Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

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*****DUE TO THE WEATHER, THE INTERMENT TIME AND MILITARY HONORS WILL OCCURR UPON THE PROCESSIONS ARRIVAL AT THE MAIN GATE AT ARLINGTON WHICH COULD BE AS EARLY AS 2PM************
 
Jose passed away on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at the age of 91 years at the Burnett-Calvert Hospice House in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Relatives and friends are invited to Jose’s Life Celebration on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, Maryland where funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 12:30pm. Interment with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery(ANC) immediately following the funeral at 3pm (please arrive at the main gate by 2:30pm). Memorial contributions may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678. Please sign the guestbook.
 
Known to many as “Pepe” or “Uncle Pepe”, Jose was born on September 6, 1921 in Agana, Guam. The ninth child born to the late Dolores Santos Salas (Titang) and Francisco San Nicolas Taitano (Kueto), he was one of seventeen children. Jose married Concepcion Aguon Hamamoto on June 27, 1943. Together their union lasted 57 years. His wife, otherwise known as “Chong” or “Auntie Chong”, passed away on August 24, 2000. Jose lived in Guam, California, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.
 
Jose’s military career spanned 37 years with the U.S. Navy. He enlisted on December 21, 1938 and served on the following naval ships: USS R. L. BARNES (Oil Tank and Training Ship); USS PASSUMPSIC (AO-107); USS KISHWAUKEE (AOG-9); Cargo Handling Battalion TWO; and USS HOPEWELL (DD-681). During the period December 1941 to August 1944, the Japanese Forces held Jose as a Prisoner of War while occupying Guam during World War II. He retired from the U.S. Navy on December 1, 1976 at the rank of Senior Chief Yeoman, having earned and awarded the following medals: 9 Navy Good Conduct; China Service; American Defense Service; World War II Campaign (Asiatic-Pacific Medal); National Defense Service; Korean Service; and Vietnam Service. 

During his federal civil service career, Jose worked for the American Red Cross National Headquarters and Naval Telecommunications Command Headquarters, both in Washington, D.C. His retirement from federal service in September 1986 resulted in a combined military and civilian career spanning 48 years of faithful service to the U.S. federal government.
 
Jose is survived by his 7 children: Viola M. Combs, June R. Taitano, Dorothy O. Borja, Barbara Taitano-Welch, Eva S. Taitano-Herndon, Kenneth C. Taitano, and Dennis J. Taitano. In addition, he leaves behind 26 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, numerous relatives and friends, and a legacy of love, support and faith that lives forever in the hearts of those he touched.

Jose Salas Taitano

Jose Salas Taitano

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