Members of the 442nd Regimental Combat team in front of the Go For Broke National Education Center (GFBNEC) Monument. The monument was erected by Japanese American Veterans, who began the veteran's association, which is now GFBNEC.
Ozaki begins the interview with an introduction of his family background, his family coming from Wakayama prefecture in Japan and eventually settling in Eau Gallie, Florida. After this, he talks about his whereabouts when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor…
Ozaki talks more about what it was like to grow up in Florida, including the segregation that he saw, being in the South and how that compared to the segregation at Camp Shelby. Next, he talks about his assignment while in Italy, which was to guard…
Ozaki discusses hearing about Executive Order 9066 and the evacuation of all Japanese from the west coast. Being on the east coast, he never had to deal with an evacuation, but felt sympathy for those who did. Next, he talks about the members of his…
Ozaki talks more about his marriage background and a little bit about the discrimination that he faced from sailors in Florida. Next, he talks about his inherited farmland and his children and grandchildren. After this, he speaks about what it was…
Ozaki talks about his correspondence with other members of the Army and supporting their legacies. Next, he speaks about his projects, rebuilding his in-laws home on an island, and being able to rebuild his own home later. After this, he speaks about…
Senator Daniel Inouye describes how his parents and their families came from Japan to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations. His parents were brought up very differently with his mother growing up an orphan within an adoptive Hawaiian Methodist…
Senator Daniel Inouye describes the effects of the proclamation of martial law in Hawaii including censorship, removal of Japanese cultural presence, and selective incarceration of Japanese Americans. He also talks about the differences between…
Senator Daniel Inouye talks about his reaction to being upgraded to receiving the Medal of Honor and his subsequent studies surrounding qualifiers for receiving medals and awards. He notes that recipients of awards are rarely medics. He then talks…
Tanaka discusses about his family and childhood. He details his boxing experiences. Tanaka also discusses his experiences working onboard a ship and the Mainland.
Tanaka discusses a submarine washing ashore and the formation of the 100th Infantry Battalion. He details about his experiences at Camp McCoy and Camp Shelby. Tanaka also tasks about heading overseas and his experiences in North Africa.
Tanaka discusses more about his time in North Africa and landing in Italy. He details about his first day in Italy and other combat experiences. Tanaka also discusses about the mindset during combat and crossing the Volturno. River
Tanaka discusses the 3rd crossing of the Volturno River,close calls and his good luck charm. He details about getting diagnosed with stomach ulcers. Tanaka also discusses coming home, how others treated him once he was back, and meeting his wife.
Tanaka discusses about his career and how it found it. He details about his life in Los Angeles and gives a message to future generations. The interview ends by showing bracelet.
George Aratani begins the interview by detailing his father's vocation in Japan, and then his immigration to the United States where he starts businesses in agriculture. Next, he discusses his mother, and his parents sending him to Japan to learn…
George Aratani begins this interview part discussing how the bombing of Pearl Harbor prevented him from being able to completely take control of his father's businesses, and then arranging management of the businesses while in internment camp to an…
George Aratani recounts meeting two Nisei in prewar Japan and their subsequent experiences during WWII fighting for Japan. Next, he discusses the origins of the Mikasa chinaware company and how he managed to get Macy's to buy into the dinnerware.…
George Aratani continues his discussion on the keys to his business success, and then talks about the Military Intelligence Service Language School students. Next, he talks about his various philanthropic work in the Japanese American community.…
Kuwabara discusses growing up in Idaho, working on his parents farm; and becoming a state champion in a public speaking contest along with his experiences going to the national championship. He also talks about living in Utah, Japan, and California;…
Kuwabara describes life at Gila River Incarceration Camp including the living quarters, the types of employment opportunities inside the camp for incarcerees, and his experiences as block manager. He also talks about his reasons for volunteering for…
Kuwabara discusses life at Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) including the recruitment process, learning Kanji, and giving a speech at graduation. He then talks about his first assignments overseas to India and Burma, an…
Kuwabara discusses his experiences at Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) including the demographics of the graduates and his thoughts on discrimination in the military. He also talks about interrogation techniques taught at MISLS,…
Kuwabara discusses his experiences being assigned to the 36th Infantry Division (British) and the differences between American and British operations; and what it was like to earn a British Empire Medal and Bronze Stars for his service in North Burma…
Kuwabara describes his last assignment before retirement; and moving to Japan and getting a job at a public relations company as a translator. He also talks about the differences between civilian and military employment, his three marriages, and…
John Togashi starts the interview by talking about his childhood in Modesto, California, and discusses his parents occupations. Next he talks about the tensions between Japan and the US before Pearl Harbor, and then the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lastly…
John Togashi starts with a discussion on reactions at school to Pearl Harbor and the FBI interviewing his father. Next he describes the evacuation notice posters and his family selling its possessions prior to moving to the Merced Temporary Assembly…
John Togashi begins this interview part with recounting jobs he had with the Santa Fe Railroad and working in warehouses in Detroit. Next he describes getting his draft notice and talks about the "Loyalty Questionnaire". Lastly he recounts his…
John Togashi talks about his basic training experiences and shipping out of the United States. Next he describes his military travel to Europe and joining the 442nd in northern France. Lastly he talks about his experiences with the 442nd while they…
John Togashi describes witnessing combat for the first time and experiencing enemy artillery fire. Next he recounts the 442nd move into Italy and fighting along the Gothic Line. Lastly he describes assaulting a hill in which he gets wounded by mortar…
John Togashi discusses his ambulance ride to the field hospital with Daniel Inouye. Next he describes the end of the war in Europe and the feelings he had about the atomic bombs being used on Japan. Lastly he describes his discharge and return to…
John Togashi concludes the interview by giving advice to future generations about his and the Japanese American experience during WWII, as well as his general feeling of satisfaction in overcoming all the challenges he was confronted with during that…
Akune begins with describing his childhood and family. He moved to Japan at the age of ten, after his mother passed away. When he turned fifteen, he returned to the United States to help his father.
Akune recalls his experiences on a dairy farm life before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He describes the affects of Pearl Harbor on the Japanese American community. He also describes his experience at the Merced Temporary Detention Facility and…
Akune discusses his reasoning for volunteering to serve in the military. He discusses Military Intelligence Service Language School at Camp Savage, Mississippi before being shipped out for basic training.
Akune describes his basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and his life on a liberty ship before landing in Perth, Australia, his assignment working on a propaganda project and his duties as a part of a propaganda project and interrogating…
Akune discusses his experiences interrogating Japanese Prisoners of War (POWs) and assisting the British Army with "flushing" Japanese soldiers and situations in which he faced discrimination in the military.
Akune continues his experiences in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) as an interrogator. He discusses some of his experiences interrogating soldiers and also talking to "comfort girls." He describes escorting Prisoners of War (POWs) from China…
Akune discusses his service during the Post-war Occupation of Japan -- he was a translator for the war crime trials. He introduces his wife and family. He ends by sharing a message to future generations and the importance of the Nisei veteran story.
Kajiwara describes his early life on a sugar plantation. He explains how and why his father immigrated to the United States. He talks about his parents marriage. He describes Japanese language school. He describes his mother's childhood. He…
Kajiwara talks about his father's visits to Japan. He briefly describes working for Hawaiian Pineapple. He discusses the work he did on a sugar plantation. He talks about having a twin brother. He talks about primary school. Kajiwara describes his…
Kent Kajiwara continues to talk about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He discusses the FBI's attempt to arrest his father. He talks about his security work while working at Hawaiian Pineapple. He talks about enlisting in the Army. He…
Kajiwara describes the cohesiveness of Company K. He talks about his interactions with a top officer at Camp Shelby. He shares his memories of his visit to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He discusses his friendship with Earl Finch. Kajiwara describes his…
Kajiwara shares memories of his experiences in Belvedere. He talks about Hill 140 and the Arno Campaign. He describes his journey to Marseilles, France. He also describes Company K. He discusses his combat experiences in Southeastern France. He…
Kajiwara talks about his guard duty assignments. He briefly talks about the Champagne Campaign. He describes his unit's successful attempt to take a hillside from German soldiers. He discussing being discharged and his return to the United States.…
Kajiwara describes the comradery in Company K. He extensively talks about the 442nd Veterans Club. He shares funny memories from when he was stationed overseas. He list Company K's medals and awards. He explains the legacy of the Nisei. He talks…
Letter is a response to Masao Sato stating that the organization, Native Sons of the Golden West, do not have any "quarrel" with Japanese Americans, but that any Japanese American (Nisei) who is not in the military should not be allowed on the west…
Two photographs portray the front view of a high school-- Los Angeles High School. Other photograph is of young woman, Pat Waterman, wearing a graduation cap and gown.
Three photographs capture students graduating from high school, wearing graduation cap and gown. Seymour, John, Bob, Jack and Don-- all Caucasian males.
Two photographs showing a group of high school boys and a group of high school girls wearing graduation gowns and caps. One photograph depicts a group of high school boys wearing formal wear. Female students' names or nicknames are at the bottom of…
Mr. Black discusses his childhood growing up in southern California and his involvement with the Methodist church and orchestra. Mr. Black recounts his hearing the news of the Pearl Harbor attack and how he viewed Japanese-Americans at that time.…
In this brief segment, Mr. Black talks about his trip across the Atlantic Ocean on the troop ship, the USS Breckinridge. He discusses his duties on the ship and describes the voyage to North Africa.
Mr. Black talks about his trip across the Atlantic, where he landed in North Africa and was eventually deployed to Salerno, Italy. Assigned as a forward observer, Mr. Black saw his first action at the Battle of Monte Cassino and described his various…
Mr. Black briefly talks about his illnesses which led to his evacuation to the United States and his subsequent discharge from the Army. He next describes his life after his military service, including attending college and his career in the trucking…
Mr. Black discusses values that his parents taught him that helped him throughout his life. He also talks about what his father told him before leaving for military service and his own similar messages for his sons when they left. Mr. Black concludes…
Mitsuo Tominaga begins the interview by recounting his childhood experiences with family and school mates. Next he discusses his American identity growing up in a community that was mostly Caucasian. Lastly he talks about volunteering for the Army…
Mitsuo Tominaga talks about the duties performed while in an infantry regiment prior to WWII. Next he describes the Pearl Harbor attack and what it meant to his unit. Lastly he recounts patrols along the California coast looking for a potential…
Mitsuo Tominaga discusses his feeling about about being reassigned to an all Nisei unit, and their interactions with civilians while in Michigan. Next he describes his unit's time at Fort Shelby conducting weapons training, and the racial conditions…
Mitsuo Tominaga discusses arriving in Italy, and then his unit shipping out to France. Next he recounts his first combat experiences during the time of the Lost Battalion incident, and then suffering a serious noncombat foot injury. Lastly he…
Mitsuo Tominaga begins this interview segment by discussing his transfer to the ordnance unit, the end of the war, and working with German POWs. Next he talks about returning back to the US and his discharge from the Army. Lastly he discusses his…
Mitsuo Tominaga describes his personal feelings about WWII and serving during the war. Next he recounts some post war racial discrimination and meeting family in Japan. Lastly he discusses the immigrant experience in America and the importance of…
This interview segment records color photographs taken of Mitsuo Tominaga's squad during WWII in southern France, and a number of certificates that he possesses.
Mr. Hayashi introduces himself and offers some background information about himself and his family. Mr. Hayashi speaks at length about his parents, why they came to his hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado, their occupations, and where they were from…
Mr. Hayashi begins the interview by discussing a few aspects of wrestling including how he learned his wrestling skills, what it was like being a state champion, and putting on fake wrestling performances for the Forty & Eight Club. Mr. Hayashi next…
Mr. Hayashi describes attempting to enlist into the Army, where he was initially rejected. He went on to look for work in Utah, eventually landing job at the Utah Power and Light Company in Salt Lake City. After finding out about the Nisei military…
Mr. Hayashi describes his experiences during basic training, discussing his relationship with the Hawaiian soldiers, his weapons training, and the camaraderie amongst his troop. His battalion was shipped out from Newport News, Virginia and landed in…
Mr. Hayashi offers several stories about his combat experience throughout this section. He first describes the German 88mm artillery gun and being fired upon by it. During this battle, Mr. Hayashi encountered his first American casualty, which had a…
Mr. Hayashi talks about his service throughout France, particularly in the Vosges Mountains region and some of the experiences he had during combat. Mr. Hayashi also describes some funny and memorable encounters including his being mistaken for an…
Mr. Hayashi discusses the morale of his unit after facing heavy combat in France. Soon after this, the unit would return to Italy to join up with the African American 92nd Infantry to help with the offensive campaign. Mr. Hayashi goes on to discuss…
Mr. Hayashi opens by discussing the dissolution of his first marriage in this brief section. He goes on to talk about the legacy of the Nisei soldier and the 442's place in history. The video concludes with Mr. Hayashi showing off some photographs of…
Foote starts the discussion recounting two Nisei Veteran reunions honoring Yuri Kochiyama and Ted Tanouye. Later he gives some details about his experiences on The Gothic Line: what German tactics were used, help from Partisans, and American tactics.…
Foote discusses about Pearl Harbor and his early military experiences. He details about going overseas, being assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and his experiences in them. Foote also discusses about the realities of war, communication,…
Foote discusses his experiences after the Gothic Line surrender: taking in German troops as prisoners of war (POWs); duties after European surrender. He gives particular detail on the various minefields he and his troop encountered. He also mentions…
Foote discusses about his interactions with the soldiers and being wounded. He details about arriving and experiences in France. Foote also discusses about the recovery process, rejoining the unit, The Gothic Line, and his career.
Foote discusses various aspects of his life after World War 2. After discharge he went to Cornell University as a graduate student and became a professor in Animal Science and Molecular Biology. In addition he talks about his family life: marriages,…
Matsumoto describes his early life growing up in Los Angeles and later moving to Japan with his grandparents to attend school. Upon returning to the Los Angeles area, Matsumoto settled in Long Beach, graduating from the local high school and worked…
Matsumoto returns to the topic of his grandfather and his days working as a contract laborer in Hawaii, before coming to the mainland U.S. Following this discussion, Matsumoto describes the living conditions during his time at the Santa Anita…
Matsumoto discusses his assignments after the end of the war in Southeast Asia, including his transfer to China. In China, Matsumoto became involved with the Office of Strategic Services. He describes his duties within the OSS, which he was forced to…
Matsumoto describes his role in tutoring language officers and helping them with their Japanese. Later he encounters his cousin and younger brother as captured Japanese soldiers in China. After a reunion, Matsumoto is relived to hear that his parents…
Matsumoto describes being chosen for a secret mission with Merrill's Marauders and his journey from San Francisco to India. Assigned to a group and having gone through training, Merrill's Marauders moved through northern India and into Burma to…
Matsumoto discusses his time serving in the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon in Burma. In his time scouting the Japanese soldiers, Matsumoto was able to utilize his knowledge of many Japanese dialects to gather important strategic information.…
