Nineteenth century writer Josh Billings once said, “Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there.”
Boyle Station Letter Carrier Sadao Nakasone has proven to be just like that postage stamp, sticking to the Postal Service for some 50 years with no plans of retiring in the near future.
Nakasone spent three years in the U.S. Army before he entered the Post Office Department back in the 1964 after receiving an application in the mail offering employment. He completed the application, took the test, and was hired a short time later. He spent two years working part-time before he became a permanent employee.
Nakasone started his career at Boyle Station and has been there ever since. He has only served two delivery routes his entire postal career.
He credits his parents for his excellent work ethic. “My dad worked on a sugar cane plantation in Hawaii when I was growing up. Even though he worked long, arduous days to care for our family, he never complained,” Nakasone said. “I learned from his tireless example.”
Nakasone was surprised recently when Los Angeles Postmaster Mark Anderson presented him with his 50-year service pin. “I was honored to have bestowed on Mr. Nakasone this outstanding achievement,” Postmaster Anderson said. “ It is quite a feat for an employee to dedicate his life to one organization for 50 years.”
“When I received the award, I felt wonderful. I thank God. I couldn’t believe it,” Nakasone said.
When asked what advice he would give to other employee’s, he said, “I would tell them to pay attention to their job, come to work every day and save your sick leave.” Nakasone practices what he preaches. In his 50-year tenure with the Postal Service, he has rarely missed a day’s work and has saved over 4,000 hours of sick leave.
“I love to get up in the morning and come to work,” Nakasone said. “I just really love my job.”
