First Lieutenant Louise Toki Nagao Aleong

Early Life

Born to Japanese Immigrants

First Lieutenant Louise Toki Nagao Aleong was born on July 29, 1916, in San Francisco County, California, to parents who emigrated from Japan to build a new life. San Francisco, home to one of the largest Japanese communities in the U.S., was notable for having several Japantowns within the city. 

Her father, Henry Tsunejiro Nagao, initially worked as a barber and waiter before marrying Hana Nakamura, a picture bride from Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The couple eventually found work on a farm in Mountain View, outside the city, and started their family. There, they harvested vegetables and berries to support their eight-member family. Louise had four younger sisters and one brother.

Education and Nursing

Aleong and her siblings attended Fremont Elementary and Middle School in Mountain View. She was an active member of both the Spanish and Latin clubs at school. She graduated from Mountain View Union High School in 1934 and went on to attend San Jose State College and the Santa Clara County Nurses Training School, where she began serving her community after graduating.

Japanese American Community Interned

Before 1942, the Japanese-American community in Mountain View thrived in the local Japantown, located south of San Francisco. This farming center, situated near Dana and View Streets, was known for its flower-growing industry. The area was part of the agricultural Santa Clara Valley, also known as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight.” 

During World War II, the Nagao family was relocated first to the Santa Anita race track in Arcadia, California, from March 27 to October 27, 1942, and then to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming for the remainder of the war. During this time, Aleong likely worked as a nurse outside of the camp. 

After the war, she returned to Santa Clara County, where she was appointed superintendent of nurses at the county hospital in San Jose. She lived on the Mountain View farm with her family.

Homefront

Mountain View, California Transformation

During the Korean War, Mountain View, California played a significant role in supporting the military while also experiencing considerable community changes. The area with strong agricultural roots was part of Santa Clara Valley, where Japanese American farmers transformed barren land into lush farmlands. However, after World War II, the area began to change as new challenges emerged. Many Japanese American farming families faced the struggles of rebuilding their lives after internment.

The Future Silicon Valley Seeds

By the 1950s, the region saw rapid growth, partly driven by the postwar technology boom, with companies like Fairchild Semiconductor emerging from Mountain View.

During World War II, military infrastructure developed in the area. Moffett Federal Airfield became a crucial site during the Korean War, housing several Navy squadrons and supporting fighter aircraft. The area played an essential role in food production, military support, and the growing technology industry that would later define the region. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, Mountain View was rapidly evolving, setting the stage for its future as Silicon Valley.

Santa Clara Hospital

Additionally, the Santa Clara County Hospital in San Jose, where Aleong worked, served as a key healthcare facility during this time, providing medical care for both civilians and military personnel.

Military Experience

U.S. Army Reserve Nurse

Following World War II, Aleong served as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. She may have served with the 63^rd Readiness Division, headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Fort Lewis

In March 1951, Aleong was called to active duty as a U.S. Army nurse and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. With the onset of the Korean War, enlisted reservists were recalled to active service, arriving at Fort Lewis in large numbers. Reception personnel worked tirelessly on a 24-hour schedule to process the incoming troops. Fort Lewis served as a critical hub, with many soldiers, including Aleong’s future husband, passing through on their way to the Korean War. Reservists received refresher training to prepare them for deployment.

382^nd General Hospital, Japan

While some U.S. Army nurses were assigned to Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (M.A.S.H.) on the front lines, many others, including Aleong, were stationed at hospitals in Japan. These facilities cared for thousands of wounded soldiers evacuated from the Korean peninsula. During the war, Japan served as a vital location for medical treatment, with a significant number of American military nurses working to stabilize and rehabilitate war casualties. Aleong was assigned to the 382^nd General Hospital in Konoaka, Japan, where she served for several years. On July 31, 1954, she was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.

Veteran Experience

Life as a Military Spouse
In 1955, Louise Nagao married Fletcher Aleong, a U.S. Army officer from Hawaiʻi who served in Korea. The couple began their life together in Hawaiʻi.

Throughout Fletcher’s military career, Louise accompanied him to various duty stations, including Fort Ord in California, Fort Meade in Maryland, and Thailand. Fletcher later served in Vietnam and was reassigned to Fort Meade before taking a position at the Pentagon. During this time, they settled in Vienna, Virginia, where they made their home.

Spreading Aloha Through the Hawaiʻi State Society of Washington, D.C.
Louise embraced her husband’s Hawaiian culture and became an active member of the Hawaiʻi State Society of Washington, D.C. (HSS). Founded in 1950, HSS was created to provide a sense of community for people from Hawaiʻi living in the Washington, D.C., area. The organization fostered connections among its members while promoting the Aloha spirit.

HSS hosted events such as lūʻaus, welcomed visiting Hawaiʻi dignitaries, and participated in cultural celebrations, including selecting princesses for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Louise’s involvement in the society reflected her dedication to sharing and preserving Hawaiʻi’s rich cultural heritage.

Commemoration

First Lieutenant Louise Toki Nagao Aleong passed away on August 14, 1973, in Washington, D.C. She was laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, a fitting tribute to her life of service and connection to the islands. Her husband, Fletcher, was buried beside her when he passed in October 2011.

Bibliography

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Downtown Mountain View, 1950s. Photograph. c.1950-1955. Mountain View Public Library (aerial21). https://californiarevealed.org/do/149512c2-fd8d-44a1-ab59-3409c45680af#page/1.

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This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.