Theodore Kanamine

Theodore Shigeru Kanamine (August 29, 1929 – March 2, 2023) was a United States Army brigadier general and the first Japanese-American active duty general in the United States military. Serving in the military police, he led the investigation of the My Lai massacre in 1968.^[1]

Theodore S. Kanamine
Born	(1929-08-29)August 29, 1929 Hollywood, California, U.S.
Died	March 2, 2023(2023-03-02) (aged 93) Naples, Florida, U.S.
Buried	Sarasota Veterans National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Years of service	1955–1981
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	Army Criminal Investigation Division Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Commands	716th Military Police Battalion
Battles / wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Bronze Star Medal Legion of Merit (2) Meritorious Service Medal (2)

Born in California, Kanamine and his family were sent to an internment camp when he was 12-years-old.^[2]

Early life

Kanamine was born in Hollywood, California, on August 29, 1929. His parents were Japanese-American immigrants and he had a younger sister.^[1] In 1942, at age 12, Kanamine and his family were incarcerated in an internment camp in Jerome, Arkansas following the signing of Executive Order 9066. After their release, the family moved to Nebraska.^[3] He attended the University of Nebraska, where he studied criminal psychology; he later enrolled in the university's College of Law, graduating in 1954.^[3] That year, he married Mary Stuben, a fellow graduate. Due to Nebraska state laws restricting interracial marriages, the couple wed in Council Bluffs, Iowa.^[2]

Career

After commissioning as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, Kanamine joined active service with a military police unit in 1955. He would later serve with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam in Saigon and participated in the Tet Offensive.^[4] He led the investigation of the My Lai massacre; the 1968 incident saw soldiers from the 23rd Infantry Division kill hundreds of unarmed people. During his career, Kanamine served as an aide to General Creighton Abrams, who recommended his promotion to brigadier general.^[5] In 1979, while in the capacity of provost marshal of United States Army, Europe and Seventh United States Army, he oversaw efforts to combat drug abuse amongst American armed forces in Germany.^[6] After returning to the States and serving as chief of staff of the First Army, he retired in 1981.^[7][1]