During World War Two, Bob Fletcher played a remarkable role by looking after the farms of three Japanese-American families while they were interned. He made sure their farms continued to operate, covering their taxes and mortgages, and preventing them from losing everything. At one point, he even faced gunfire for supporting them.
Before the war, Bob Fletcher worked as an agricultural inspector in California. Helping Japanese-Americans during this time was not a popular decision. He faced significant backlash from the community for his actions, including being ostracized by friends and neighbors. In later years, the Japanese-American community recognized and honored Fletcher for his selfless actions during a time of great prejudice.
As the attack on Pearl Harbor and the impending eviction of West Coast Japanese Americans approached, the Tsukamoto family from Florin made an unconventional proposal to Fletcher. They asked if he would manage the flame tokay grape farms of two friends, covering their taxes and mortgages while they were excluded. In return, he could keep any profits. Despite being single at the time, Fletcher agreed, leaving his job and taking over the farms of the Okamoto, Nitta, and Tsukamoto families, totaling ninety acres. In doing so, he defied popular opinion that largely favored the exclusion of Japanese Americans and opposed their return. Fletcher even came under fire while inside the Tsukamotos' barn.
Despite having no prior experience with grapes, Fletcher dedicated himself to tending the farms for the next three years, with assistance from his new wife, Teresa Cassieri. As agreed upon, he covered the mortgages and taxes but retained only half of the profits, banking the rest. When the families returned from their internment in the fall of 1945, they found their farms and homes intact, thanks to Teresa's efforts, and their share of the profits waiting for them. Even after the war, Fletcher continued to assist the families, sometimes purchasing supplies and equipment for them when local businesses refused to sell to them.
He lived a long life, passing away at the age of 101 in 2013.
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