Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu (1919 - 2005)

Born 30 Jan 1919 in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Kathryn (Pearson) Korematsu — married 12 Oct 1946 (to 30 Mar 2005) in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Died 30 Mar 2005 at age 86 in Marin, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Russell Butler [send private message]

Biography

Fred Korematsu is Notable.

Fred Korematsu was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Toyosaburo Korematsu was born in Oakland, California, on 30 January 1919, to Japanese immigrants Kakusaburo Korematsu and Kotsui Aoki. During his youth, he attended public schools including Castlemont High School. He never went to Japan between his birth and the start of the Pacific War, but his Japanese name was recorded as Korematsu Toyosaburō (是松 豐三郞). Sometime between 1930 and 1940, he adopted the name Fred.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor and Executive Order 9066 was signed, Fred attempted to evade imprisonment, but he was arrested on 30 May 1942. He was tried and convicted for violating the executive order, and was sentenced to five years of probation. Thereafter, he was forcibly removed from Oakland to Tanforan Assembly Center and then to Topaz War Relocation Center, where he lived with his Japanese American family for the duration of the Pacific War.

Fred appealed the previous sentence to the Court of Appeals, which upheld the previous hearing on 7 January 1944. He appealed the ruling further to the Supreme Court, which, in Korematsu v. United States, ruled that the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was justified for security reasons. (This ruling was overruled in an obiter dictum by Trump v. Hawaii almost 74 years later in 2018.)

Fred married Kathryn Pearson in Detroit, Michigan, on 12 October 1946. They had two surviving children during their marriage together.

Fred fought to seek the conviction overturned for over four decades, and on 10 November 1983, the conviction was formally overturned. Fred was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998 for his actions. He died at his daughter's home in Marin County, California, on 30 March 2005.

The Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education was established by Fred's daughter in his memory in 2009. In California, Fred Korematsu Day is celebrated on his birthday every year since 2011. Virginia started celebrating January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day in 2015. Fred was the subject of a Google Doodle for what would have been his 98th birthday in 2017.

See also: Gordon Hirabayashi

Sources

• "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V25X-V8X : 27 November 2014), Toyosabu Korematsu, 30 Jan 1919; citing Alameda, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH3C-J3B : accessed 15 January 2019), Toyo Saverdo Korematsu in household of Kokusaburo Korematsu, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States; citing ED 145, sheet 12A, line 33, family , NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 91; FHL microfilm 1,820,091.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCXH-4R7 : accessed 15 January 2019), Toyo Korematsu in household of Kakusbus Korematsu, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 133, sheet 45B, line 63, family 530, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 105; FHL microfilm 2,339,840.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9Z5-FMY : 14 March 2018), Fred Korematsu in household of Hi Korematsu, Councilmanic District 7, Oakland, Brooklyn Judicial Township, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 61-282, sheet 2A, line 1, family 21, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 435.
• "United States Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II, 1942-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KX2D-C3W : 12 December 2014), Fred T Korematsu, 1942-1946; citing Central Utah (Abraham), person number 21538E, file 604389, NARA NAID 1263921, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• "United States, War Relocation Authority centers, final accountability rosters, 1942-1946," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLXR-H7G2 : 18 March 2018), Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu, 28 Sep 1942; citing Topaz (Central Utah) roster, family no. 21538, line 3931, NARA microfilm publication M1865 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2001).
• "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K1HN-N4W : 23 May 2014), Frances K Korematsu, Residence, San Leandro, California, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
• "California, Oakland, Alameda County, Newspaper Record Collection, 1985-2011," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5M-T76P : 10 March 2018), Fred Korematsu in entry for Joe Junichi Korematsu, 1997; citing Oakland, Alameda, California, United States, Oakland Family History Center, Alameda; FHL microfilm 4,266,113.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKKG-4NRK : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred T Korematsu in entry for Mr Ernest Besig, California, United States, 21 Nov 1998; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing San Francisco Chronicle, born-digital text.
• "California, Oakland, Alameda County, Newspaper Record Collection, 1985-2011," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5M-VPJ5 : 9 March 2018), Mr Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu, 2005; citing Oakland, Alameda, California, United States, Oakland Family History Center, Alameda; FHL microfilm 4,171,819.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVTS-4HVX : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu in entry for Fred Plessy Brown Korematsu, , ; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Associated Press Archive, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVTS-4MJH : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu, , ; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Associated Press Archive, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVTS-4MNX : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu, , ; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Associated Press Archive, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVTP-6T7Z : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu in entry for Mr Fought Japanese Internment Plessy Brown Korematsu, Pennsylvania, United States, 1 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, born-digital text.
• * "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVY9-RT57 : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu, North Carolina, United States, 1 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Charlotte Observer, The, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK5G-J7F2 : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu, North Dakota, United States, 02 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Grand Forks Herald, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK4K-SV4H : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu, Washington, United States, 03 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Seattle Times, The, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK24-C9GW : accessed 15 January 2019), Mr Fred Korematsu, California, United States, 07 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Alameda Times-Star, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKL3-XJH7 : accessed 15 January 2019), Mr Fred Korematsu, Pleasanton, California, United States, 07 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Tri-Valley Herald, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK2T-2RW9 : accessed 15 January 2019), Mr Fred Korematsu, California, United States, 08 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Alameda Times-Star, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKKB-XHV7 : accessed 15 January 2019), Mr Fred Korematsu, California, United States, 08 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Oakland Tribune, The, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKKK-YNQ5 : accessed 15 January 2019), Mr Fred Korematsu, Pleasanton, California, United States, 08 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Tri-Valley Herald, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK2S-J79Q : accessed 15 January 2019), Mr Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu, California, United States, 10 Apr 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing San Jose Mercury News, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVT4-68CR : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Y Korematsu in entry for Jack Herzig Yoshinaga-Herzig, Long Island, New York, United States, 31 Aug 2005; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Newsday, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV56-S28W : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu in entry for Gordon Hirabayashi, California, United States, 05 Jan 2012; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK75-D5BK : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu in entry for Gordon Hirabayashi, Waterbury, Connecticut, United States, 06 Jan 2012; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Republican-American, born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV58-61YZ : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu in entry for Mr Gordon Hirabayashi, Pennsylvania, United States, 08 Jan 2012; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5C-2TTR : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred Korematsu in entry for Gordon Hirabayashi, Wisconsin, United States, 08 Jan 2012; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV56-QHWK : accessed 15 January 2019), Fred T Korematsu in entry for Henry Leon, California, United States, 31 Jan 2012; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Fred Korematsu
• Wikidata: Item Q3086883, en:Wikipedia
• Find A Grave: Memorial #10754198