Toshiro Kanbara Honored for Service

95-year-old Toshiro Henry “Hank” Kanbara was honored with his very own military banner, located at the northeast corner of San Antonio Drive and Mt. Vernon in Colton, on Tuesday, March 3. His daughter and son-in-law Sharon and George Apker surprised Kanbara with his banner installation - hung near his own home. Kanbara, born in Oakdale, Calif. in 1920, was drafted into the Army after graduating from La Puente High School, and served from December 1941 until November 1945, nearly four years. According to George Apker, Kanbara's son-in-law, he went into the Army working as a truck driver, but after the invasion, they sent Kanbara to Missouri for combat engineer training. During his service, he was also a part of the 232nd Combat Engineers Battalion, which was part of the 442nd Regional Combat Team (RCT). He was stationed in multiple places during his service, including: Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, France, and Italy. Kanbara’s group accomplished a lot while serving, his daughter Sharon explained. While in France, they rescued a Texas Battalion that was surrounded by Germans. According to George, his group even lost a lot of their own men while rescuing the battalion. “I believe that they are honored if they go to Texas,” Sharon said. Kanbara was honored with several medals and accolades for his service, including a Victory Medal, Good Conduct medal, a Purple Heart, and many more. According to George, Kanbara earned his Purple Heart after being wounded in Italy. Although he was drafted into the Army, George shared that he would definitely use the word “proud” while describing Kanbara’s experience. “I’ve never heard him say anything negative about his service,” said George, adding, “He’s very patriotic.” Kanbara has worked throughout his life as a farmer and retired as a gardener in the Newport Beach area. George shared that he convinced him to move to Colton nearly five years ago to be closer to his family. “We’ve always seen military banners hanging throughout the city and Sharon brought it up that we should get him one… I thought it was a great idea,” George explained. They surprised him with his own banner on Tuesday, March 3. “I don’t think he fully understood what we were telling him until we took him out there and he saw the banner for himself,” Said George. “He doesn’t show a lot of emotion but I could tell that he was really happy." Since his military banner is near his home, George explained, some of Kanbara's neighbors joke with him and always say, “What’re you doing hanging out there?”