About Theodore Kanamine
Theodore Kanamine, 93, American brigadier general, cancer.
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Full Biography
|Theodore Shigeru Kanamine (August 29, 1929 – March 2, 2023) was an American military officer, a United States Army brigadier general, and the first Japanese-American active duty general in the United States armed forces. Serving in the military police, he led the investigation of the My Lai massacre in 1968, a massacre in which hundreds of unarmed people were killed.
Born in California, Kanamine and his family were sent to an internment camp when he was 12-years-old.
Early life
On August 29, 1929, Kanamine was born in Hollywood, California. His parents were Japanese-American immigrants and he had a younger sister. In 1942, at age 12, Kanamine and his family were incarcerated in an internment camp in Jerome, Arkansas following the signing of Executive Order 9066. After their release, the family moved to Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska, where he studied criminal psychology. He later enrolled in the university's College of Law, graduating in 1954. Following his graduation, he realized that he did not want to be an attorney and later joined the U.S. military. That year, he married Mary Stuben, a fellow graduate. Due to Nebraska state laws restricting interracial marriages, the couple wed in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Career
After commissioning as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, Kanamine joined active service with a military police unit in 1955. He would later serve with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam in Saigon and participated in the Tet Offensive. He led the investigation of the My Lai massacre; the 1968 incident saw soldiers from the 23rd Infantry Division kill hundreds of unarmed people. During his career, Kanamine served as an aide to General Creighton Abrams, who recommended his promotion to brigadier general. In 1979, while in the capacity of provost marshal of United States Army, Europe and Seventh United States Army, he oversaw efforts to combat drug abuse amongst American armed forces in Germany. After returning to the States and serving as chief of staff of the First Army, he retired in 1981.
Death
On March 2, 2023, Kanamine died in Naples, Florida. He was remembered by the Washington Post as an individual, "who grew up in a World War II internment camp and later became the U.S. Army’s first Japanese-American active duty general." He is survived by his wife, Mary; their five children Ted and his wife Sara; Mike; David; Laura and her husband Howard Rutizer; and Linda; a nephew Gregg Tamai and his wife Susie; a niece Katie Takahama; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
- latimes.com"Theodore Kanamine dies; Japanese American prison camp survivor who became Army general"
- washingtonpost.com"Theodore Kanamine, Army's first Japanese-American general, dies at 93"
Reported coverage of Theodore Kanamine; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Kanamine
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Theodore Kanamine's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Theodore Shigeru Kanamine born?
- A.August 29, 1929correct
- B.September 29, 1929
- C.August 29, 1954
- D.March 2, 2023
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine was born on August 29, 1929.
Source: Early life section
2.In which American state was Theodore Shigeru Kanamine born?
- A.Iowa
- B.Californiacorrect
- C.Nebraska
- D.Arkansas
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine was born in Hollywood, California.
Source: Early life section
3.How old was Theodore Shigeru Kanamine when he was sent to an internment camp in 1942?
- A.12 years oldcorrect
- B.14 years old
- C.10 years old
- D.16 years old
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine was 12 years old when he and his family were sent to an internment camp.
Source: Early life section
4.What subject did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine study at the University of Nebraska?
- A.Political Science
- B.Military History
- C.Criminal psychologycorrect
- D.International Law
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine attended the University of Nebraska where he studied criminal psychology.
Source: Early life section
5.In what year did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine graduate from the University of Nebraska College of Law?
- A.1955
- B.1952
- C.1954correct
- D.1958
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine enrolled in the university's College of Law, graduating in 1954.
Source: Early life section
6.Why did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine and Mary Stuben marry in Council Bluffs, Iowa?
- A.Nebraska laws restricted interracial marriagescorrect
- B.The university mandated it
- C.They were both stationed there
- D.The courthouse in Nebraska was closed
Due to Nebraska state laws restricting interracial marriages, the couple wed in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Source: Early life section
7.In what year did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine join active service with a military police unit?
- A.1955correct
- B.1968
- C.1954
- D.1979
After commissioning as a second lieutenant, Kanamine joined active service with a military police unit in 1955.
Source: Career section
8.Which specific military organization did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine serve with in Saigon?
- A.First Army
- B.Seventh United States Army
- C.Military Assistance Command, Vietnamcorrect
- D.United States Army, Europe
Kanamine served with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam in Saigon.
Source: Career section
9.Which massacre did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine lead an investigation into in 1968?
- A.The Battle of Saigon
- B.The My Lai massacrecorrect
- C.The Tet Offensive
- D.The First Army incident
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine led the investigation of the My Lai massacre in 1968.
Source: Career section
10.Who recommended Theodore Shigeru Kanamine for promotion to brigadier general?
- A.The Provost Marshal
- B.General Creighton Abramscorrect
- C.General Dwight Eisenhower
- D.The First Army command
During his career, Kanamine served as an aide to General Creighton Abrams, who recommended his promotion to brigadier general.
Source: Career section
11.What issue did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine oversee efforts to combat while in Germany in 1979?
- A.Desertion
- B.Military corruption
- C.Human trafficking
- D.Drug abusecorrect
In 1979, he oversaw efforts to combat drug abuse amongst American armed forces in Germany.
Source: Career section
12.In what year did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine retire from the United States Army?
- A.1979
- B.1980
- C.1983
- D.1981correct
After returning to the States and serving as chief of staff of the First Army, he retired in 1981.
Source: Career section
13.Where did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine die in 2023?
- A.Naples, Floridacorrect
- B.Hollywood, California
- C.Jerome, Arkansas
- D.Omaha, Nebraska
On March 2, 2023, Theodore Shigeru Kanamine died in Naples, Florida.
Source: Death section
14.What historic distinction did Theodore Shigeru Kanamine hold in the United States armed forces?
- A.The first Japanese-American to serve in Vietnam
- B.The first Japanese-American active duty generalcorrect
- C.The first Japanese-American military police officer
- D.The first Japanese-American to attend the University of Nebraska
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine was the first Japanese-American active duty general in the United States armed forces.
Source: Introduction
15.How many children are mentioned as survivors of Theodore Shigeru Kanamine?
- A.Fivecorrect
- B.Three
- C.Four
- D.Six
Theodore Shigeru Kanamine is survived by his wife, Mary, and their five children.
Source: Death section
16.What was the name of the internment camp where Theodore Shigeru Kanamine was held in 1942?
- A.Jerome, Arkansascorrect
- B.Council Bluffs, Iowa
- C.Naples, Florida
- D.Omaha, Nebraska
In 1942, Kanamine and his family were incarcerated in an internment camp in Jerome, Arkansas.
Source: Early life section
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