Blog nr. 29

Today, 21 January, is a special day for at least a couple of people-----it is my wife's and my wedding anniversary. On this day, in 1965, Tokuko and I were married in a civil ceremony at the American Embassy in Tokyo, Japan.

At the time I was a first class petty officer in the Navy, stationed at the Naval Sir Station in Atsugi, Japan. I had been in the Navy for eight years.

When I got stationed at Atsugi (in May 1963), the furthest thing from my mind was marriage. Then I met my future wife and my thoughts changed immediately. I don't know if it was love at first sight, but it was close to it.

You have to remember, back in 1964-65 inter-racial marriages were frowned upon, not just by the Navy department but in society in general. Both Tokuko's family and mine were against the marriage. We were told it would never last.......people should marry "their own kind" was a phrase we both heard. The Navy threatened to take my security clearance away if I insisted on the marriage. The Navy Chaplain threatened to have me restricted to base and then transferred out of Japan. Tokuko's older brother (the head of the family) threatened to disown her. My mother, a staunch Irish-Catholic was shocked and dismayed.

But, Tokuko and I felt that we were meant to be together and we proceeded with the (extremely slow) process of paperwork that was required. After 11 months and 4 days of waiting, we got the word that approval had finally been given.

We hopped on the train from Atsugi and rode for an hour to the embassy in Tokyo. It was a brief ceremony. As we were leaving the embassy, we came upon a "Yankee go home" demonstration that was protesting the American presence in Japan. Welcome to the real world!!!!!

46 years later, as I look back to the start of our marriage, I am amazed as to how we did it. It was not easy---I spent 12 more years in the Navy, most of the time away from my wife and growing family. I did not make much money in the service, our children started "appearing", and things were definitely "tough".

Somehow we made it. And now we celebrate. There is so much to be thankful for; three great children and two of the loveliest grandaughters one could hope for. And Tokuko is STILL the most beautiful girl in the world.

And to the naysayers that admonished us for marrying, I will be polite and only say HA!