Hubert Masayoshi Yoshida

1939 - 2025

Hubert Masayoshi Yoshida passed away in Placerville, California, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the age of 86. He was a former resident of Morgan Hill, California for 49 years before moving to Placerville, California.

Hubert is survived by his wife of 61 years, Laura Okamoto Yoshida, their two children, Elizabeth and Michael and two grandsons, Joshua and William.

He leaves behind his sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and John Runde, sister-in-laws, June Yoshida, Mary and Jean Okamoto and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenzo and Sumie Shikuma Yoshida and his brother Victor Yoshida. Hubert was born in Salinas, California, and at the age of three the family was interned in Poston, Arizona.

They returned to Watsonville, California, where he attended school while working on the family farm. Upon his completion of Watsonville High School, he went on to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Mathematics.

In 1962 Hubert joined the Marine Corps, a lifelong dream of his. He had hopes of becoming an officer but was rejected due to his eyesight. He then enlisted as a recruit. At the completion of boot camp, Hubert received the American Spirit Honor Medal. It was awarded to the most outstanding recruit of all the armed force enlistees at that time. He was then assigned to El Toro Marine Corp Base where he met his wife, Laura.

In 1963, Hubert reapplied for Officer's Candidate School and was accepted for the school in Quantico, Virginia. After graduation, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in preparation for the beginning of the Vietnam War. Hubert served in Vietnam from 1965-1966 as a platoon commander in H Co., Second Battalion, Seventh Regiment, Third Marine Division. During his time in Vietnam, he received two bronze stars for gallantry. He left the Marine Corps with the rank of Captain.

In 1967, Hubert joined IBM and was employed with them for 28 years. During his employment at IBM, he and his family lived in Connecticut, Japan, and England, with their home base being in Morgan Hill. After retiring from IBM, he joined Hitachi Vantara and retired as Chief Technology Officer. The years Hubert spent at Hitachi were significant years for personal growth. He was able to share the experience, knowledge and vision he had gained throughout his life reaching people and businesses worldwide.

After 23 years with Hitachi, Hubert retired. His new goal was to author a book about the war in Vietnam. "Operation Utah-The Die is Cast" was written. It describes the first, bloodiest battle between the Marine Corps and the regular forces of the North Vietnamese. In writing this book, a network was formed for the Marines and their family members who had served their country during the war in Vietnam. It brought together many veterans allowing them to reconnect, piece together and share their stories of the battle and its true history.

Hubert loved his family, his pets, his country, his God, the Marine Corps, being physically fit and enjoying life to the fullest. His strength and determination was unmatched. With all of his achievements and successes, he remained a simple man.
A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

It will begin at 11:30am at the Gilroy Lodge On The Hill. 2765 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy, California 95020.
To honor, Hubert's memory and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Wall of Faces at:
Www.memorialcourtalliance.org
or, may be sent to:
Veterans Memorial Court Alliance,
244 S. San Pedro St. Suite A,
Los Angeles, CA 90012.
It was a project that Hubert was deeply interested in. Please address it as:
Hubert Yoshida Memorial.
Donations may also be made to Stanford Cancer Research at:
med.stanford.edu