Francis Shigeo Takemoto became the first Japanese American to achieve the rank of brigadier general. He was born on Nov. 28, 1912, in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Takemoto graduated from McKinley High School and continued his education at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa while studying chemistry and doing ROTC. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and infantry officer in the Army Reserves on July 13, 1935. In 1940, Takemoto earned a graduate teacher’s certificate from Santa Barbara State College then worked as a mathematics teacher.
After eight years in the Army Reserves, Takemoto was called to active duty when the U.S. entered World War II. He fought with the 100th Infantry Battalion of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Anzio, Italy. Wounded in the head by shrapnel, he earned a Purple Heart, four battle stars, the Victory Medal, and a Presidential Citation with cluster for his service.
After the war, he returned to teaching, later becoming an elementary school principal at Aliamanu Elementary School in 1957, and then at Mānoa Elementary School in 1965.
Takemoto also joined the Hawai‘i Army National Guard and helped reorganize Headquarters Company of the 299th Infantry Battalion on the Big Island. He steadily rose through the ranks, culminating in his promotion to brigadier general in 1964.
Less than twenty years after Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II, an Asian American officer had broken the general rank barrier in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Takemoto passed away May 2, 2002, and is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
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