A Company
Susumu Kunishige was born in Laupahoehoe on the island of Hawaii in May 1919. When he was nine months old his parents moved to California where they felt there would be better opportunities for farming. Susumu was left behind and raised by his grandparents and aunties. His parents later had two daughters, but after his mother and one of his sisters died, the remaining sister was brought back to Hawaii and also raised by her grandparents.
When Susumu was 16 years old his grandmother passed away. Unable to finish high school because he had to help support his family, he became a paniolo (cowboy) at Parker Ranch.
Before Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan and war declared, Susumu moved to Honolulu and worked in construction, becoming a mason. He was inducted in the first draft of November 1941 and was assigned to the 298th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, later becoming one of the original members of the 100th Infantry Battalion.
After the war Club 100, which was formed while the soldiers were in Europe, bought a property in Honolulu with a building that was previously a Japanese language school. Susumu and several other veterans lived there in the former classrooms. A member of the AFL-CIO union, Susumu met his future wife Ruth at the union hall where she was working for the electrical union.
In a September 2005 Puka Puka Parade article, Ruth wrote about her husband’s experiences living in the first clubhouse and the many years he was involved with Club 100. After the Club sold the Japanese school property, he worked for the contractor who installed the tiles in the new clubhouse on Kamoku Street and volunteered with other veterans to build the wall around three sides of the property. It is still standing and in good shape.
He founded his own subcontracting tile company, running it for 28 years before he retired. During his retirement years, he served as treasurer of A Chapter and enjoyed many years of golfing with his 100th buddies.
Susumu Kunishige passed away in October 2012 and is buried at the National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, the final resting place of many of his 100th comrades.
![S. Kunishige [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_013x.jpg "S. Kunishige [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Masaru Nambara Camp McCoy Wisconsin. M.Nambara, That's the man with muscles all around 8-16-42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_012x.jpg "Masaru Nambara Camp McCoy Wisconsin. M.Nambara, That's the man with muscles all around 8-16-42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Hideo Shimabukuro, 8/14/42 Camp McCoy Wis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_022x.jpg "Hideo Shimabukuro, 8/14/42 Camp McCoy Wis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![S. Kunishige [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_008x.jpg "S. Kunishige [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![He is a sleepy looking guy after supper. S. Kunishige. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_007x.jpg "He is a sleepy looking guy after supper. S. Kunishige. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Henry Shiyama. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_006x.jpg "Henry Shiyama. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![To Kumi, with my best wishes Raymond Camp McCoy. Tent mate 8-14-42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_005x.jpg "To Kumi, with my best wishes Raymond Camp McCoy. Tent mate 8-14-42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Henry Shiyama. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_004x.jpg "Henry Shiyama. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Your tentmate, Henry Shiyama. Here is the man with a healthy smile-Henry Shiyama 7-20-42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_003x.jpg "Your tentmate, Henry Shiyama. Here is the man with a healthy smile-Henry Shiyama 7-20-42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Tsuyoshi Furukawa, Kenneth Watada. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_002x.jpg "Tsuyoshi Furukawa, Kenneth Watada. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Co. E 100 Inf.Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_032x.jpg "Co. E 100 Inf.Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Jan 6th '43 Wisconsin. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_041x.jpg "Jan 6th '43 Wisconsin. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Hammond Photo Svc Meridian, Miss. 10-Feb-43. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_040x.jpg "Hammond Photo Svc Meridian, Miss. 10-Feb-43. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![10-12-42 McCoy,Wis. " Aloha to Kunishige-John Yamada." [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_039x.jpg "10-12-42 McCoy,Wis. \" Aloha to Kunishige-John Yamada.\" [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Henry, Ralph, Yasuo, 1/2 me. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_038x.jpg "Henry, Ralph, Yasuo, 1/2 me. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Pfc. Nobuo Nihei & S.Kunishige 10-13-42 Camp McCoy Wis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_037x.jpg "Pfc. Nobuo Nihei & S.Kunishige 10-13-42 Camp McCoy Wis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Company E. Chow line we don't look so hungry, because its pork & beans. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_036x.jpg "Company E. Chow line we don't look so hungry, because its pork & beans. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Harold Kanemura drafted the same day & same co.as we spending the days with the other boys 7/12/42. To Kunishige with my best regards - Sincerely Kane. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_035x.jpg "Harold Kanemura drafted the same day & same co.as we spending the days with the other boys 7/12/42. To Kunishige with my best regards - Sincerely Kane. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![S. Kunishige, Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_034x.jpg "S. Kunishige, Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Henry Akiyama & S. Kunishige. Camp McCoy Wis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_033x.jpg "Henry Akiyama & S. Kunishige. Camp McCoy Wis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![K. Yoshioka, Camp McCoy, Wis, 8/14/42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_001x.jpg "K. Yoshioka, Camp McCoy, Wis, 8/14/42. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![3rd Platoon Co. E.100 Inf. Wisc. with Capt. D.Willis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_031x.jpg "3rd Platoon Co. E.100 Inf. Wisc. with Capt. D.Willis. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Co. E.100 Inf. 3rd Platoon. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_030x.jpg "Co. E.100 Inf. 3rd Platoon. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Co. E. 3rd Platoon w/ Capt. Willis Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_029x.jpg "Co. E. 3rd Platoon w/ Capt. Willis Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![9/29/1942. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_028x.jpg "9/29/1942. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Co. E. 3rd Platoon Lt. Dillard Willis - leader now he's captain. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_027x.jpg "Co. E. 3rd Platoon Lt. Dillard Willis - leader now he's captain. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![Co. E. 3rd Platoon w/ Dillard Capt. Willis Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_026x.jpg "Co. E. 3rd Platoon w/ Dillard Capt. Willis Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![S. KunishigeCamp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_025x.jpg "S. KunishigeCamp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![S. Kunishige Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_024x.jpg "S. Kunishige Camp McCoy. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")
![S.Kunishige Camp McCoy. 4/14/1942. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]](https://www.100thbattalion.org/wp-content/gallery/kunishige_susumu/kunishige_sus_023x.jpg "S.Kunishige Camp McCoy. 4/14/1942. [Courtesy of Ruth Kunishige]")