Claude Takekawa Papers
Scope and Content Note
The Claude Takekawa Papers contain correspondence, documents, photographs, lists, and event programs documenting the postwar activities of the Varsity Victory Volunteers from 1967-2005.
Materials are arranged alphabetically according to subject, including anniversaries, commemorative sculptures, Franklin Odo’s book about the VVV, and the VVV endowed scholarship fund at the University of Hawaii.
The material is largely in good condition. Old paper clips, staples, and rubber bands were removed and replaced with archival quality paper clips. Photographs were placed in archival-quality sleeves.
In several instances, select materials concerning Franklin Odo’s book and the VVV endowed scholarship fund have been restricted out of concern for privacy.
For additional information on the Varsity Victory Volunteers, please see the Ted Tsukiyama Papers (AJA 002).
Dates
- Creation: 1967 - 2005
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1992 - 2002
Restrictions
Select materials have been restricted due to their sensitive financial nature.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, their descendants, or the repository if copyright has been signed over, as stipulated by United States copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user to determine any copyright restrictions, obtain written permission, and pay any fees necessary for the reproduction or proposed use of the materials.
Literary Rights Notice
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Hawaii Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the user.
Biographical Sketch
Claude Yoshiharu Takekawa (1920-2010) was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, of 12 September 1920. A graduate of Farrington High School, he was a student at the University of Hawaii when America entered World War II in 1941. As an ROTC member, he was inducted into the Hawaii Territorial Guard following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
After all soldiers of Japanese American heritage were dismissed from the Hawaii Territorial Guard on 19 January 1942, Takekawa joined the Varsity Victory Volunteers (VVV). The VVV was a volunteer labor unit comprised of 169 members, many who were former members of the Hawaii Territorial Guard. The VVV was assigned to the 34th Army Engineers at Schofield Barracks to assist in military construction projects. Takekawa was a foreman in a carpenter gang and was an active member of VVV athletic teams.
In 1943, Claude Takekawa volunteered for the newly organized 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and was then transferred to the Military Intelligence Service, where he served for the remainder of the war.
Following the war, Claude Takekawa completed his education, and taught school before serving in Korea in the early 1950s. He then joined Tongg Publishing Company in Honolulu. He was an active member of the VVV veterans’ organization until his death on 5 September 2010.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Language
English
Abstract
Claude Takekawa (1920-2010) was a member of the Varsity Victory Volunteers (VVV), a Japanese American volunteer labor unit that was assigned to the 34th Army Engineers at Schofield Barracks to assist in military construction projects from 1942-1943. Takekawa later volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and served in the Military Intelligence Service.
The Claude Takekawa Papers contain correspondence, documents, photographs, lists, and event programs documenting the postwar activities of the Varsity Victory Volunteers from 1967-2005.
Materials are arranged alphabetically according to subject, including anniversary reunions, commemorative sculptures, Franklin Odo’s book No Sword to Bury, and the VVV endowed scholarship fund at the University of Hawaii.
Provenance
Donated by Claude Takekawa of Kailua, Hawaii, in October 2005 (Accession AJA 2005:033).
- Title
- Claude Takekawa Papers Finding Aid
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Laura Capell
- Date
- December 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Libraries Repository