The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society (SBCGS) will host family historian Tommy Dyo in a free talk titled Dyo and Fukui Journeys: Immigrant Ancestors’ Stories of Courage, Resilience and of Patriots Imprisoned.
The SBCGS meeting runs 9:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, July 19 at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara. Dyo’s talk will start at 11 a.m.
Dyo’s presentation will also be available via Zoom with advance registration. To attend virtually, register at SBGen.org.
The journeys of Dyo’s immigrant ancestors are sagas of epic risks, incredible successes, profound setbacks, and the unyielding spirit of Japanese American immigrants.
Dyo, a Yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese immigrant descendant), is committed to preserving Japanese American history, and his passion is rooted in his family’s experiences, SBCGS said.
He will talk about his family stories and historical research about both sets of grandparents and their immigration and Japanese incarceration experience.
On Dyo’s maternal side, his earliest immigrant maternal ancestor arrived in Maui, Hawaii, from Hiroshima, Japan, in 1885.
His paternal grandfather immigrated from Sendai, Japan, to Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1906. He was hired by the U.S. government as a “scout” during the Mexican Border War, raised his family in El Paso, Texas, and rose to wealth as a silver miner.
After losing his fortune due to political events, he settled his family in Carpinteria, before being forcibly removed during World War II.
Dyo’s family history is profoundly marked by World War II.
Under Executive Order 9066, his maternal family was incarcerated at the Santa Anita Assembly Center and Heart Mountain Relocation Center.
His paternal family was sent from Carpinteria to the Tulare Assembly Center, and then to the Gila River Relocation Center. His paternal grandfather endured further transfers to Lordsburg and Santa Fe before the family was finally reunited at the Crystal City Internment Camp in Texas.
For the in-person event, doors open at 9:30 a.m. for refreshments and informal discussions with the Society’s Special Interest Groups, covering a variety of topics from getting started in genealogy to writing family histories.
A short business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by Dyo’s presentation.
For more about the Genealogical Society, visit SBGen.org.
Dyo has dedicated himself to Christian ministry since 1988. In 2006, he joined Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), serving as the national executive eirector for Epic Movement until July 2015, when he shifted his focus to developing strategic partnerships and networking.
He lives in Long Beach, California.