as a division chief in the Army Special Warfare School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He was ordered in July 1965 to command a new military intelligence unit set for assignment to Vietnam. Deployed in September 1965, his unit was assigned to the Headquarters, I Field Force Vietnam, responsible for military operations in Central Vietnam. In addition to commanding his unit, he was appointed as the deputy to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Corps G2.
During his service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Shigeki was awarded three Bronze Star Medals, the Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Ribbon, and received numerous campaign and theater ribbons with battle stars. He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant
Colonel on September 1, 1966. He then commenced a new career with the former U.S. Civil Service Commission.
In November 1972, Shigeki was transferred to the Commission’s Bureau of Policies and Standards in Washington, D.C. During this period, he also served as the president-elect and then president of the Japanese American Citizens League.
On January 1, 1979, Shigeki and the staff of the Compliance Branch, which he headed, were transferred to the Office of the Special Counsel that was established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Shigeki had a key role in writing the legislation, monitoring Congressional action, and planning implementation. He was recognized for his work with the Commissioners’ Award for Distinguished Service.
In his new role, Shigeki assumed responsibility for working to establish the federal agency. In the following years he was promoted into the Senior Executive Service and served as Associate Special Counsel for Investigation, then Associate Special Counsel for Planning and Oversight and Inspector General of the agency. He retired from the government after a combined total of 40 years of service.
While working in Washington, D.C., Shigeki worked with the Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America to found a temple in the area. In May 1981, his work culminated in the establishment of the Ekoji Buddhist Temple in Springfield, Virginia.
Shigeki moved with Kimiko to the East Bay in August 1988. In retirement, Shigeki obtained a Master’s Degree in Jodo Shinshu Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies (in addition to an earlier Master’s Degree in Public Administration). He was later ordained a priest of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, and served as a minister’s assistant of the Buddhist Temple of Alameda.
Shigeki is survived by one son, The Honorable John H. Sugiyama (wife Jennifer) in Moraga, two granddaughters, Tara Mariko Sugiyama Potashnik (husband Stephen) in Washington, D.C. and Ashley Kimiko Glenn (husband Daniel) in Los Angeles, and four great grandchildren, Drew Stephen Potashnik, Keira Ashley Potashnik, Bodie John Glenn, and Brecken David Glenn. Shigeki is also survived by brothers Masami Sugiyama (wife May) and Osamu Sugiyama (wife Karen), sisters Satoko Furuichi (husband James) and Kiyomi Uyeda, sister-in-law Anah Sugiyama, brother-in-law William Taniguchi, and 11 nephews and nieces.
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