Harry Akune oral history interview, September 18, 1999

Akune describes the life-changing death of his mother, resulting in his move to Japan.He describes how difficult it was to adjust to his new life, but he focused all of his time on his studies in school. His father allowed him to move back to…

Akune recalls tensions between Japan and the United States while living in Japan and was therefore, not surprised at the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

As a result of President Roosevelt signing the Declaration of War against Japan, Harry and his…

Harry Akune recalls meeting his wife in Chicago after the war. He describes his Japanese language training at the Military Intelligence Service Language School at Camp Savage, where they studied Japanese military language. Half-way through his…

Akune continues with his experiences with Japanese prisoners of war. He describes how he preferred to be on the front lines rather than at General Headquarters, and how different interrogation techniques were when preformed on the front lines. He…

Harry Akune continues to talk about his experience with the parachute landing on Corregidor Island -- he had been separated from his team, but was luckily not identified as "the enemy." After Corregidor Island, he was sent to Luzon, where he was…

Harry Akune talks about his friendship with a solider of the Philippine Army. He describes his military service during the Occupation of Japan. During this time, he was reunited with his father and brothers. He was also promoted to a Second…

Harry Akune describes how "victim mentality" affected his search for accounting positions after college. He describes what being American means to him and suggests all Japanese Americans need to embrace the rights of American citizenship. He…