Retired Lt. Gen. Allen K. Ono, the Army’s first three-star Asian-American general, was buried with full military honors Friday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Ono, 82, died Aug. 1.

Throughout his 35 years in the Army, Ono always stressed that he was the beneficiary of the sacrifices and courage of the nisei Japanese-American soldiers of World War II, according to the eulogy given at his funeral Friday.

The eulogy noted that in 1995, at a Camp Shelby Army training camp reunion in southern Mississippi, Ono pointed to the three stars on his shoulders and told the members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Battalion and their families that the nisei soldiers created the opportunities for others to follow.

During a 2005 speech at Altus Air Force Base in observance of Asian Pacific Heritage Observance Day, Ono said, “Every minute of my career, I was reminded of my obligation to bring honor to my parents, the Japanese-American community and to the Japanese-American soldiers of World War II who paved my way.”

“In the 1980s I returned to Hawaii on leave after seven years away. My mother asked that I put on my green uniform, complete with ribbons and badges, to visit friends and relatives. We made numerous house visits. I was the object of curiosity and attention as my mother proudly showed me off as if to say that we can move from immigrant status to three-star generals in one generation despite the color of our skin and shape of eyes.”

In his listing in “Who’s Who in America,” Ono wrote, “I was completely and constantly aware that I am a Japanese American. It meant that I worked harder, moved quicker and, by habit, critiqued my actions repeatedly from every perspective. I had a focused and fierce drive to build a reputation of professional competence and high personal integrity with no blemish of shame on my family and heritage.”

His Army career included assignments at numerous mainland posts as well as Korea, Vietnam, Europe and Panama. Among the posts were commander of the Army Recruiting Command and his final Army position, deputy chief of staff for personnel, 1986-1990, through which Ono was responsible for human resources policy for the Army.

He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service during the Vietnam War.

In 2010 Ono was inducted into the Army’s Adjutant General’s Corps Hall of Fame.

When he retired from the Army in 1990, he returned to Hawaii and served as executive vice president and a member of the board of directors at American Savings Bank for eight years. Ono was a member of the board of the Military Officers Association of America and chairman of the Military Retiree Council.

Born in Kalihi, Ono graduated from Kaimuki High School in 1951 and went on to the University of Hawaii. He earned his Army commission in 1955 through the University of Hawaii Army ROTC program.

He is survived by sons Dr. Craig M. Ono, a retired Army Reserve colonel, and Dr. Curtis A. Ono; brother Sam; and four grandchildren.