Hirose discusses playing baseball in the military and shares memorable stories. In the military here is segregation units and Hirose reflects on discrimination.
During Hirose's time in occupation there are many orphan children in Japan and he…
Hirose discusses the difficulties of transitioning into the school life after being in camp. At 18 years old, Hirose is drafted and recalls a special moment on the troopship playing chess.
Post-war, Hirose goes to Japan for occupation. He passes…
Gustafson discusses joining the American Graves Registration Committee looking for missing in action soldiers. He details about his experiences during the Vietnam War. Gastafson discusses about his post-military life and employment.
Endo shows and describes photographs in a scrapbook during his time in Europe as a medic. Photographs depict fellow soldiers, a first aid station, medical supply truck, the 232nd Combat Engineer Company, experiences during the Gothic Line, and other…
After his time overseas, Tsuda would head back to the United States and get his discharge from the Army. He would attend school with the GI Bill and learn about horticulture. He would become a landscape contractor and would marry and have children.…
Ushijima explains how he made money overseas. He describes how his unit captured a payroll truck. He discusses his first encounter with the enemy. He explains how a lieutenant's driver was killed. He also explains his role as a sergeant. He talks…
Ushijima continues to discusses his work on a plantation. He also continues to talk about working for American Factors. He describes volunteering for the military. He talks about patriotism. He discusses the influence of military chaplains. He…
Hibino talks about the rescue of the Lost Battalion. He lists the contributions of Japanese American soldiers. He explains how he met his wife. He describes his courtship with his future wife. He discusses his emergency return to the United States.…
Hibino talks about his combat experiences on the Gothic Line. He describes war-torn Nuremberg, Germany. He discusses his interactions with civilians. He explains what happened when his unit found Dachau Concentration Camp. He talks about advancing…
Saiki answers some final questions about where his family went after the war had completed and some of the war experiences that he had overseas. After this, he gives a message for future generations and some final notes. Finally, he narrates various…
Akama discusses being in a segregated unit and experiencing discrimination. He recalls going overseas and shares his wartime experiences in the European Theater. Akama discusses about his time in Italy.
Nakamura discusses his involvement with the war crimes trials, first in Australia, where he would interrogate the prisoners of war in Sugamo prison, then to Tokyo for the Class B trials. After these, he would work as a translator for prisoners of war…
Yamate describes some methods for catching squid; shows and describes documents such as an Army morning report, news articles, and newspaper cartoon; and shows a portrait of himself in uniform.
Miyashiro explains his reaction to a soldier who died because of friendly fire. He talks about the end of World War Two. He describes what happened when he tried to get military passes for his squad. He discusses a high ranking officer. He describes…
Miyashiro talks about the food that he found in a German soldiers foxhole. He describes how his unit liberated Bruyères, France. He discusses no man's land. He explains how he volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He talks about the…
Miyashiro and the interviewers introduce themselves. Miyashiro explains how he got his name. He describes what it was like to grow up on a homestead in Hawaii. He talks about his experiences in primary school. He discusses his father's personality.…
Kawagoye discusses the civilians and countryside in Italy; talks about his first combat experiences in Italy; and discusses what it was like to experience artillery fire. He then talks about his duties as part of an Antitank Company; discusses his…
George and Margaret Oshita continue to talk about the awards and medals that George received from the war and the reunions of the veterans. After this, Margaret shows off a display that was made for George's medals. Finally, they look through various…
Hoashi talks about the lessons that he learned during the war and from combat. After that, he tells about the awards that he received after he was discharged, including the Bronze Star. He would head back home to Kauai, where he would be reunited…
Nakamoto talks about landing in Naples, Italy for the first time. He continues to explain his connection to a 1st Sergeant for G Company. He talks about his work as a florist. He discusses his wife.
Nakamoto talks about his relationships with Hawaiian Soldiers. He describes the food served during wartime. He attempts to explain the front line rotation process. He discusses snipers. He talks about the casualties in his unit. He explains how his…
Nakamoto explains how he was classified in the military. He talks about his girlfriend and her family's forced removal. He shares his experiences with discrimination. He discusses his family's lives during World War Two. He talks about being…
Kikuchi shows and describes photographs taken during World War Two while he was overseas including images of a bivouac area, other Japanese American soldiers, his platoon, and Milano, Italy. Lastly, Kikuchi shows and describes some of his wooden…
Kikuchi tells a story regarding the capture of German soldiers; discusses his guard duty assignment; and talks about receiving orders to go to Italy. He then talks about his experiences in Nice and Marseille; discusses arriving in Livorno; and…
Takahashi talks about the german weapons that were used against them and the different sights and sounds they heard while getting shot at. After this, he discusses a bit more about his war experiences, including when they were able to have hot…
Hinatsu would arrive in Naples after a long journey across the ocean. He talks about his war experiences and route that the unit took while in combat. First, he talks about going through Civitavecchia and Sasseta, stopping at Hill 140, where the…
Yamane continues to reflect on his war service. He talks about his son's service. He discusses his wife's first marriage. He describes his children and grandchildren. He shares his best experiences while in the military. He talks about training new…
Yamane continues to talk about the end of World War Two. He describes his journey home. He discusses his friend's injuries and his friendships. He explains the extent to which he has shared his war stories with the public. He talks about the ways in…
Saito discusses going to Switzerland on furlough; talks about his experiences with snow; discusses his exercise hobby; and talks about his post-war employment. He then talks about returning home; getting discharged; and the restrictions Japanese…
Saito talks about some of his fellow medics; talks about his experiences as a replacement soldier; discusses rations; and talks about his clothing during combat. He then talks about getting sick while overseas; discusses how he adjusted physically…
Saito discusses his experiences after induction including going to Fort Douglas and Fort Meade; discusses traveling overseas and his first experiences in Europe; and talks about his first assignment in Italy after joining up with the 442nd Regimental…
Saito discusses his experiences at basic training at Camp Blanding; talks about preparing to go overseas; and discusses his experiences at Camp Blanding during a hurricane. Next, Saito talks about his experiences with discrimination; talks about his…
Nakashima discusses encountering a tank and seeing human flesh. Nakashima recalls the worst part of being a soldier is casualties of friends and enemies. Rather than remembering the negative, Nakashima prefers to think of the positive experiences.…
Kimura discusses his best and worst war experiences and talks about the camaraderie among soldiers. He then talks about his post-war life including going back to school for photography in Los Angeles and returning to Hawaii where he had a photography…
Kurahara discusses getting discharged from the hospital and being sent to a reconversion unit for training. Shortly after, Kurahara finds out the war is over and is assign to guard the Prisoners of War. Post-war, Kurahara graduates from Columbia…
Akamine revisits the topic of basic training. He describes racial divisions within B company. He elaborates on the first assignments that he had while overseas. He describes how B company eventually bonded. Akamine talks about how he communicated…
Izui discusses the end of World War II and the reaction to the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Next, he talks about the starting of his post-war life in Chicago and getting his degree out of the University of Illinois. He then speaks…
Izumigawa describes a close call in combat and talks about getting wounded. He then discusses his hospital stay and talks about his assignment in Northern Italy after rejoining his unit. Next, he talks about his combat experiences at the Gothic Line.…
Clarence "Matt' Matsumoto discusses a time when he encounters German soldier during battle that is non-combative. Matsumoto recalls raising their hands to each other and walking away. During the war, Matsumoto serves in the K Company mortar squad as…
Clarence "Matt" Matsumoto discusses basic training and learning about relocation camps. Training with K Company is rough because it is day and night training. He recalls going overseas takes over a month and lands in Italy. On the journey overseas,…
Tom Yamada discusses stories from his time in service. During occupation in Japan, Yamada works with naval officer Lieutenant Lim. 20 years later, Yamada runs into Lieutenant Lim at Radio City Music Hall and thinks of him kindly . Yamada also thinks…
Guy discusses more about his war experiences, and how he came to befriend Marty Higgins. He talks about about his combat towards the end of the war, and getting liberated. After this, he would return to the United States, where he would settle back…
Guy discusses the German weapons that were used in the war, including the screaming mimi's which is what ended up wounding him during combat. Next, he talks about the Alamo Regiment from San Antonio, combat throughout Southern France, which earned…
Guy talks more about his combat experiences, including taking heavy casualties at the Battle of Rapido River. There he would receive a wound and be hospitalized, requiring surgery in Naples. While there, he would meet members of the 100th Infantry…
Guy discusses his time in basic training at Camp Croft in South Carolina. He would learn how to use heavy machine guns and then be shipped overseas, first landing in Casablanca, playing card games and reading throughout the shipment. Once arrived in…
Minata continues to talk about his leave in Europe. He talks about the 442nd Regimental Combat team's sports league. He describes the end of World War Two and his journey home. He discusses his return to college and subsequent career as a…
Shiosaki discusses the [Saito] brothers' military service; talks about a Staff Sergeant; and discusses the end of the war including assisting with processing POWs. He then discusses the Army point system; discusses learning about President Franklin…
Umeda talks more about the Gila River Concentration Camp and the living conditions in Arizona, surrounded by barbed wire but being able to go outside of the camp occasionally. He would end up leaving the camp and working at a cannery and living in a…
In this short segment, Oka is asked to provide a few details about stories told earlier in the interview. He also recounts the death of his younger brother in an air raid on Christmas Eve, 1944. The final minutes of the interview ask Oka to speak…
Nishimura describes F Company reunions. He briefly talks about the F Company motto. He discusses his friendships. Nishimura tells a joke. He explains how he met his wife. He describes what it is like to live with his adult children. He talks about…
After the evacuation, Kodama and his family would head to Santa Anita race track where they would spend some time in a temporary detention center, where they would have almost no privacy. It was there, that he would meet his first wife, who taught…
Kishaba discuss about post-traumatic stress disorder and being wounded. He also talks about the Champagne Campaign, Po Valley, and the ending of the war. Kishaba details about his post-war life and shares advice for the future generation.
Sumida discusses the experiences of a Counterintelligence Corps (CIC) soldier in the 187th Infantry Battalion in Korea; talks about the loyalty questionnaire he took in Rohwer incarceration camp and getting drafted; and discusses working as a…
Sumida discusses his experiences as part of Counterintelligence Corps (CIC) including discussing his training and his cases. He then talks about the Japanese mafia (Yakuza); and discusses his assignment monitoring Japanese POWs who were captured by…
Kojimoto talks about his machine gunner squad. He explains the difficult aspects of using a machine gun. He describes his positive and negative experiences during wartime. He discusses the injuries in his unit. He describes landing in Naples, Italy.…
Sakaji discusses his encounters with French civilians; talks about the black market trade; and discusses his experiences during the Champagne Campaign. He then talks about the rescue of the Lost Battalion and General Dahlquist; discusses General Mark…
Kono discusses suicides of civilians on Saipan; and discusses his best wartime memories which included food, and recreational activities. He then talks about seeing his family again and his post-war life in Hawaii; discusses the end of the war; and…
Kono discusses his experiences cave-flushing which involved talking Japanese civilians and soldiers out of caves. He then talks about his assignment in occupied Japan; getting discharged; and his experiences interrogating Japanese POWs. Next, Kono…
Takao discusses the sentiment of Japanese soldiers from the eyes of a Burmese boy. During the Chinese Burma Theater, Takao translates the Japanese soldiers diary and there are numerous mention of comfort women. Takao participates in propaganda,…
Takao discusses going to Camp Savage, Camp Anza, and going overseas to India. He shares the experience on the ship of 3,000 servicemen and entertaining the troops and ship crew. Takao experiences cultural shock when landing in India. At New Delhi, he…
Takao discusses volunteering for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and going to the mainland for basic training. Takao and five friends volunteer and only himself and a friend is selected. Takao is assign to Company C, First Battalion, Fourth Platoon…
Morisawa discusses going overseas and the battles in Europe. He details about his experiences, sleeping in a trench, the black market. Morisawa recalls how the 442nd Regimental Combat Team is depleted and how he is sent to Nice. He discusses about…
Morisawa discusses influential individuals and joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Morisawa reflects on his upbringing and the community he grows up in. Morisawa recalls his experiences on the Mainland, basic training and his position as a…
Tsuneishi discusses Bronze Star for Valor, good conduct medal and Japanese American organizations. Tsuneishi feels it is important to share the stories of Nisei who serves in the war. He reflects back on Japanese language school and how his career…
Tsuneishi discusses his sister Florence in Japan and his other sister Frances works for the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS). Tsuneishi recalls the ranking of the Military Intelligence Service and his promotion. The emotional impact…
Tateishi discusses more about his war experiences, missing out on Cassino because of trench foot. He also talks about interacting with local Italian civilians, including delivering mail from Rome to Livorno for a family and eating rabbit. He would…
Tateishi begins the interview talking about how his family came from Hiroshima in Japan and settled in Hawaii. Growing up in Hawaii, he would attend McKinley High School and pick pineapples in his spare time, before joining the National Guard. He…
Ikari discusses the bonds of the Nisei veterans and how combat brought those bonds much closer. After this, he shows off some of his artifacts from the war, including an M1 rifle tool, a travel order and his discharge papers.
Before getting discharged from the Army, Ikari was asked to participate in an objective Army program, in which they wanted Nisei soldiers to dress in Japanese uniforms and act as one would in the Japanese Army in order to help train new recruits.…
Harry Tanaka discusses working in a Libby cannery during the summer time and at the University of Hawaii work for a professor. During High school, Tanaka thought he would pursue a career in engineering but he ends up receiving his degree in history…
Harry Tanaka discusses being born in Honolulu, Hawaii and being the second son of four children. At a young age he learns how to care for himself since his Mother passes away when he is very young. As a child he would spend time at the pier or the…
Suehiro discusses reasons for joining the Army and how he felt that it was the right thing to do when called for. He also talks about the legacy of the Nisei soldiers and how much of a brotherhood they became because of the hardships of war. He…
Suehiro discusses more of his war experiences, including receiving a wound on his leg from shrapnel. He would help get his friends that was also wounded, back to safety and would head to the Red Cross to take care of his own wound, taking many…
Suehiro discusses his mindset during the war, which was readied by a letter written from his mother to not bring shame to his father. This got him to rid himself of cowardice and continue to push on during combat. He would experience this bravery…
Sato looks through a few more pictures, while narrating his whereabouts at the end of the war, going from Ghedi through Florence, processing prisoners of war, and getting promoted to staff sergeant. As he didn't have enough points to head home yet,…
Sato continues talking about his war experiences such as, going from France back to Italy and members of the unit getting the measles. Around this time, he would receive a flamethrower and would learn how to use that and mix the fluid that is used.…
While in the camps, Sato would be faced with the loyalty questionnaire, in which he would answer yes, yes, effectively placing himself in the draft. At the time, his mother did not want him to join the Army, but would end up getting drafted and…
Kurasaki explains his journey back to Hawaii. He describes a trip to Reno, Nevada. He talks about his KP duties while stationed in the United States. He discusses reuniting with his family. He explains why he doesn’t share his war stories with his…
Yokote continues talking about his experiences in the 206th band, including raising morale for the unit as a whole and helping soldiers deal with the harsh conditions of war. After the war, he would return home and be discharged at Beale Air Force…
Yokote talks about a photograph that shows members of the band he was involved in. After this he talks about the advantages of being in the band as opposed to an infantryman. As he wasn't involved in much front line duty, he was stunted in his…
He describes what combat was like in Bruyères, France. He briefly talks about replacement soldiers. He discusses the food that was available on the front line. He describes maintaining hygiene on the front line. He explains how he stole food. He…
Tokita explains how he survived on the front line. He talks about a soldiers injury and that soldiers life after World War Two. He describes an attempt to save a soldiers life. He discusses the Gothic Line. He describes a deadly ambush. He shares…
Yokooji talks about rejoining the Army reserves in the civil affairs division; discusses his experiences during the Vietnam War including his assistance with Army war plans in Thailand; and provides some thoughts regarding his military service.…
Yokooji discusses his reasons for volunteering to go to Korea and talks about his assignment during the Korean War interrogating POWs. He then talks about his relationship with a company commander; discusses the end of the Korean War; talks about…
Yokooji discusses how his family traveled to and from the Hawaiian Islands; discusses his reasons for volunteering; and provides some thoughts regarding World War Two and opportunities for Nisei during the war. He then talks about the "Go for Broke"…
Inami discusses the aftermath of Hiroshima from the atomic bomb and the Japanese Nationals. Inami is discharge in 1946 and goes home to help his parents with the grocery store. While in service, Inami's family is relocated from Jerome to Rohwer and…
Tahara discusses his time at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, training with other Nisei soldiers, including some Nisei officers that had come from Fort Benning. After this, he discusses the American concentration camps and how the Hawaiian soldiers felt…
Yagura talks about how people reacted when Korean War soldiers returned to the United States. He reveals how much he has shared his war stories with family. He explains the reasons for wars. He briefly talks about several United States presidents.…
Hayashi continues his recollection of interpreting assignments in Manila, working at the War Crimes Trials. After this, he was discharged from the Army so that he could continue his college education, but decided to travel the East Coast first. He…
Espineda talks about his marriage. He talks about his children and grandchildren. He describes the changes that he has seen in Stockton, California over time. He discusses the legacy of the Nisei. Espineda shares his advice for veterans considering…
Kazuma Taguchi talks about his military leaders. He continues to describe the events of the Champaign Campaign. He talks about his employment in the United States Navy. He discusses his activities as a union officer. He briefly talks about his…
Peterson discusses his experiences during the Champagne Campaign; talks about the reputation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Division; and discusses returning to the United States because of his parents' car accident. He then…
Arakaki discusses more about being wounded in action five separate times and refusing the Purple Heart medal. He talks the various situations in which he was wounded and would end up in the hospital all five times. During his last wound, he would be…
Arakaki talks about visiting Japan as a toddler and remembering how poor his family was while living there, often only having a slice of bread for lunch. The family would move back to Hawaii to escape that, and would have much more opportunity and…
Edward Kanaya talks about his contract work. He talks about joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He describes the gambling on the ship that took him to the Mainland. He discusses his time at Schofield Barracks. He talks about his interactions…
