Ray Shiiki oral history interview, part 3 of 3, September 9, 2008
Ray Shiiki is inducted at Fort Douglas, UT then goes to Camp Hood. He is assigned to the Tank Destroyer Outfit. After Camp Hood, he goes to Fort Snelling and is assigned as Supply Sergeant, F Company.
When Fort Snelling disbanded, the soldiers transfer to Presidio, Monterey. At Presidio, Ray remains with F Company and has the same duties at Fort Snelling. On some occasions, he visits San Francisco.
The war ends, and Ray discusses his thought on the atomic bomb dropping in Japan. After being discharged from the Army, Ray does not reenlist.
Post-war, Ray becomes an independent farmer with his brother, Tan. Also, Ray marries Mary Muramatsu and has three children. Ray describes photographs of his family and sports team. Ray values and appreciates his family and friends. He says he is grateful for the opportunity to make an oral history and share his war and camp experiences with future generations.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Shiiki%2C+Ray%3A+narrator">Shiiki, Ray: narrator</a>
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2008OH0931_03_Shiiki
Sukeo Oji oral history interview, part 6 of 7, May 26, 2002
Sukeo "Skeets" Oji returned to the United States and was assigned to Engineer Section, Headquarters, 6th Army, Presidio, Monterey. In 1954, he was reassigned to Japan as the liaison officer between the Ministry of Construction and the US Army Forces Japan. His task was to work with the Japan Construction Agency to build all the Army facilities in Japan.
As a Liaison Officer, the big mission at the time was the Government Relocation Construction Program. Allocating the funding for the program would take a long time. However, Japan decided to use their reparation money to construct the buildings to meet the safety standards. When the construction was complete, the next mission was to build a commutation system throughout Japan.
He finished the project in 1957, and return to the United States. Skeets was reassigned to G4, Headquarters Company, 6th Army, Presidio, Monterey. He was a General Staff Officer in charge of maintenance. After he finished his tour, he asked to go back to Japan but was declined.
In 1959 Skeets went to Hanau, Germany, and was assigned as an Engineer Officer. Later he was assigned to replace a Major in Baumholder as Post Engineer responsible for maintenance and engineering facility. He also oversaw a Quarter Master Depot and Hospital. When Skeets was not working, he explored Europe and went sightseeing.
He finished his career in Europe in 1960 and was reassigned to Sierra Army Depot as Post Engineer and served for two years. Besides working, he also continued his education to get his engineering status for the Federal Civil Service. Skeets got his degree and was promoted to GS11 Engineer.
In 1963, Skeets retired from his military service. Skeets moved to Berkeley and worked as a civilian as a Utilities Management Engineer for the Navy.
Skeets remarried and lived in Berkeley, but the commute to Sharp Army Depot in Stockton was too long. Skeets found a job at Oakland Army Base as an Engineer before having the opportunity with the Navy as a Utilities Contracting Officer. Right before Skeets' retirement in 1978, he suggested to the Navy to microfiche the remaining files. He ended up working a few more years.
After retiring from the Military and Federal Civil Service of 42 years, Skeets now spends his time with his wife and children. Skeets has two daughters, and his second wife has three daughters. Skeets and his second wife have thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Skeets love traveling and recalls his trip to China.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oji%2C+Sukeo%3A+narrator">Oji, Sukeo: 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+Govan%3A+interviewer">Yee, Govan: interviewer</a>
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2002OH0285_06_Oji
Sukeo Oji oral history interview, part 2 of 7, May 26, 2002
Sukue “Skeets” Oji enrolled at Sacramento Junior College and took flying classes. However, Skeets did not complete his civilian flying classes because he was drafted. Skeet went to Presidio Monterey for his induction and was stationed at Moffett Field. On December 7, Skeets was in San Francisco and visited his wife. As they left the zoo, he heard the news about Pearl Harbor.
Skeets returned to Moffett Airfield and was assigned to guard a transformer. Skeets discusses his various duties ranging from jeep patrolling the fence line, guarding the hanger, and drafting. Before Christmas, he was with the 554th Squadron and transferred to Williams Field, Arizona. After three months, Skeets was promoted to Corporal.
Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, was on inactive reserve. Skeets went home to Santa Marie to his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Aratani helped Skeets' parents and provided them with land to farm. Later Skeets' family voluntarily moved to the Salt Lake City area, but Executive Order 9066 went into effect. Skeet and his family took what they could carry and went to the Assembly Center.
To stay busy, Skeets found a job in the Administration Offices with an Engineer overseeing the maintenance of the camp. When Gila was ready for occupancy, the internees left Tulare. Skeets stayed behind to tidy up Tulare and joined his family at Gila a few days later. At Gila, Skeets assisted on the surveying team.
Before Gila, Skeets applied to continue his education and received orders to be released from camp. The University of Nebraska accepted Niseis from various camps, and Skeets went there to continue his education in engineering. Skeets recalls Dr. Drew from a Methodist Church being helpful to the Nisei Students. Besides school, Skeets worked to support himself. He discusses stereotypes and the misconceptions society had about the Japanese Americans.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oji%2C+Sukeo%3A+narrator">Oji, Sukeo: 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+Govan%3A+interviewer">Yee, Govan: 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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2002OH0285_02_Oji
Joseph Ichiuji oral history interview, part 2 of 7, June 28, 1999
<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--American+Concentration+Camps--Poston+%28Colorado+River%29">World War II--American Concentration Camps--Poston (Colorado River)</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--522nd+Field+Artillery+Battalion">World War II--Military service--522nd Field Artillery Battalion</a>
Ichiuji would be drafted into the Army, getting inducted in San Francisco and taking his basic training at Camp Roberts. There, he would learn to shoot the Howitzer gun and join in on maneuvers. However, once the attacks on Pearl Harbor occurred, he was discharged from the Army and would return to his family that was being evacuated from their home. They would end up in Poston concentration camp, Ichiuji talks about his and his parent's reaction to being forcefully removed. Next, he talks about the living conditions of the camp, being in a desert with barbed wire all around. In order to escape the camps, he would end up volunteering for the Army after hearing that the 442nd was being formed.
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<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=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=US+Army+Center+of+Military+History%3A+sponsor">US Army Center of Military History: sponsor</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>
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video/m4v
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1999OH0071_02_Ichiuji
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