Senator Akaka focuses on the importance of recognition of Nisei soldiers and describes the role he played in upgrading awards and helping secure Medal of Honor designations for a group of Nisei veterans. Senator Akaka also discusses a book which…
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.
Barney Hajiro was born on September 16, 1916. He was the second oldest of his siblings. He grew up on a plantation in Maui, Hawaii, during the Great Depression.
During Barney's school years, he attended first through eighth grade. He did not have…
Barney Hajiro recalls the locals of Bruyeres and Biffontaine were friendly and nice. However, they were confused to see Japanese Americans in an American Army uniform. Barney was in M Company then transferred to I Company. The guys in I Company were…
Hitoshi Sameshima and Shigeru Hayashi begin the interview introducing themselves and talking about what it was like to grow up in California. They also talk about their family background and how their parents came to California, one ending up in…
Sameshima and Hayashi are joined by George Hayakawa as they remember Joe Hayashi, who served with the 442nd Regiment and earned a Medal of Honor while in Italy. They talk about various memories of him, including a time during kendo practice, where…
Hayashi wraps up the discussion about his military service, discussing his trip back home and visiting cities on the mainland on his way back. Hayashsi describes the reunion with his parents and friends on his return to Hawaii and also talks about…
During this portion of the interview, Edward Ichiyama recalls his duties within his military unit. Specifically, he gives detail s on regards to being a fuseman and forward observer. In addition, Ichiyama recollects his experiences marching with the…
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…
Katagiri talks about his combat experiences in Italy. He talks his experiences at Mount Grugola; how he got injured and his recuperation. He also talks about: Medal of Honor recipient Yukio Okutsu; his recollections of Captains Hill and Keegan; U.S.…
Kawagoye discusses his grandsons; talks about his friendships with veterans; and discusses his involvement in community groups and the 100th/442nd Veterans Association. He then talks about the Go for Broke monument; provides some thoughts regarding…
Kim finishes discussing how the war monument came to be and the importance of the monument. He details about the process of being upgraded to the Medal Of Honor. Kim also reflects on his life and accomplishments. Kim finishes with discussing the…
Kimura discusses his reaction to arriving in Naples following his basic training. Next, he talks about his job as a mine sweeper throughout the war and the dangers that he faced while doing that. He also talks about the various battles that he was…
In this brief concluding interview, Mr. Kobashigawa focuses on the actions that eventually led to him receiving the Medal of Honor and also gives his thoughts on his upgrade from the Distinguished Service Cross. He briefly discusses his family life…
Koyano describes the state of Italy after World War Two ended. He talks about his guard duties in Italy. He describes the black markets and his guard tower. He discuses his relationships with other soldiers. He explains how he was discharged. Koyano…
Kuga speaks about how he was drafted into the Army and began his basic training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. While there, he made friends with many Hawaiian soldiers, visited Rohwer concentration camp, and boxed. Next, he discusses various Japanese…
Makino talks about basic training, tells a story about an officer who was killed in action, and discusses meeting up with the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy. He then talks about some of his combat experiences overseas; his interactions with…
Frank Matsuda hears the news the Army is accepting Japanese American volunteers. Frank signs up to volunteer and returns to camp to take his physical exam. He passes the physical exam and goes to Camp Shelby for basic training. Frank is a BAR man…
Frank Matsuda talks about the Nisei legacy and how their service opens the door for many Asians. The 442nd receives 20 to 21 medals, and K Company received two of the medals. Frank feels many other soldiers deserve recognition for their service,…
Matsukawa talks about the history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, stemming all the way back to Pearl Harbor, when the prejudice first began. He also talks about the accomplishments and strides they made by fighting for their country. Next, he…
Matsunaga talks about his time overseas and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. At the outset of the regiment, there were many differences between the Hawaiian and mainland soldiers which were put aside after Earl Finch took the Hawaiian soldiers to…
James McNaughton discusses the risks the Nisei took in fighting during WWII, and the advantages of having Nisei linguists during the occupation of Japan. Next, he describes researching information for his official history, and helping to research…
Miyake discusses the meaning behind medals. He details about a few Medal of Honor recipients. Miyake also discusses about a few of his experiences in the military.
Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura recalls the battle at the Yellow River with the Chinese soldiers and North Korean soldiers. There were many casualties on both sides.
On April 24, the Chinese assaulted Hershey's squad, and he gave orders for his men to…
Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura said during his POW camp experience, he had a positive outlook and had something to look forward to at home that helped him survive.
Hershey's wife, Terry, learned he was a POW in 1952 when the government released the…
Before going overseas, the three Morishita brothers, Kenzo, Leo, and Yutaka receives a good luck charm from their mother. After his tour, Leo receives a ribbon for being in the European Theater and a good conduct medal for his service. At the end of…
Moto discusses about his father [Karou Moto] being upgraded to the Medal of Honor posthumously and the ceremonies surrounding it. He details about the Nisei. Moto also discusses about Japanese Americans and reads his father's Medal of Honor citation.
Moto discusses about her life growing. She details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Moto discusses about her name, meeting her husband, and her husband being upgrading to the Medal of Honor.
Kenichi Muranaga is born on December 21, 1924, in Los Angeles, CA. Kenichi's father immigrates to the United States from Japan and meets Kenichi's mother in Hawaii. The two get married and move to Los Angeles, CA, before settling in Gardena, CA.…
After the war, Kenichi Muranaga gets married in 1946 and works serval jobs before starting his laundromat business in 1963. Kenichi and Yoshiko have one son, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
The interview with Clarence Yayoi Tamayori is combined with Robert Tokuo Nagata.
Clarence and Robert discuss being in basic training for almost a year before deployment overseas. Both men go to France and share their first time seeing action and…
Janet Nakakihara and Janice Yokoyama Trubitt are nieces of Private First Class Sadao S. Munemori, the Medal of Honor recipient. Janet's mother, Yuriko (oldest), and Janice's mother, Kikuyo (youngest), are siblings of Sadao.
Janet Nakakihara and Janice Trubitt say their grandmother is big on celebrating New Year and birthdays. Janet recalls her mother mentioning her mother adopted all of the American holidays and celebrations. Even though they did not have much money,…
Following the end of the war, Nishimoto would return to Hawaii and join the 442nd reserves. He would then be called for active duty again for the Korean War, and would be on assignment in Japan. He would join the Military Intelligence Service with…
Hiro Nishimura is upset to be separated from Kazuo Otani to go to Military Intelligence Service Language School. He describes how Kazuo Otani earned the Medal of Honor as well as his efforts later to contact Otani's family. He also describes Steve…
Nishioka talks about his personal history and his encouragement to other veterans to share their story if they can. Next, he talks about reunions, the monument in Los Angeles and the Medals of Honor that were given away fifty years after the fact.…
Oba discusses the importance of medals and the story behind some of the Medal of Honor recipients. He details about some of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the European Theatre. Oba also discusses the 100th Infantry Battalion, to first day of…
Sakato gives more details about Hill 617 and being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Sakato discusses his life after leaving the army. He also discusses the aspect of discrimination.
Sakato discusses how he explains his war experiences to his daughter. He also details about what is was like being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Sakato gives some worlds of wisdom and explains a number of photographs.
Sakato discusses about the action that lead to receiving the Medal of Honor. He details about the Medal of Honor means. Sakato also discusses more about Hill 617.
Serikaku gives his first-hand fighting experience throughout Europe. To begin, he speaks briefly of the differences between "buddha heads" and "kotonks". Following that, he discusses first arriving in Europe, training and guarding items on ships…
Shibuya discusses about Medal of Honor recipient Barney F. Hajiro. He also details more about his brother who went to Japan and got drafted into the Japanese Navy.
John Allen Tagami discusses being a military brat and traveling around during his childhood. Tagami's Father served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and meets the Emperor of Japan. Tagami's Mother works for Reader's Digest during the war…
Tagami discusses Senator Daniel Akaka contributes to the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) as a unit receiving the Presidential Unit Credentials. Also Senator Akaka assists with individual upgrades, MIS history and Medal of Honor. During Senator…
The interview with Clarence Yayoi Tamayori is combined with Robert Tokuo Nagata.
Clarence and Robert discuss being in basic training for almost a year before deployment overseas. Both men go to France and share their first time seeing action and…
Tsuji begins the interview discussing a big fight that occurred between the caucasian and Nisei soldiers while at Newport News and how the military police had to get involved in order to break up the fighting. Next, he talks about spending a week in…
Henry M. Hayashi discusses his time at Fort Sheridan and Camp Shelby before going overseas. Joe is also at Fort Sheridan and Camp Shelby with Henry. Henry grows up in Los Angeles, CA, where there is diversity, and everyone gets along. When Henry goes…
Chiye Hayashi Watanabe, Henry M. Hayashi, and Seiichi Nakawatase discuss the Medal of Honor and the process of getting Joe nominated. The process with the War Department takes several years until Joe is approved.
