Paul discusses what it means to be a Nisei soldier. Despite the Japanese Americans being classified as 4C, they wanted to serve their home country when they did not have to. The Nisei services show their bravery, loyalty, and patriotism than any other group.

The 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team is the most highly decorated unit with the medals and honors they receive. Paul explains why the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) worked as individuals. There are approximately 5,000 MIS men overseas. As a result, it is very hard for anyone to be recognized. Moreover, the MIS duties are confidential and not publicized. The Nisei soldiers are different types of soldiers and should be recognized. They help shorten the war.

In Washington DC, there is a recognition monument with Nisei soldiers' names engraved on it. In spite of being discriminated against, placed in camp, and not considered American citizens to serve, the Nisei became the best soldiers in the United States military. The Nisei soldiers should be remembered for their contributions.
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Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

Paul also goes to high schools and universities to speak to students about evacuation and his military service. Paul is a member of the Nikkei International Association. Nikkei International Association's goal is to maintain the relationship with other Japanese Americans overseas and promote the Japanese heritage. Later, Paul discovers he is part of a Fukushima-Ken Kenjin-Kai.

Paul explains he is active in the community because he likes helping others. Therefore, Paul teaches his children the value of helping others. Although, he does not share his wartime shares with his children. Paul's two daughters were active in the court cases for Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu, and Minoru Yasui. Therefore they are familiar with the Japanese American experience.

Paul discusses different ways of recording history through oral histories, books, and photographs. By recording history, the purpose is to retain the experiences of the Nisei to educate others. Paul loves photography and has over 400 albums of photos. He likes to record events of other people through photographs. ]]>
Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

In Gardena, Paul recalls being discriminated against by the Elks Lodge when they would not accept him and Ken Nakaoka as members. In Carson, there is an Elks Lodge chapter, and Paul joins. Paul becomes active in the Elks Lodge to demonstrate that Japanese Americans can be good members and there should be no prejudices.

Paul's motto is to help others. Even though Paul is active in the Republican Party, Paul says he doesn't help just the Republican Party, but he helps people who can do a job for the community. Paul has helped with passing a bill for acupuncture therapy, naming of the highways after Nisei Veterans, and helping Daniel Inouye and others to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Paul feels it is important to remember and honor people.

Paul explains Veterans Affairs is a lot of legislative work called lobbying. Paul is a lobbyist for the Veterans Affairs, a Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, and a National Representative Legislative Representative from California. The goal is to have the President, the Head of the Veterans Administration, and the legislators work to help veterans.

Nisei veterans are important to Paul. He discusses raising funds for monuments at Evergreen, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), and the Go For Broke Monument. He also helps raise funds for Japanese American National Museum (JANM). If there is a good project, Paul likes to help and be involved.
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Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

In 1980, Paul is invited to come to Washington DC and is hired as Executive Director of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC). Paul hires Nisei staff members to help him. One of the tasks of Paul's job is to have hearings throughout the different places of the United States. He asks several Japanese American organizations, one of them is the Japanese American Citizens League, to help gather Japanese Americans to share their experience about evacuation.

Paul has hearings across the United States which leads to the report. He explains why his name is not on the report because he is an evacuee and spends time at Manzanar. Therefore, an attorney is hired to write the report. With the report, the Congressional Senate, and Congress, Paul can subpoena anyone he wants. Paul wants to subpoena the people who made the decisions for evacuation, such as General DeWitt.

After Congress reads the report, Congress recommends reparations be given, and the head of the Government would officially apologize. Later, President Reagan asks Paul to stay to run the Veterans Administration. Pauls knows a lot about veterans and the help they need from his wartime experiences. When Paul retires, he recalls President Reagan giving him a customize belt buckle.

Paul stays busy during his retirement volunteering at the Veterans and Foreign War and Disable American Veterans. He says it is important to help others. Pauls discusses the morals and values passed on to him by his Issei parents, and he passes the same teachings to his children. Paul has three children and five grandchildren.

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Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

After Japan, Paul has one more year of service. He goes to Fort Lewis, WA. He is assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division, 23rd Regiment, First Sergeant of the Cannon Company. Paul reflects on working with General MacArthur and says he is a good leader.

When Paul is discharged, he faces challenges finding a job and buying a home due to discrimination. Paul is able to persuade a housing contractor to sell homes to Japanese Americans. Paul goes into the real estate business with the motivation to help other Japanese Americans.

Paul establishes his real estate business in Gardena and is active with the city. The next phase of Paul's life is in politics. Paul becomes the Executive Director of Commissioner of Wartime and Relocation Internment of Civilians.

Besides politics, Paul focuses on recording the stories of camp life, 442nd, and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Paul's story goes to MGM studios, and a movie is produced. The film is called Go For Broke, and it is a success.

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Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

After training, Paul goes overseas. In New Guinea, Paul and fifteen Nisei MP and set up a POW camp. His job is to interview the POWs. The next step for General MacArthur is to set up the next landing spot in the Philippines.

General MacArthur's next landing is Leyte Islands. Paul and the MP set up the POW camp for interrogation. Paul recalls the capture of a Japanese sergeant, and he gives the locations of the cannons fired at night. Besides the POWs intel, Paul's team gets the radio signal of the Japanese soldiers and hears their conversations. Paul recalls the Japanese Navy attack and saving the Japanese soldiers from the ship.

Later, Paul receives orders to go to Australia and join the Australian Army unit for translation. Paul and the Australian Army travel to Borneo because there are still many Japanese troops in that area. Paul remembers a case of interrogating a Japanese soldier in the hospital who is a Nisei drafted into the Japanese Army.

In Borneo, there are snipers, and Paul is assigned guards for protection. One of Paul's guards is shot by a sniper, and he tries to save him. Paul is awarded a medal from the Australian government. However, that medal is only awarded to Australian soldiers, and Paul returns the medal.

Paul stays in Borneo to assist with the surrendering ceremonies. After the surrender ceremonies, Paul goes to Manila, Philippines, but his unit leaves for Tokyo, Japan. Before going to Tokyo, Paul flies to Okinawa with other soldiers to help them with trade translations. In Tokyo, Paul learns he is promoted to second lieutenant if he serves during the occupation forces. However, Paul turns down his commission. Paul recalls visiting Kyoto to visit relatives.

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Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

After graduating high school, Paul applies to several banks. Paul says where he goes, he wants to help people. He learns from his parents to be kind and help others. Therefore, Paul talks to California Bank to open a branch in Little Tokyo, downtown Los Angeles. There are many Japanese American-run businesses in Little Tokyo. Moreover, Paul helps coordinate a banking system in Manzanar.

In addition, Paul works with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and writes many letters. Paul feels it is wrong for the United States Military to deny American citizens the right to serve in the United States Army. As a result, the government relinquishes its position and allows Japanese Americans to volunteer in the military. The government realizes the need Japanese speaking people in the military during the Alaskan Campaign. Over 5,000 Japanese Americans served during the Pacific.

When Paul goes into service, his parents put a star in the window. His parents are proud that Paul is serving in the military. Paul is the last one to evacuate to Manzanar and considers defying evacuation orders. Paul discusses three courts involving Japanese Americans and evacuation.

At Camp Shelby, Paul recalls the relationship between the mainland soldiers and the Hawaiian soldiers. Later, Paul goes to Camp Savage for the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Paul is not as fluent in the Japanese language. He studies harder to catch up with his classmates.

After completing training, Paul goes to Michigan to teach the Military Police (MP) elementary Japanese. When he arrives in Michigan, the MPs are needed overseas for the Japanese Prisoners of War (POWs). Paul goes to New Guinea with the MPs.
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Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

On December 7, Paul hears about the Pearl Harbor attack, and he reports to the Elective Service Board in Exposition Park. Before December 7, Japanese Americans are classified as 1A. However, after Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans are classified 4C.

Due to the 4C classification, Japanese Americans cannot serve. Paul and a few others from the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) write a letter expressing their rights as citizens. As a result, the Japanese American classification is changed, and Paul volunteers for the military.

When evacuation orders are announced, Paul's family goes to Manzanar first. Paul delays his evacuation to continue his work at the bank. Later, Paul joins his family at Manzanar briefly before going to Idaho for farming. Through the Quaker's Program, Paul applies for college and goes to Drake University, IA.

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Bannai, Paul: narrator]]> Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>