In Memory: Charles T. "Chuck" Furumasu

Charles Furumasu, a Japanese-American student at Pacific University when his family was ordered to move or be interned, died June 8, 2020 at the age of 98. He attended Pacific in 1941 and would have graduated with the Class of 1945.

His family chose to move Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, instead of being placed in an internment camp. While many friends were incarcerated in such camps, Furumasu joined the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Sargeant First class and being awarded the Bronze Star. He served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the famed "Go For Broke" unit that consisted mostly of Japanese-American men who fought in Europe. He and other surviving members of the 442nd were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 2011. 

After the war, he returned to Gaston, Ore., to farm with his family. In 1950, he married Amy Furukawa and they settled in Spokane, Wash., where he operated a barber shop for 57 years. 

He is survived by his wife Amy; his three sons, Brian (Nancy), Larry (Marylin), Mark (Laurie) and one daughter, Linda (Gene) Yamashita; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and sisters-in-law Fujie, Sadie and numerous neices and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, aunt, three brothers, and three sisters. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.