John M. Owada

As a soldier in the Army myself, I felt proud to see Japanese Americans represented in uniform by a man of fine character and devotion as John Owada. I'll miss seeing him in the veteran's color guard. Theodore H. OKAWA, LTC (Ret), USAR

I worked with John on the D.A.V honor guard team, The last few years John would set in the front seat of the van on the way to the cemetery and let me know if I was going the right way. There was not one cemetery that John did not know how to get too. we will all miss him...

I will treasure the support, friendship and incredible humanity of John Awada.I remember being out in the intense Skull Valley heat during the filming of 'American Pastime' and seeing this Nisei man in a suit, overcoat and oxygen tubes into his nose.I asked him to take a break in the shaded tent and his answer was,"If my Mom could take four years of this heat at Topaz, I can stand one day."I told this story of courage and spirit at our exhibit /booksigning and John was in the audience with...

Thank you for your service to our Country, and to countless veterans over the years as you have helped provide honors for them at their funerals. Glad to have known who you were.
Connor
Deseret Mortuary
Salt Lake City, Utah

John has been a long time (12 years) friend. He was a past All American Department Commander of the Department of Utah Veterans of Foreign Wars.I had the pleasure of being on many Color Guard Burial Details with John as well as marching in many parades with him. As the current Department of Utah VFW Commander, it was a distinct honor for me to have John with us at our National Convention in August of this year at Kansas City, Missouri! I was able to present him with one of my Department...

John was always there for Salt Lake City and Matsumoto, Japan sister cities events with sound system. I have a great respect for John in uniforms at Go for Broke events. It was the JACL events in Ogden when I saw him last. My sincere condolence to his mother and the rest of his family.

We lost a great American hero.

I have known John for many years as a quiet, soft spoken, generous, kind and considerate person. He volunteered for many different projects, without fanfare but in a very efficient and effective manner. Particularly, he was present at many veterans funerals and made arrangements for many formal military funerals (leading the honor guards), many being Nisei veterans. I do not know if anyone can take his place in the manner and proficiency with which he so willingly dispatched his duty so...

I was always running into John at various functions: JACL, Japanese Church, Veterans. My most memorable time with him was one day during the filming of "American Pastime"--a movie that uses the context of baseball to explore the impact of WWII on two American families.

Please read my blog entry at:
http://futureangels.mlblogs.com/futureangels/2007/11/american_pastim.html

I often ran into John at the Jade Cafe and had Dinner or Coffee with John.
John was a Happy, Loveing Person he never had a mean bone in his body. Always happy too see you.
John will be Greatly Missed by all.