Coolidge Wakai oral history interview, part 1 of 2, December 8, 2007
Dr. Coolidge Shiro Wakai was part of the 100th Company B. He was born December 2, 1925, in Kappa, Kauai, Hawaii. Coolidge's father was a missionary for Japanese Immigrants and established the first Christian church in Kappa, Kauai. Coolidge has six brothers and a sister.
After Coolidge's father passed away, the family moved to Honolulu. His mother worked hard to support the family. At age fifteen, Coolidge went to the mainland for higher education. He settled in California and found a job as a houseboy. Coolidge attended Berkeley High School.
On December 7, Coolidge attended church and learned the news when he went home. Coolidge did not feel any discrimination when he moved to the mainland. His employer and classmates at high school treated him fairly. The following day after Pearl Harbor, Coolidge went to school. He continued to focus on his educational goals.
When Executive Order 9066 was signed, Coolidge and his brother reported to Tanforan. After three to fourth months in Tanforan, Coolidge was sponsored to leave the camp to go to New York. In 1944 Coolidge graduated high school in New York and applied for college. He attended Grinnell College in Iowa with financial assistance from scholarships and a family from Kauai. After his first year of college, Coolidge was drafted into the military.
Coolidge was inducted at Fort Sheridan and shipped to Camp Blanding, Florida. During basic training, Coolidge made many friends and had a good relationship with everyone.
Overseas, he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Platoon. Coolidge's first battle was in the mountains near Carrara, Italy. After Coolidge's first battle in Italy, he kept moving up the mountains above Leghorn. Coolidge recalls not showering for one month.
Coolidge recalls climbing Po Valley with his gear. Besides climbing the rigorous terrain, food was scarce. Later, the 100th and 442nd were called to France for the Gothic Line because the military needed the left flank to be covered. Coolidge was attached to the 92nd Division.
When the war ended, Coolidge was in the mountains. There were no roads in the mountains. Therefore, airplanes dropped down the rations for them. Being overseas, Coolidge missed hot cook meals. He was living off of C rations and K rations.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wakai%2C+Coolidge%3A+narrator">Wakai, Coolidge: 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=Yee%2C+T.%3A+interviewer">Yee, T.: 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>
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2007OH0844_01_Wakai
Minoru Miyasaki oral history interview, part 4 of 4, October 15, 2007
Overseas, Minoru Miyasaki spent his time in Italy seizing the mountain from the German soldiers. When Minoru was not in combat, he was a litter-bearer. He recalls carrying Senator Daniel Inouye in a stretcher to the Aid Station. Minoru explains the medics helped the wounded, and the Grave Register Unit helped retrieve the casualties off the field.
Minoru describes life on the battlefields and having three close calls with German shells. Soldiers' lives were not the only ones in danger. Minoru explains the Officers tried to avoid being a target by the German soldiers. Therefore, the Officers dressed the same as the soldiers in the field.
At the end of the war, Minoru stayed to guard the German Prisoners and the supplies because he did not have enough points to return home. In 1946, Minoru was discharged from the Military at Fort Meade, Maryland, and went to San Francisco, CA, on a bus. Coming home, Minoru was decorated with the Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, three battle stars of his European Campaign, and Good Conduct.
Post-war, Minoru worked a few jobs before working for Peralta College for 25 years before retiring. Minoru married Lilly and had two children, Karen, and Kevin. Minoru was active with the Nisei Veterans Group and going to reunions. Minoru felt the Nisei legacy helped open opportunities for future generations, and he donated his book of war photographs to Go For Broke National Education Center.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Miyasaki%2C+Minoru%3A+narrator">Miyasaki, Minoru: 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=Garvey%2C+John%3A+interviewer">Garvey, John: 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>
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2007OH0817_04_Miyasaki
Minoru Miyasaki oral history interview, part 3 of 4, October 15, 2007
Minoru Miyasaki reported to Fort Douglas before going to Camp Shelby for basic training. At Camp Shelby, the Privates and Rookies were all Nisei with a few Hawaiian Nisei. Minoru was assigned to 442nd, Company G, 4th Platoon, and trained as a motorman. On his weekend pass, Minoru visited Hattiesburg and Washington DC. Minoru discusses seeing segregation in the South.
After completing his basic training at Camp Shelby, Minoru traveled to Tule Lake to visit his father. When Minoru left Tule Lake, he boarded a bus, and the passengers applauded him. The experience was different from what the African Americans experienced in the South.
From New York, Minoru and his brother, John, departed to go overseas. A winter storm on the Atlantic Ocean caused a rough voyage for the soldiers. During the trip, German submarines were spotted in the ocean. Therefore, the Aquitania took a detour to Glasgow, Scotland, instead of England.
Minoru joined the 442nd in the South of France. When he was not a mortarman, he was a litter carrier picking up wounded Nisei. In Italy, Minoru fought with the Allied troops and the 92nd Division. Minoru recalls artillery fire from the German soldier. He describes the battle on top of Mount Fogarito.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Miyasaki%2C+Minoru%3A+narrator">Miyasaki, Minoru: 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=Garvey%2C+John%3A+interviewer">Garvey, John: 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=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>
2007OH0817_03_Miyasaki
Clarence Tamayori oral history interview, part 5 of 5, August 26, 2007
The interview with Clarence Yayoi Tamayori is combined with Robert Tokuo Nagata.
Clarence and Robert discuss their duties during the Champagne Campaign. After the Champagne Campaign, Clarence is in Germany and works at a train station with the Supplies Unit. Robert heads to Italy for the Gothic Line.
When the war ends, Clarence and Robert return to the United States. Clarence returns home in June or July a few months after the European War ends. For Robert, he returns home in December.
Post-war, Clarence suffers from shell shock. Clarence recovers and works for the Coast Guard for a while and then an air conditioning shop. As for Robert, He gets married and has three children and three grandchildren.
Both Clarence and Robert are proud of their service in 442nd and protecting their country. Robert says education is vital for future generations. Clarence wants future generations to know about the 442nd and World War Two. The Nisei Legacy opens the pathway for equal opportunity and education for the next generations.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Tamayori%2C+Clarence%3A+narrator%0D%0ANagata%2C+Robert%3A+narrator">Tamayori, Clarence: narrator
Nagata, Robert: narrator</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>
2007OH0794_05_Tamayori
Robert Nagata oral history interview, part 5 of 5, August 26, 2007
The interview with Clarence Yayoi Tamayori is combined with Robert Tokuo Nagata.
Clarence and Robert discuss their duties during the Champagne Campaign. After the Champagne Campaign, Clarence is in Germany and works at a train station with the Supplies Unit. Robert heads to Italy for the Gothic Line.
When the war ends, Clarence and Robert return to the United States. Clarence returns home in June or July a few months after the European War ends. For Robert, he returns home in December.
Post-war, Clarence suffers from shell shock. Clarence recovers and works for the Coast Guard for a while and then an air conditioning shop.
As for Robert, He gets married and has three children and three grandchildren.
Both Clarence and Robert are proud of their service in 442nd and protecting their country. Robert says education is vital for future generations. Clarence wants future generations to know about the 442nd and World War Two. The Nisei Legacy opens the pathway for equal opportunity and education for the next generations.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Nagata%2C+Robert%3A+narrator%0D%0ATamayori%2C+Clarence%3A+narrator">Nagata, Robert: narrator
Tamayori, Clarence: 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=Horsting%2C+Robert%3A+interviewer">Horsting, Robert: 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=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>
2007OH0795_05_Nagata
Ben Kitagawa oral history interview, part 4 of 6, February 24, 2002
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--European+Theater">World War II--European Theater</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--European+Theater--%22The+Gothic+Line%22">World War II--European Theater--"The Gothic Line"</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+service--442nd+Regimental+Combat+Team">World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team</a>
Kitagawa talks about getting rest and relaxation during the war and the activities that they would do, such as playing football. Next, he talks more about the Lost Battalion campaign, and moving onto Nice, where he would be able to get a hot meal and hot shower. They would have the Champagne Campaign, where the replacements would meet them and Kitagawa would shoot artillery fire at nearby German soldiers. After this, they would go back to Italy to try and break the Gothic Line, hiking up Mount Fogarito in the middle of the night. He discusses more about what the L company went through and his feelings on the work they did and the reunions thereafter.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Kitagawa%2C+Ben%3A+narrator">Kitagawa, Ben: 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=Nakaishi%2C+Russell%3A+interviewer">Nakaishi, Russell: 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=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=2002+February+24">2002 February 24</a>
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<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=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2002OH0251_04_Kitagawa
Nobe Takashima oral history interview, part 2 of 3, September 26, 2006
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--European+Theater">World War II--European Theater</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+service--Basic+training">World War II--Military service--Basic training</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+service--442nd+Regimental+Combat+Team">World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Identity+and+values">Identity and values</a>
Takashima continues his discussion on self identity during this time, as his family was being held in the camps and he was drafted by the Army. He began his basic training in Alabama where he would train for heavy weaponry, including the antitank cannon and mortars. Next, he would be shipped to Italy to begin combat, starting in Naples and going throughout Italy and France. Being on the mortar team, he would only have to actually shoot the mortar gun one time throughout his time in Europe, but he would have a lot of experiences. Finally, while involved with the Gothic Line push, the German soldiers surrendered and that would spell the end of the war for Takashima.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Takashima%2C+Nobe%3A+narrator">Takashima, Nobe: 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=Horsting%2C+Robert%3A+interviewer">Horsting, Robert: 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=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=2006+September+26">2006 September 26</a>
video/m4v
<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=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2006OH0724_02_Takashima
Ken Nihei oral history interview, part 3 of 5, August 20, 2004
Overseas, every two months Ken's company moved to a different area.
Ken's first battle was on Mount Fogarito. In the Headquarters Platoon, Ken did various assignments. One job was to be a litter-bearer and carry the wounded soldiers off the battlefield. Ken discusses the risk of being a litter-bearer. His friend Tom Nishimoto died when he was a litter-bearer carrying Captain Cassey down the mountain.
Another job was escorting POWs down the mountain. Ken, Norbori, and Chizuo Uyeda took the POWs down and were attacked by mortar shells. They were not hit, but one of the POWs was wounded.
After Mount Fogarito, the Company marched into Carrera, Italy, and he recalls the townspeople were happy to see them. Ken was in combat with the German soldiers for several weeks until Genova.
Post-war, Ken was assigned to ship the German POWs back to Germany. The group was divided into two modes of transports truck and train. Ken and his men were on the train convoy, and they had to watch 400 POWs.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Nihei%2C+Ken%3A+narrator">Nihei, Ken: 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=Hanamura%2C+Wendy%3A+interviewer">Hanamura, Wendy: 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=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>
2004OH0483_03_Nihei
Ken Nihei oral history interview, part 2 of 5, August 20, 2004
Ken Nihei was a 16 years old high school student when he went to Topaz, Utah. The perimeter was open at camp, and there were no barb wires yet. Life was different at Topaz.
Ken received his draft letter to report to Fort Douglas when he was 18 years old. From Fort Douglas, he boarded a troop train with 40 others to Camp Blanding for basic training. Ken was assigned to the 232nd Battalion.
After completing 16 weeks of basic training, he visited his family in Topaz before going overseas. The voyage was ten days, and Ken was seasick. Ken recalls his good friend, Tom Nishimoto. Tom was KIA, and Ken made contact with Tom's sister, Lilly, after 50 years.
In Marseille, he joined L Company. Ken boarded a landing craft ship on an overnight trip to Leghorn. For three-night, they practiced night marching. On the fourth day, General Clark gave a pep talk to the soldiers before they left for the frontlines in Azzano. The next day Ken was going to attack Mount Fogarito.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Nihei%2C+Ken%3A+narrator">Nihei, Ken: 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=Hanamura%2C+Wendy%3A+interviewer">Hanamura, Wendy: 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=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>
2004OH0483_02_Nihei
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