World War II--Veteran history]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> World War II--Nisei soldiers]]> Allied Occupation of Japan]]> Mitsui, Sam: narrator]]> Okinaka, Bob: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2003 July 26]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington]]> Allied Occupation of Japan]]> World War II--Military and Government Entities--Counterintelligence Corps (CIC)]]> World War II--Veteran history]]> World War II--Nisei soldiers]]> Mitsui, Sam: narrator]]> Okinaka, Bob: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2003 July 26]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington]]> Allied Occupation of Japan]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Resistance and dissidence]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Tule Lake]]> World War II--Nisei soldiers]]> World War II--Military and Government Entities--Counterintelligence Corps (CIC)]]> Mitsui, Sam: narrator]]> Okinaka, Bob: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2003 July 26]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington]]> Identity and values--American Japanese]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Tule Lake]]> Race--Discrimination]]> World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> Mitsui, Sam: narrator]]> Okinaka, Bob: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2003 July 26]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington]]> Miya, Kazuo: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Miya, Kazuo: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Miya, Kazuo: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>
In February 1945, James received his Army draft and went to Texas for basic training. Basic training lasted four months, and he went overseas to Germany.

At the end of 1945, James goes overseas to Dorndorf, Germany, for five to six months with the occupation forces. He says Dorndorf, Germany, was rebuilt by the American Army and did not look affected by wartime. It was evident the United States was trying to keep the peace by helping Germany rebuild.

After several months in Germany, James was discharged in 1946. He enrolled in college to learn about agriculture and worked on the family farm. James was married for 40 years to Susie, and they have five children and four grandchildren.

James discusses the contributions of the Japanese Americans during World War Two. James loves the United States and says it is the best place to live. ]]>
Fujii, James: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

When Pearl Harbor was attacked, James was a sophomore in high school. He recalls evacuation and going to the Portland Stockyards. Later the family volunteers to work on a farm in Nyssa, OR, pulling sugar beets.

In Nyssa, James was on a boxing team in high school, and he also played baseball. James's boxing class was 120, and his record was five draws and five wins (within two years).

The Farming Servicing Administration (FSA) ran the tent camp in Nyssa. James recalls the housing was awful. However, his mother took the responsibility of cooking the meals and making the tent space livable for the family. The Fujii family lived at the tent camp for two years, and James recalled the winter months being cold.

At Nyssa, there were many people from Troutdale and Gresham area. Ten miles away from Nyssa, there was a CCC camp. The families from Nyssa were supposed to move there in the third year. However, the war ended. The CCC camp was an upgrade from Nyssa's tent camp.

While the Fujii family was at Nyssa, James' brother, Kazuo, went into service and visited the family on furlough. James recalls that wartime changed Kazuo's personality.

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Fujii, James: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

James' father, Bukichi, was the boss of the family and a respected leader in the Troutdale Gresham Community. James' mother, Yoshino, was a hardworking and dedicated mother to ten children. She made sure the children respected and listened to their father.

James discusses the hierarchy in their family. Besides James' mother caring for the children, James' sisters took care of them too. James recalls his first childhood home was small, but later they moved to a bigger house on a farm.

All the children attended English school and Japanese school. James and his siblings were born with Japanese names. However, they received English names from their teachers because they could not pronounce their Japanese.

Growing up in the Troutdale area, the Japanese American community was close-knit and active. The Buddhist temple was a gathering place for church services and social gatherings. At least once a month, there was a social event for the community.
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Fujii, James: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>
Community activities]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Military service--Veterans' organizations]]> Sato, Kenichi: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 July 28]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington ]]> World War II--Asiatic-Pacific Theater --Philippine Islands]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Sato, Kenichi: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 July 28]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington ]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training--Fort Snelling]]> Identity and values]]> Sato, Kenichi: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 July 28]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington ]]> Social activities]]> Hawaii-- Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> Education]]> Sato, Kenichi: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 July 28]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington ]]> Identity and values--Family]]> Social activities]]> Industry and employment]]> Sato, Kenichi: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 July 28]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Seattle, Washington ]]> Community activities]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Identity and values--Family]]> Kaji, Bruce: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 April 21]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Industry and employment]]> Community activities]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Kaji, Bruce: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 April 21]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Allied Occupation of Japan]]> Military service--Post-World War II service]]> World War II--Asiatic-Pacific Theater --Philippine Islands]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]> Kaji, Bruce: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 April 21]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Manzanar]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps]]> World War II--Leaving Camp]]> Kaji, Bruce: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 April 21]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Manzanar]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Living conditions]]> Arts and literature]]> Kaji, Bruce: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 April 21]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Child rearing]]> Community activities]]> Social activities]]> Kaji, Bruce: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 April 21]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Identity and values--Family]]> Industry and employment]]> Child rearing]]> Kaji, Bruce: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2002 April 21]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Social activities--Sports]]> Military service--Veteran history]]> Yoshino, Yoshito: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2007 March 24]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team]]> World War II--European Theater]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Social activities]]> Yoshino, Yoshito: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2007 March 24]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Identity and values--Family]]> World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> Education]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training]]> Yoshino, Yoshito: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2007 March 24]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Military service--Post-World War II service]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Industry and employment]]>
After his Navy commitment ends, he gets married and works in the private aviation sector until the 1970's. During his time in the private sector, he works on the Apollo Spacecraft at Rockwell International. In the 1970's, Kitaoka works at the City of Los Angeles as an engineer until retirement. He shares advice for future generations and discusses the meaning to be an American Citizen and the value of freedom. ]]>
Kitaoka, Harvey: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 January 23]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>
Military service--Post-World War II service]]> World War II--Germany]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]>
After being discharge from the military, Kitaoka serves in the Korean War. He goes to navy flight training and receiving his wings December 1952. He describes basic training and advance training to become a pilot. As a pilot he flies a F9F5 Straight Wing Jet and experiences an emergency during a flight mission. He discusses the procedure of ejecting out of flight during an emergency and landing the jet.


]]>
Kitaoka, Harvey: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 January 23]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>
World War II--American Concentration Camps--Jerome]]> Japanese Americans--World War II]]> World War II--Military service]]>
Kitaoka reflects on the United States Government reasons to intern Japanese Americans and the term "evacuation". On
December 1944, Kitaoka is drafted and called to Camp Walters on February 1945 for Basic Training. When he goes overseas, his duty in occupation is Honor Guard.]]>
Kitaoka, Harvey: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 January 23]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>
World War II--American Concentration Camps--Jerome]]> World War II--Temporary Detention Facilities--Santa Anita]]> Japanese Americans--World War II]]>
Before entering camp, Kitaoka remembers feeling fear and nervousness of the unknowing. Evacuees are only allow to bring what they can carry into camp. The Kitaoka family is sent to Santa Anita Temporary Detention Center. Kitaoka recalls the living condition of the barracks and horse stables. In camp, Kitaoka gets a job collecting meal tickets and makes $16 a month. Soon after, his family relocates to Jerome Concentration Camp and he gets an opportunity to leave camp. He leaves to Montana to work on a sugar beet farm for a few months and returns back to camp in the fall when the ground freezes. He recalls social activities and sports in camp.
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Kitaoka, Harvey: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 January 23]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>
Industry and employment--Agriculture]]> World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> Social activities]]>
On December 7, 1941 Kitaoka is working on the chicken farm and his brother learns about the Pearl Harbor bombing from the radio. He goes about his day as normal and goes to school the following day. However, he waits for the reaction of the United States Government since they are of Japanese descent. He has concerns for his Issei parents and what will unfold for their future. ]]>
Kitaoka, Harvey: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 January 23]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>
Social activities]]> Identity and values]]> Education]]>
Kitaoka attends school at Playa Del Rey and Venice School District. He discusses the social class level and economic level of his classmates. Kitaoka attends Venice High school for a semester before transferring to a high School in Norwalk. During Kitaoka's youth he enjoys listening to the radio. His favorite radio programs are Jack Armstrong, football games and boxing matches. Growing up Kitaoka helps with his family business after school.

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Kitaoka, Harvey: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 January 23]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>
Identity and values--Family]]> Education]]> Social activities]]>
During Kitaoka's formative school years, he also attends Japanese School and also helps out on the family 15 acre farm. He discusses influential teachers and values he learns from school. Kitaoka's favorite sport is Judo. He recalls judo matches, Nisei Week, and going to Little Tokyo to watch movies.


]]>
Kitaoka, Harvey: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 January 23]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>
Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Identity and values--Family]]> Military service--Veteran history]]> Inami, Joe: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 06]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Fresno, California ]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]> World War II--Military and Government Entities--Counterintelligence Corps (CIC)]]> Inami, Joe: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 06]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Fresno, California ]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Jerome]]> Japanese Americans--World War II]]> World War II--Military service]]> Inami, Joe: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 06]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Fresno, California ]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Jerome]]> World War II--Temporary Detention Facilities-- Fresno]]> Japanese Americans--World War II]]> Inami, Joe: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 06]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Fresno, California ]]> World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> Education]]> Social activities]]> Inami, Joe: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 06]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Fresno, California ]]> Identity and values--Family]]> Education]]> Social activities]]> Inami, Joe: narrator]]> Yee, Govan: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 06]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Fresno, California ]]> World War II--Nisei soldiers]]> World War II--Veterans]]> Identity and values--Nisei]]> World War II--Monuments]]> World War II--Japanese Americans]]> Keegan, Christopher: narrator]]> Yahata, Craig: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 1999 June 07]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Las Vegas, Nevada]]> World War II--Casualties]]> World War II--Combat--Weapons--Grenades]]> World War II--Combat--Weapons--Artillery]]> World War II--European Theater]]> World War II--Military service--100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)]]> World War II--Nisei soldiers]]> Keegan, Christopher: narrator]]> Yahata, Craig: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 1999 June 07]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Las Vegas, Nevada ]]> World War II--European Theater]]> World War II--Military service--Travel]]> World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team]]> World War II--Military service]]> World War II--Italy]]> Keegan, Christopher: narrator]]> Yahata, Craig: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 1999 June 07]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Las Vegas, Nevada]]> Law and legislation--Executive Order 9066]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training--Camp Shelby]]> World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team]]> Race--Race relations]]> Race--Military segregation]]> Keegan, Christopher: narrator]]> Yahata, Craig: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 1999 June 07]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Las Vegas, Nevada]]> World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team]]> Race--Military segregation]]> Race--Race relations]]> World War II--Department of Justice Internment Camps]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training--Camp Shelby]]> Keegan, Christopher: narrator]]> Yahata, Craig: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 1999 June 07]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Las Vegas, Nevada ]]> Education--Private schools]]> Education--Higher education]]> Identity and values--Family]]> Race--Race relations]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training]]> Keegan, Christopher: narrator]]> Yahata, Craig: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 1999 June 07]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Las Vegas, Nevada ]]> Mitsui, Sam: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> Mitsui, Sam: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>