Sergeant First Class Jack Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Early Life

Jack Hiroshi Yamaguchi was born on December 22, 1923, in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiʻi Territory, to Shōtarō and Koto Yamaguchi. Both parents were born in Hiraogi-mura, Kamoto-gun, Kumamoto-ken, Japan, and married before immigrating to Hawaii. They arrived on the SS Korea on November 12, 1902, as part of a wave of Japanese laborers recruited to work on Hawaii’s sugar plantations. After fulfilling his labor contract, Shōtarō worked in various trades, including stone masonry, carpentry, and cement work. The couple experienced great loss with the passing of their first three children, Kaoru, Chiyoko, and Masuru, in childhood. Jack, the youngest of their living children, grew up with three sisters: Frances, Edith, and Amy.

World War II

Yamaguchi’s senior year ended abruptly on December 7, 1941, as schools on Oahu temporarily closed after the Pearl Harbor attack. Many schools later reopened with limited classes, mainly for younger students, while many high school students did not return to the classroom. 

Some public schools were reopened two months later with a four-day week, allowing children to assist in plantation fields. During this period, students carried gas masks at all times. Additionally, martial law was declared in Hawaiʻi, leading to various restrictions on daily life, including curfews and blackouts. 

Yamaguchi received his diploma in 1942 and registered for the draft. Yamaguchi took a job as a salesman for Deteor Jewelers in downtown Honolulu. After being let go after a year, he found a job as a photographer for a local photography studio.

Homefront

Japanese Immigration to Hawaiʻi 

Japanese immigrants played a crucial role in shaping Hawaii’s history, particularly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as they became the backbone of the sugar plantation labor force. Starting in the 1880s, Japanese workers arrived in large numbers, encouraged by the Meiji government as a solution to rural economic struggles. Many early immigrants came from prefectures like Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, and Kumamoto. They endured harsh working conditions on plantations but gradually established vibrant communities, founding Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and Japanese language schools. They founded farming, fishing, and retail businesses, significantly shaping Hawaiʻi’s cultural and economic landscape.

Japanese American Community Contributions

The Japanese community in Hawaiʻi played a crucial role in supporting the Korean War through military service, humanitarian aid, and economic contributions. Many second-generation Japanese Americans (Nisei), including veterans of the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, re-enlisted or were called back to serve. Their language skills were vital in roles such as interpreters, translators, and intelligence officers for U.S. and United Nations forces.

Beyond military service, the community actively participated in war relief efforts. They organized fundraising drives through Buddhist temples and local groups, collecting money, food, clothing, and medical supplies to assist Korean civilians affected by the war. Their contributions provided essential aid during the conflict.

Economically, Japanese American businesses in Hawaiʻi supported the war effort by supplying goods through agriculture and construction. Many worked in Hawaiʻi’s ports, military supply chains, and defense industries, ensuring steady logistical support for U.S. forces. Their combined efforts demonstrated both loyalty and resilience in aiding the war effort.

Military Experience

World War II

On March 12, 1945, Yamaguchi was drafted into the U.S. Army for the duration of the war or any other emergency, plus six months, at the President’s discretion or as mandated by law. He was assigned to the Army Pictorial Service (APS) which was established in 1942, to supply photographers to the warzones and home front. However, World War II ended on September 2, 1945, before he could be deployed into combat. Instead, he served in Hawaiʻi and re-enlisted on August 10, 1948.

Korean War

Sergeant First Class Yamaguchi re-enlisted on June 9, 1950, opting to continue his service at the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) Army Signal Corps Laboratory at Fort Shafter in Honolulu. Just 16 days later, on June 25, 1950, the Korean War erupted when North Korea launched an invasion of South Korea after years of mounting tensions on the peninsula.

On September 30, 1951, Yamaguchi was promoted to staff photographer for USARPAC. He re-enlisted again on June 9, 1953, extending his commitment for another six years. By 1961, he was a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in charge of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Laboratory at Fort Shafter.

DASPO Documents the Vietnam War

In 1954, after France’s defeat in Vietnam, the U.S. backed South Vietnam’s anti-communist government. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F.  Kennedy sent military advisors. In 1964, the Gulf of Tonkin incident led to the U.S. escalating its role, launching bombing campaigns and deploying combat troops in 1965.

In 1961, Sergeant First Class Jack Yamaguchi re-enlisted with the Army Signal Corps at Fort Shafter, Hawaiʻi. In 1962, the Army created the Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO), an elite combat photography unit designed to document military operations in Vietnam. Approved by President Kennedy, DASPO provided high-quality visual records for analysis, training, and public awareness. DASPO photographers had rapid deployment capabilities, using any available transport, including helicopters, to reach the front lines. Their work played a crucial role in capturing military history with unprecedented immediacy and accuracy.

Unlike conventional Army photographers, DASPO operated independently, reporting directly to the Army Chief of Staff. With unrestricted access to combat zones, the unit could deploy swiftly without waiting for formal orders. Sergeant First Class Jack Yamaguchi led DASPO CONUS (Continental United States). According to Captain William “Bill” San Hamel, Yamaguchi was

the original officer in charge as a sergeant of—at the Army Pictorial Center. I think the first CONUS team of DASPO that they put together Jack was the OIC (Officer in Charge). How do you make a sergeant OIC? They did . . . But Jack’s a pretty sharp guy. He was quite a character.

Yamaguchi, likely handpicked for DASPO due to his background in the Army Signal Corps and Korean War experience, played a significant role as a combat photographer.

Headquartered at Fort Shafter, DASPO’s Pacific Detachment became the central hub for documenting the Vietnam War. The unit was divided into three teams: Team Alpha in South Korea, Team Bravo in Thailand, and Team Charlie in Vietnam. Team Charlie, based in Hawaiʻi, frequently moved between Thailand and Vietnam, embedding with combat units for three-month tours. Operating out of “The Villa” in Saigon, DASPO photographers endured the same harsh conditions as soldiers, capturing the war’s raw reality. One of his notable contributions includes a photograph of First Cavalry Division infantrymen near An Khe, Vietnam for which he won an Army Photographic Agency Award in 1966.

On August 31, 1968, Yamaguchi retired from service.

Veteran Experience

Family Life

A little over a month before the outbreak of the Korean War, Jack Yamaguchi married Nancy Mae Young on May 2, 1950. The couple had two daughters, Lynne and Kim. Nancy worked as an advertising executive in Honolulu.

Passion for Photography

Outside of the Army, Yamaguchi pursued his love for photography. In November 1952, he was elected Vice President of the Hawaii Color Pictorialists Club. After his discharge, he worked as an advertising and motion picture photographer in Honolulu throughout the early 1970s before transitioning into new passions.

Entrepreneurship and Entertainment

Beyond photography, Yamaguchi was an entrepreneur. Alongside his close friend William San Hamel, he also ventured into the entertainment business in Vietnam, organizing live performances for military clubs. They brought acts from the Philippines and other countries to entertain American troops.

Orchids Pacifica, Inc.

A lifelong orchid enthusiast, Yamaguchi had been growing orchids since childhood. He reportedly named a hybrid orchid after his fallen photographer, Kermit Yoho. In 1973, he and his partners founded Orchids Pacifica, Inc., with the goal of creating Hawaiʻi’s largest export nursery. Following the closure of the Kohala Sugar Company, Yamaguchi sought to provide employment by developing a new industry. The venture was funded through State and County Task Force funds and private investments. However, due to construction delays and personal setbacks, the business closed in 1986.

Commemoration

Sergeant First Class Jack H. Yamaguchi’s legacy is one of service, resilience, and artistry. A veteran of three wars—World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War—he dedicated his life to documenting history through the lens of his camera. As a combat photographer, Yamaguchi’s work captured the realities of war, preserving moments of bravery, sacrifice, and humanity on the front lines.

Beyond his military service, he was a pioneer in visual storytelling, shaping how the world saw the American soldier’s experience. His contributions to the Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO) set a standard for military photography, ensuring that history would be recorded with both accuracy and impact.

Jack Yamaguchi’s dedication extended beyond photography. He was an entrepreneur and orchid grower. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he built a life filled with creativity, perseverance, and service.

On February 19, 2000, Jack Yamaguchi passed away in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, at the age of 76. He was laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. His work and memory live on—not just in the images he captured, but in the lives he touched and the stories he preserved for future generations.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

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Clark, Hugh. “Job progress is slow at Orchids Pacifica.” Honolulu Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, HI], March 5, 1975. Newspapers.com (166020435). 

Clark, Hugh. Yamaguchi with orchids: a slow operation. Photograph. Honolulu Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, HI], March 5, 1975. Newspapers.com (166020435). 

Dances of Korea. Advertisement. Honolulu Star-Bulletin [Honolulu, HI], September 11, 1950. Newspapers.com (166146066).  

General Trudeau greets Sergeant First Class Jack H. Yamaguchi . . .  Photograph. Honolulu Star-Bulletin [Honolulu, HI], July 28, 1961. Newspapers.com (156266899).  

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“Orchid firm exec pleads no contest.” Honolulu Star-Advertiser [Honolulu, HI], October 23, 1975. Newspapers.com (166147058). 

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William San Hamel. Oral History. August 3, 2015. Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/sites/default/files/William_San_Hamel_Transcript.pdf. 

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Bradford Mohr. “Department of the Army Special Photographic Office 1962-1974.” Speech presented in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Vietnam Center and Archive Association Portal, Texas Tech University Vietnam Center and Archive. http://www.vietnamproject.ttu.edu/daspo/notes.html. 

Davis, Michael. “Combat Photographers Talk about ‘Shooting’ the War in Vietnam.” National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/vietnam-photographers. 

“Dendrobium Memoria Keith Yoho, J.Yamaguchi 1966.” Orchid Roots. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://orchidroots.com/display/summary/orchidaceae/100059510/. 

Department of the Army Special Photographic Office (DASPO) Pacific Photographer Patch. Photograph. Pritzker Military Museum & Library. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/museum/past-exhibits/faces-war-photography-front-lines-vietnam/introduction. 

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“Jack Hiroshi Yamaguchi.” Find a Grave. Last modified June 27, 2011. Accessed February 19, 2025.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72064853/jack-hiroshi-yamaguchi. 

“Jack Hiroshi Yamaguchi.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/JACKHYAMAGUCHI/26B500B.

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.