"Bill Kizuka Dies at Naval Hospital" announced the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian.

Makio William "Bill" Kizuka was born in Watsonville, California, on April 22, 1931, to Mr. and Mrs. T. Kizuka. His parents had emigrated from Japan and his father worked in the Pajaro Valley as a farm operator-manager. Also included in the Kizuka family were his brother Shige and sister Lillian. In the spring of 1942 he was evacuated with his family to the Japanese-American internment camp near Poston, Arizona. Following the war, the family returned to the Pajaro Valley and Kizuka entered Watsonville High School, where he graduated in 1949. After high school, he enrolled in Hartnell College in Salinas, completing its two-year program in 1951.

In June of 1951, Makio joined the US Navy and attended boot camp at the US Naval Training Center at San Diego. After completing basic training, Seaman First Class Makio "Bill" Kizuka remained at the naval facility in San Diego where he suffered a heart attack that took his life on February 12, 1952.

Makio "Bill" Kizuka's remains were returned to Watsonville and following a funeral service at the Westview Presbyterian Church, were buried in Pajaro Valley Memorial Park.

(CBR; NARA2, WWII Japanese Internment Records; WRP February 16, 1952 1:1, Pajaro Valley Cemetery headstone)