He finally found Tsutomu Ogata, 16 years too late. Ogata is buried in Section B, Grave Number 5-B of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Yamamoto was overcome with emotion the moment he laid eyes on the burial marker of Ogata, who had fought in Italy with the famed 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team. Ogata died on Oct. 4, 1989.

"I finally made my goal of finding him," said Yamamoto moments later, still choking up. "And I have very much sorrow because he passed away. I should have come over here much earlier, then I could have seen him and shook his hand.

"I spent 50 years trying to find him."

Ogata, of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, became a chef after the war. Family photo

But Ogata, who had been an infantry cook in the war, spoke Japanese. Yamamoto said that although Ogata was quiet, he told him of his experiences on a Hawaiian plantation camp, and talked about such subjects as judo, which Ogata practiced.

He said Ogata shared his meals, was always reassuring and even taught him some English. Yamamoto was forever touched by the young soldier's kindness.

After the occupation, the two friends went their separate ways. Ogata returned to his home in Hawai'i and became a hotel chef. Yamamoto ended up in the financial securities business in Japan.

Over the years, Yamamoto said he searched in vain from Japan for the whereabouts of Ogata. Meanwhile, Ogata had no idea his friend from Japan was trying to contact him.

Six years ago, Yamamoto's son-in-law George Maddock, an audit director for a financial firm in New York, took over the search for "Sgt. Ogata" using the Internet.

With little to go on, he eventually was able to find Sgt. Ogata's full name. He also learned that Ogata had received a Purple Heart and had been awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Even then finding Ogata was difficult because he was not married, had no children and all his brothers and sisters had died except for an 80-year-old sister living in Japan.

Leads from veterans associations in Japan led to connections in Washington, D.C., California and finally Hawai'i, said Maddock, who accompanied Yamamoto to Punchbowl.

"It's been a long and winding road to get here," said Maddock, who was finally able to find Ogata's nephew and wife, George and Jean Ogata, who live on O'ahu. The Ogatas informed Maddock that Sgt. Ogata had died.

"My father-in-law was saddened when I told him. But, I think he was prepared for it since Sgt. Ogata was older than him. And, he's been happy to come here."

Yamamoto was pleased to meet the Ogatas and piece together some details of his friend's life.

Jean Ogata described Tsutomu Ogata as a very private person who occasionally dropped by the house for a visit or a meal. She said he was a bachelor who lived for many years on the Neighbor Islands, and collected shells from which he liked to make things such as picture frames.

"He never spoke of the war at all," she said.

But Sonsei Nakamura, 89, who was at the cemetery yesterday and who served with Ogata in Italy in 1942 and '43, didn't mind talking about the war.

"Sgt. Ogata was a cook and he was quiet," Nakamura said. "And he was a very good man. He never caused any trouble, and was always very pleasant."

Yamamoto listened and nodded in agreement.

"I hope somewhere he's smiling," he said.