Allied Occupation of Japan]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service--Linguists]]> Military service--Veteran history]]> Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Japan--Post-World War II]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]>
Post-war, Yonemura works in the General Consul Office from 1953 to 1996. His duties consist of representing Japanese Nationals, acting liaison for Japanese visiting the United States, and labor negotiations of Japanese companies. Yonemura recollects some case he works on such as representing a Japanese seaman who is accused of homicide and labor negotiations for Japan Airline.

During Yonemura's time during the war and occupation, he serve with honorable men and recalls his fellow servicemen. When asked if Yonemura shares his wartime experience with his family, he does not share. However, his granddaughter have started to ask questions about his service.

When Yonemura is in Japan during occupation, he corresponds with Mother. He expresses his interest to visit relatives but his Mother says it is not a good idea. His Mother feels they would not understand why Yonemura is visiting in United States uniform. Instead, Yonemura goes sight seeing in Ito and Shiso, Japan. Also during occupation, Yonemura remembers a funny story about visits from Mr. Tanaka at Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS),

Yonemura describes how there are two different language programs during occupation. One by the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and one by the Navy. The Navy contracted with the schools in Colorado and the teachers are on the payroll of the school. These individuals are not civil service. Therefore, the Navy can hire Issei as instructor. The Army is all civil service limited to citizenship. As a result, the Navy has a larger pool to select from.
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Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>
Allied Occupation of Japan]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]>
Yonemura returns home to finish law school in fall of 1946 and gets into the bar of March of 1947. He finds a part time job as a process server for law office in west Oakland, California.

Yonemura discusses the interment camp experience and feels the subject is well covered in books due to the repetition. One book that Yonemura feels that is important is "Americans Betrayed" by Martin Grodzins. Yonemura also talks about Evacuation Act of 1948 and how it is not comparable to the redress passed years later.





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Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>
World War II--Asiatic-Pacific Theater --Australia (Allied Translator and Interpreter Section)]]> Allied Occupation of Japan]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]>
Yonemura is with Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) from October 1943 to May 1945. He is later transfer to Manila, Philippines to plan for the invasion of Japan. He remains in the Philippine until September 1945 when the atomic bomb is drop.

When the Japanese Emperor announce surrender, Yonemura's Unit is ship out and says it is a busy period for him. Succeeding the atomic bomb delegation, a group of American scientist go to Japan to find out how much basic science is being study during the war. Yonemura is asked to help select the best linguist to accompany the American Task Force. The intent is to interview Professor Yagi and know about rocket propulsion.

During occupation, Yonemura finds time to correspond to his wife, Toshiko everyday. Although, Yonemura has never been to Japan before occupation, he says it feels like homecoming. Yonemura recollects the summer of June 1943 when he receives clearance to visit his sister's family and his family at Poston one and Poston two.

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Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>
World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]> World War II--Military and Government Entities--Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS)]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Language School]]>
While Yonemura is in the Military Intelligence Service, Toshiko (his wife) gets a job in Houston, Texas. Yonemura and Toshiko gets married in 1943 during his weekend pass to Joplin, Missouri.

June of 1943, Yonemura waits for his overseas assignment. Yonemura discusses how General MacArthur escape the Philippines and open Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) in Australia. Yonemura is assign to Indoorpilly, Australia.

ATIS is divided into two groups: translation and interrogation. The interrogation group interrogates Prisoners of War (POW). The translation group is divided into two groups: general translation and technical translation of documents. Yonemura assign to technical translation of document and assign to Navy Officer Lieutenant Ed Rosten (a classmate from law school). Later, Yonemura becomes editor of translation section of ATIS. ]]>
Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>
World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> World War II--Military service--Military Intelligence Service]]> Identity and values]]>
Due to the Selective Service Act of 1940, Yonemura figures a draft lottery would be called early. The Enemy Alien Law is still in effect and the only way for Yonemura to serve is to join the to army. Yonemura is aware about Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and ask his teachers to write a letter to indicate his loyalty to America.

February of 1942, he receives a notice to report to the army on February 25. Before going to be inducted, Yonemura goes home to say good bye to family. The following day, his Father and his fiancee's Father is pickup by the FBI for association as Nihonjinkai Community Leaders. Yonemura's Father goes to Santa Fe New Mexico Army Installation. Before his loyalty hearing , he ask Yonemura to send him a picture. Yonemura's Father is then release and sent to Poston with the rest of the Family.

Yonemura goes to Camp Robertson for infantry training camp. Fifteen Nisei are assign to each company. The Nisei make up 25% of the training company and the other Nisei are ship to Camp Crowder in Missouri. These Nisei are assign to odd jobs including Yonemura. Yonemura works as a cook and then moves to payroll records. Later he is transfer to Camp Savage as a laborer not for training. With the help of John Iso, Yonemura is able to getting tutoring to get into the Language classes.

When Yonemura is at basic training at Camp Savage, his fiancee, Toshiko is eligible for release from Poston due to a job offer.]]>
Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>
Identity and values--Family]]> Education]]> Industry and employment]]>
In a predominate community of Hispanics and African Americans, the community did have a few Japanese owned and run businesses such as Ochai Family grocery store and Japanese provisions store owned by the Nishimoto Family.

Yonemura graduates high school in 1934 during the height of Depression Era and moves to Los Angeles, California. In Los Angeles, he delivers flowers for a year . His sister Yoshiko (who is nine years older) encourages him to go to college. He returns back to Riverside and to attend Community College. Later he transfers to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduates in 1939 with a degree in economics. At the time there are no jobs available and a friend suggests that Yonemura goes to law school.

Yonemura applies to Berkeley Law School and gets accepted. He is the only minority at this time at law school. Yonemura feels his classmates have the advantage coming from middle class families and many aspect of law whereas he comes from a different background. ]]>
Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>
Identity and values--Family]]> Education]]> Social activities]]> immigrate to the United States (US) with the early wave of Issei. When Yonemura's parents arrive to the US, they are already married and have one child (born 1909 in Japan). They settle in Hawaii working on a plantation and eventually move to Riverside, California. In Riverside, the Mother runs a noodle restaurant and the Father is a gardener. Yonemura's parents have eight children and Yonemura is the sixth child.

Yonemura grows up in a conservative town. The demographics consist of Hispanics, African Americans and four to five Japanese Families. Due to the demographic of the community, Japanese school is not offered regularly and there is no organized program available. However, primary school is year round. When Yonemura starts Junior High School he meets Caucasian students for the first time.

At home, Yonemura speaks Japanese with his parents although his Mother attends night school to learn English. Yonemura's Mother is also fluent in Spanish due to neighborhood. At an early age, Yonemura sees discrimination at the community pool and joining the YMCA. He also recalls a traveling movie company which he enjoys as a child.

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Yonemura, Masatatsu: narrator]]> Nakayama, Stuart: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2005 June 04]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>

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