Turk Fukushima - Kapaa
James Takao Fukushima
Dec. 7, 2004
James Takao "Turk" Fukushima, also known as "The Mayor of Kapaa Town," 74, of Kapaa, Kauai, a U.S. Army sergeant who served in the Korean War, died in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. He was born in Kapahi, Kauai. He is survived by brothers Henry H., Edward T., Albert S., Paul S., Joseph K., Raymond T. and Richard S.; and sisters Grace A. Hikida, Nancy Matsuda and Edna S. Kawasaki. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Kauai Veterans Cemetery pavilion. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire.
Born on February 22, 1930, in Kapahi, Kaua‘i, Territory of Hawai‘i, James "Turk" Takao Fukushima is the son of the late Suekichi Wada Fukushima and the Koto Ebesu Fukushima. Being the fifth member in a family of thirteen children, Turk volunteered for the United States Army after graduating from Kapa‘a High School. The Korean War started and "Turk" wanted to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers, the late Harry Yukito Fukushima and the late George "Manini" Fukushima and also Henry Fukushima who were veterans of World War II. The Fukushima Family had eight sons Harry, George, Henry, James, Paul who served in the United States Army, Raymond served in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, Joseph served in the United States Army Reserve, and Richard served in the United States Army Security Agency and in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. Sisters, Grace Hikida and Edna Kawasaki worked as Civilians for the United States Army at Fort Shafter. The Fukushima family is a dedicated and loyal government-oriented family who are proud to serve our county.
"Turk" was one of thousand of soldiers that were wounded in the Korean conflict. As a result of his injury, a shrapnel wound in his abdomen, on October 13, 1951, James received a Bronze Star on April 22, 1952, and a Purple Heart on April 23, 1959 (a year after is discharge from the United States Army). James served in the United State Army from about December 1950 until April 18, 1958. He remained in the United States Army even after being "wounded" in the Korean War.
Turk, "Sarge," "General," the "Honorary Mayor," or whatever name that you may known him as, was the "Unsung Hero" that everybody saw almost everyday in Kapa‘a. Few people really knew what really happened to him, but took the time to stop for him to cross the street; gave him $$$ for cigarettes, not knowing that he loved to play cards at the Leehi (at Waika‘ea Canal). The merchants and people of Kapa‘a knew him well and Turk was a person that people always see as part of their daily expectations, while passing through Kapa‘a Town. Since he is no longer here with us, he will always leave a vivid picture in the people's mind when the name "Turk" is mentioned in their conversation. He had his daily routine and daily route that he would take and could be seen everywhere in Kapa‘a town walking sometime with a cane and slippers, and many times without slippers, doing the airborne shuffle. You could see him at the Shell Service Station in Waipouli, by Pono Market, and by the ABC Discount Store, which was part of his many stops in his sojourn. He did put a lot of mileage on his slippers and go through at least 12 pairs of slippers a year.
"Turk" had been living independently with brother Raymond since their mother passed away in 1987. He did his own cooking at times and also did his own laundry. James favorite food was lup chong and chicken noodle soup. He was harmless and wandered in the streets of Kapa‘a.
Everyone knows Turk as he shuffled his way around town. When he walked into a coffee shop, he was immediately served a cup of coffee, no questions asked and no conversations needed; the merchants knew what he wanted. He would sit drink his coffee and go on with his journey through town. When the Old Kinko Saimin stand was located in the old Pono Theater, he would walk in, order a bowl of saimin, and leave the saimin stand and later return to eat the saimin when it was cooled a few minutes later. On the night life, he would walk in have a sit at a pub and the bartender would place a glass of Coca-Cola in front of him, no alcohol, all without any verbal conversation, just part of his daily routine. Turk would do errands for the businessmen or just take out the trash for them in return. Another place that he would frequent would be the Leehi or "River Street" Canal. He would sometimes play cards or chat with the friends at the Leehi, or go on errands for them. He was sent once to pick up things at the store that was too much for him to carry and he ended up calling a Cab to take him back to the Leehi and had the guys pay for the cab fare.
To the friends and family of Kapa‘a Shell, ABC Discount Store, Pono Market, Pono Kai Resort, Bonnie's, Olympic Cafe and other people and businesses in Kapa‘a, a heartfelt "Thank you" from the Fukushima Family for accommodating James "Turk" all these years.
James was never married and led a simple life of meandering around Kapa‘a Town because of his injury from the Korean War. James would occasionally hitch a ride to Lihu‘e before the Kaua‘i Bus was in service. Everybody knew him and gave him a ride from and to Lihu‘e or other places on the island. Friends and family of Kapa‘a and everywhere on Kaua‘i who was touched by "Turk" will surely miss the legendary Hero, our Brother, our Uncle, "Turk."
Brother James "Turk" Takao Fukushima may appear to some of the people that have seen him on a daily basis as a homeless person; but on the contrary, he was richly blessed with many brothers and sisters as well as his many friends and other family members. His daily walk was with God, Our Heavenly Father, and today, he has finally walked the final mile to be with his Savior, Mom, Dad, and brothers Harry and George. Amen.
Turk Fukushima - Kapaa
James Takao Fukushima
Dec. 7, 2004
James Takao "Turk" Fukushima, also known as "The Mayor of Kapaa Town," 74, of Kapaa, Kauai, a U.S. Army sergeant who served in the Korean War, died in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. He was born in Kapahi, Kauai. He is survived by brothers Henry H., Edward T., Albert S., Paul S., Joseph K., Raymond T. and Richard S.; and sisters Grace A. Hikida, Nancy Matsuda and Edna S. Kawasaki. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Kauai Veterans Cemetery pavilion. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire.
Born on February 22, 1930, in Kapahi, Kaua‘i, Territory of Hawai‘i, James "Turk" Takao Fukushima is the son of the late Suekichi Wada Fukushima and the Koto Ebesu Fukushima. Being the fifth member in a family of thirteen children, Turk volunteered for the United States Army after graduating from Kapa‘a High School. The Korean War started and "Turk" wanted to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers, the late Harry Yukito Fukushima and the late George "Manini" Fukushima and also Henry Fukushima who were veterans of World War II. The Fukushima Family had eight sons Harry, George, Henry, James, Paul who served in the United States Army, Raymond served in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, Joseph served in the United States Army Reserve, and Richard served in the United States Army Security Agency and in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. Sisters, Grace Hikida and Edna Kawasaki worked as Civilians for the United States Army at Fort Shafter. The Fukushima family is a dedicated and loyal government-oriented family who are proud to serve our county.
"Turk" was one of thousand of soldiers that were wounded in the Korean conflict. As a result of his injury, a shrapnel wound in his abdomen, on October 13, 1951, James received a Bronze Star on April 22, 1952, and a Purple Heart on April 23, 1959 (a year after is discharge from the United States Army). James served in the United State Army from about December 1950 until April 18, 1958. He remained in the United States Army even after being "wounded" in the Korean War.
Turk, "Sarge," "General," the "Honorary Mayor," or whatever name that you may known him as, was the "Unsung Hero" that everybody saw almost everyday in Kapa‘a. Few people really knew what really happened to him, but took the time to stop for him to cross the street; gave him $$$ for cigarettes, not knowing that he loved to play cards at the Leehi (at Waika‘ea Canal). The merchants and people of Kapa‘a knew him well and Turk was a person that people always see as part of their daily expectations, while passing through Kapa‘a Town. Since he is no longer here with us, he will always leave a vivid picture in the people's mind when the name "Turk" is mentioned in their conversation. He had his daily routine and daily route that he would take and could be seen everywhere in Kapa‘a town walking sometime with a cane and slippers, and many times without slippers, doing the airborne shuffle. You could see him at the Shell Service Station in Waipouli, by Pono Market, and by the ABC Discount Store, which was part of his many stops in his sojourn. He did put a lot of mileage on his slippers and go through at least 12 pairs of slippers a year.
"Turk" had been living independently with brother Raymond since their mother passed away in 1987. He did his own cooking at times and also did his own laundry. James favorite food was lup chong and chicken noodle soup. He was harmless and wandered in the streets of Kapa‘a.
Everyone knows Turk as he shuffled his way around town. When he walked into a coffee shop, he was immediately served a cup of coffee, no questions asked and no conversations needed; the merchants knew what he wanted. He would sit drink his coffee and go on with his journey through town. When the Old Kinko Saimin stand was located in the old Pono Theater, he would walk in, order a bowl of saimin, and leave the saimin stand and later return to eat the saimin when it was cooled a few minutes later. On the night life, he would walk in have a sit at a pub and the bartender would place a glass of Coca-Cola in front of him, no alcohol, all without any verbal conversation, just part of his daily routine. Turk would do errands for the businessmen or just take out the trash for them in return. Another place that he would frequent would be the Leehi or "River Street" Canal. He would sometimes play cards or chat with the friends at the Leehi, or go on errands for them. He was sent once to pick up things at the store that was too much for him to carry and he ended up calling a Cab to take him back to the Leehi and had the guys pay for the cab fare.
To the friends and family of Kapa‘a Shell, ABC Discount Store, Pono Market, Pono Kai Resort, Bonnie's, Olympic Cafe and other people and businesses in Kapa‘a, a heartfelt "Thank you" from the Fukushima Family for accommodating James "Turk" all these years.
James was never married and led a simple life of meandering around Kapa‘a Town because of his injury from the Korean War. James would occasionally hitch a ride to Lihu‘e before the Kaua‘i Bus was in service. Everybody knew him and gave him a ride from and to Lihu‘e or other places on the island. Friends and family of Kapa‘a and everywhere on Kaua‘i who was touched by "Turk" will surely miss the legendary Hero, our Brother, our Uncle, "Turk."
Brother James "Turk" Takao Fukushima may appear to some of the people that have seen him on a daily basis as a homeless person; but on the contrary, he was richly blessed with many brothers and sisters as well as his many friends and other family members. His daily walk was with God, Our Heavenly Father, and today, he has finally walked the final mile to be with his Savior, Mom, Dad, and brothers Harry and George. Amen.