George Matsui oral history interview transcript [full interview], September 11, 1998
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Matsui%2C+George%3A+narrator">Matsui, George: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Sato%2C+Christine%3A+interviewer">Sato, Christine: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=US+Army+Center+of+Military+History%3A+sponsor">US Army Center of Military History: sponsor</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1998-09-11">1998-09-11</a>
application/pdf
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=44&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=eng">eng</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Transcriptions">Transcriptions</a>
1998OH0008_T_Matsui
George Matsui oral history interview, part 3 of 3, September 11, 1998
George Matsui was reassigned to MacArthur's Headquarters, Army Intelligence G2, Natural Resources Section after Japan surrendered. He recalls traveling to Fukuoka to see his family for the first time.
After being discharged, George returned to the United States with a big homecoming. There was a welcome banner and steak dinner. He reunited with his girlfriend in Minneapolis and got married five days later. George continued his education and found a job with the Government Civil Service. He had numerous promotions during his 30-year career at the Postal Office and retired in 1976.
In his retirement years, George stayed active and joined two tennis clubs.
George and his wife moved from Minneapolis to San Diego and Seattle. They have two daughters.
George's message to future generations was to study hard and go to college.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Matsui%2C+George%3A+narrator">Matsui, George: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Sato%2C+Christine%3A+interviewer">Sato, Christine: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=US+Army+Center+of+Military+History%3A+sponsor">US Army Center of Military History: sponsor</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
1998OH0008_03_Matsui
George Matsui oral history interview, part 2 of 3, September 11, 1998
George Matsui discusses his reaction to December 7 and the aftermath. His feeling was shikata ga nai. George evacuated to Santa Anita and Tule Lake.
At Tule Lake, George remembered the barbed wires around the parameter, barracks, and guards in the guard towers. George was at Tule Lake for a few months before reporting to Camp Savage for Military Intelligence Service Language School. George learned interrogation, translation, and interpretation in Japanese.
During the Pacific Theater, one of his worst memory for him was seeing dead bodies. George recalls trying to save Japanese civilians and soldiers. For his accomplishments in Saipan, George was awarded the Bronze Star. He could not talk about his war experience previously because of the effects it had on him.
After George's service in Saipan, he went to Honolulu for a rest period. He spent his time attending USO events and corresponding with his wife. George shared a story of how he sent a proposal letter and engagement ring to her. He also mentioned learning about the passing of Frank Hachiya.
Besides Saipan, George went to Marshall Island. Marshall Island was George's first operation with the 7th Division. For his accomplishment in deciphering the hydrographic map, George received a letter of accommodation.
When George learned the war had ended, he was happy. George felt he was lucky to serve in two campaigns in the Pacific Theater. He credited the men who served in China, Burma, and India for doing a great job.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Matsui%2C+George%3A+narrator">Matsui, George: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Sato%2C+Christine%3A+interviewer">Sato, Christine: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=US+Army+Center+of+Military+History%3A+sponsor">US Army Center of Military History: sponsor</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
1998OH0008_02_Matsui
George Matsui oral history interview, part 1 of 3, September 11, 1998
George Matsui grew up in Long Beach, CA, and his parents are farmers. George's father decided to go back to Japan when George was in junior high school. In Japan, George attended Japanese Grade School and learned the Japanese language. When George turned 18, his father sent him back to the United States. After High School, George attended Junior College off and on.
In 1939, George decided to start his grocery store after working in the Produce Market in Willington. In late 1940, George received a draft notice from the Army and reported to San Pedro MacArthur Induction Center in February 1941. George completed basic training within four months.
On December 7, George was on leave from the Army when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Several days later, all the Nisei soldiers were placed in a warehouse. The following year, George received a letter from the Company Commander that he was reassigned to an unlisted reserve.
Shortly after going home, George was evacuated to Santa Anita Assembly Center. He worked in the Personnel Department for about five months until the internees were sent to different camps. Summer of 1942, George went to Tule Lake until the Army sent him a letter to report to Camp Savage for Military Intelligence Service Language School. In his free time, he took a bus to Minneapolis.
In the summer of 1943, George went overseas to the Central Pacific Area. On his team, there were eight Niseis were from the mainland and two Niseis from Honolulu, Hawaii. The training at the MIS School helped prepare George for his role overseas. George learned interrogation, translation, and interpretation.
George's duty overseas was an interrogation. He recalls in Saipan, he went with Sergeant Honda to interrogate people hiding in the cave. For his service in Saipan, George was awarded the Bronze Star for going above and beyond his duty. He also received a letter of accommodation for his service in the Marshall Islands. George helped interpret the coral islands' map and found a harbor for the squadron team to protect them from submarine attacks.
After his service in Saipan, George went to Honolulu for rest. Years later, George was assigned to return to Saipan to train 20 new Niseis for one month on weapons.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Matsui%2C+George%3A+narrator">Matsui, George: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Sato%2C+Christine%3A+interviewer">Sato, Christine: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=US+Army+Center+of+Military+History%3A+sponsor">US Army Center of Military History: sponsor</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
1998OH0008_01_Matsui
Fatal error: Uncaught Zend_Db_Statement_Mysqli_Exception: Mysqli statement execute error : The table 'omeka_sessions' is full in /var/www/html/application/libraries/Zend/Db/Statement/Mysqli.php:215
Stack trace:
#0 /var/www/html/application/libraries/Zend/Db/Statement.php(303): Zend_Db_Statement_Mysqli->_execute(Array)
#1 /var/www/html/application/libraries/Zend/Db/Adapter/Abstract.php(480): Zend_Db_Statement->execute(Array)
#2 /var/www/html/application/libraries/Zend/Db/Adapter/Abstract.php(576): Zend_Db_Adapter_Abstract->query('INSERT INTO `om...', Array)
#3 /var/www/html/application/libraries/Zend/Db/Table/Abstract.php(1076): Zend_Db_Adapter_Abstract->insert('omeka_sessions', Array)
#4 /var/www/html/application/libraries/Zend/Session/SaveHandler/DbTable.php(356): Zend_Db_Table_Abstract->insert(Array)
#5 /var/www/html/application/libraries/Omeka/Session/SaveHandler/DbTable.php(102): Zend_Session_SaveHandler_DbTable->write('vvdudl7kisk016a...', Array)
#6 [internal function]: Omeka_Session_SaveHandler_DbTable->write('vvdud in /var/www/html/application/libraries/Zend/Db/Statement/Mysqli.php on line 215