The Making of a Pacific Citizen

About the Book

A 9th-generation American, the author takes us from his childhood as a barefoot boy in Depression-era Southern California, through his prep school years on a scholarship, being drafted out of U.C. Berkeley and trained to fight in the invasion of Japan. But, the war ends and he instead is sent to Occupied Japan, where he fights the bloodless "battle of Yokohama" with a feisty and beautiful samurai, Kimie, wins her love and so changes the whole course of his life.

He finds himself on the "wrong" side of Occupation regulations and our immigration laws and must struggle for three years to get his Kimie and her daughter by a previous marriage to the USA. In Berkeley, Kimie fights off TB and they have a son. Hugh graduates with honors, earns an M.A. at Berkeley and begins a career with the U.S. Information Agency.

Assigned to Japan, Hugh and Kimie begin working at improving trans-Pacific amity and understanding through their service in Japan, Vietnam, India, Korea and our nation's capital. Hugh describes their infinitely varied experiences in the Foreign Service and how this helps them develop fresh perspectives as "Pacific citizens."

Hugh retires after 38 years of Federal service; but they continue their life-long mission by working in internationally oriented non-profits in Washington state. Hugh continues this work even after cancer strikes down the always effervescent Kimie.

About the Author

From a family that traces its ancestry to Danish Vikings, but took root in colonial New England, a barefoot boy of Depression-era Southern California starts college at wartime U. C. Berkeley.  He is drafted and trained as an Infantryman for combat in the invasion of Japan, but the war ends and he instead is sent to Occupied Japan, where he fights the bloodless “the battle of Yokohama” with a feisty and beautiful Samurai, Kimie, and wins her love.  That will change the whole course of his life.

He struggles against military regulations and U.S. immigration law for the right to marry his Kimie and finally gets a private law allowing her and her daughter by a previous marriage to join him in Berkeley.  There Kimie fights off TB and bears a son.

Graduating with honors, he begins 31 years with the U.S. Information Agency and soon becomes a Foreign Service Officer.  Committing their talents to improving trans-Pacific amity and understanding, they serve in Japan, Vietnam, India, Korea and our nation’s capital.  After 38 years of Federal service, Hugh and Kimie retire to continue their life’s mission in non-profit groups in Washington state.