Mrs. Hiroko Nemoto Craig

Hiroko Nemoto Craig was born on the outskirts of Tokyo Japan on September 6, 1931. She had many siblings and grew up in a typical Japanese household. She was a good student and was athletic, playing various sports, including volleyball, despite her short stature. When she was 8 years old, she was witness to war torn Japan. Japan entered the war with the United States, just after her 10th birthday. As the war raged on, she was witness to fire bombings of her city. When the war was over, she continued her education under occupied US rule and learned English to gain employment in the military exchange system. As a high school graduate and teenager, she began working at the military exchange. Carl Craig Sr. was a South Carolinian and was wounded in the Korean conflict, earning his Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart. He was sent to Japan to convalesce, and there, at a military exchange, he met Hiroko. With the MacArthur imposed interracial marriage ban, Carl Sr. was forced to return to the US for a short period before coming back to Japan and marrying Hiroko on March 11, 1953. After the marriage, Hiroko and Carl Sr. went back stateside to South Carolina. She was a strong-willed and focused woman. Being Japanese in rural South Carolina in the early 1950’s presented many obstacles for her, but she challenged and conquered all of them! In 1956, she gave birth to a son at Ft. Jackson, SC. She wanted to name her son Douglas MacArthur because the General had done so much to recover war-torn Japan but decided against it when she found out they would call her son Doug. Her neighbor in Columbia suggested Carl Jr, after her husband. Soon after the birth of her son, the family moved back to Japan. While in Japan on that tour, she gave birth to a daughter, Karen Faye. Upon return to the US in 1961, she gave birth to a second daughter, Celia Denise. Following another tour to Japan from 1964-1969, Hiroko returned to Columbia, SC, when Carl Sr. retired from the Army. She raised her three children with a strict Japanese discipline and strived to ensure that the three Craig children would be the first to graduate college in the Craig family. All three graduated college and received advanced degrees as well. Her son was an Air Force officer and Pilot, her daughters became a doctor and a nurse. The three children gave Hiroko 12 grandchildren and in turn, those grandchildren gave her 7 great grandchildren. She dedicated her later life to raising and caring for her grandchildren and supporting her family in their careers. She was unselfish and dedicated to her task and the children have all benefited from her care. After Carl Sr passed away in 2017, Hiroko continued to live in the home that they purchased in 1969. After selling the home, she moved into a senior living facility in Lexington, SC. At the senior facility, she made many friends, enjoyed bingo and playing poker with her other senior friends. As her health declined, she still strived to be a contributor to the facility and its members. She graciously gave her time and spicy personality to the appreciation of all the members at the facility. Her son visited often and spent time with her, along with her granddaughter Brooke, and son-in-law David, who took active participation with her life. She was able to live a comfortable and enjoyable senior life. Sadly, Hiroko’s health was in decline and despite numerous physical setbacks, she battled to stay relevant and happy. She was in good spirits and jovial the day before her death. Even when things were grim in the Emergency Room the night she was admitted, she was able to get the entire ER team to chuckle with her attitude. She went to bed with her son, David, Brooke, and her great grandchildren Ava and Camden present. She smiled and acknowledged their presence. Her son was the last to look her in the eyes and say Good Night, not knowing the next morning would bring her end. She was supposed to recover and continue her wonderful life, but she died quietly and peacefully on July 16, 2024, a couple of months short of her 93rd birthday. Hiroko is survived by one sibling, Yasue, a younger sister in Japan, her son Carl, daughters, Karen and Celia, 12 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. Hiroko’s funeral is scheduled for July 26, 2024, at 2 o'clock at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia. She will be interred alongside her husband Carl Sr. A celebration of life reception will be held at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, following the funeral.

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Mrs. Hiroko Nemoto Craig

September 6, 1931 - July 16, 2024