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.
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Wakai, Coolidge: narrator]]> Yee, T.: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

On the day of the evacuation, the Japanese American families living in Irvington met at the school ground and went to Tanforan on the Greyhound bus. Minoru describes the living conditions in the horse stables and assembling their straw mattress.

Minoru and his family left Tanforan after a few months, and they were sent to Topaz, Utah, by train. Arriving at Topaz, there were barbed wires and guard towers at Topaz. Minoru describes the living conditions and life in the camp. Besides attending classes, Minoru worked clearing the sagebrush.

In Topaz, a loyalty questionnaire was given to all the internees. Minoru's father did not answer questions 27 and 28 and was sent to Tule Lake. Minoru went to Tule Lake to visit his father, but he left for farming in Idaho with George and Harry. After Minoru was reclassified 1A, he was drafted into the Military. Minoru remembered leaving Topaz at night to Fort Douglas due to the Kibeis.

At Fort Douglas, Minoru took his physical exam and requested to join the Air Force. Minoru was declined for the Air Force but was accepted for the Military. Later Minoru went to Camp Shelby and was shocked by how different it is from California. After weeks of training, Minoru picked up the Hawaiian language.

Post-war, Minoru revisited Topaz, Utah, and saw a plaque with the names who served in the Military. However, many names were missing including Minoru and his brothers. There was a petition to add the missing names.





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Miyasaki, Minoru: narrator]]> Garvey, John: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

Minoru and his siblings helped their father on the farm before and after school. Minoru attended Warm Springs Grammar School and then Washington High School. In addition to attending primary school, he attended Japanese Language School.

When the Miyasaki family was not farming, they would travel around the Bay Area to visit relatives, do Japanese grocery shopping, celebrate festivals, and saw Japanese films.

On December 7, Minoru was at home when he heard the news about Pearl Harbor on the radio. The following day at school, all the Japanese American students were sent home from school and were told to stay home until the war ended. Later, the government issued restrictions such as blackouts, curfew, and travel restrictions.

In pre-war times, Minoru recalled discrimination. His father could not vote and own land. Also, Asians were not allowed to swim in public swimming pools or live in certain neighborhoods. After the Pearl Harbor attack, Minoru and his family evacuated to Tanofran and Topaz, Utah. Minoru graduated High school in Topaz.]]>
Miyasaki, Minoru: narrator]]> Garvey, John: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>
World War II--American Concentration Camps--Topaz (Central Utah)]]> World War II--Temporary Detention Facilities--Tanforan]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training--Camp Shelby]]> Hibino, Yukio: narrator]]> Hawkins, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2001 February 24]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]>
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.
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Nihei, Ken: narrator]]> Hanamura, Wendy: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>

Ken's father immigrated to the United States from Fukushima-ken, Japan, to help his family financially. In Sacramento, he worked in the rice field and a cannery. After saving enough money, he opened a delicatessen store in Downtown Sacramento. Ken's mother was a housewife who cared for seven children (five boys and two girls).

Ken grew up in a farming background in Sacramento. He enjoyed being outdoors, playing with his friends, and watching movies. The family moved around several times before setting in the Bay area.

Before the Pearl Harbor attack, Ken had aspirations to graduate High School and attend college. On December 7, Ken was at home listening to the radio when he heard the news about Pearl Harbor.

When Executive Order 9066 was signed by the President, Ken's family evacuated from their residence. Ken and his family went to Tanforan Assembly Center. He described the living conditions and life at Tanforan before going to Topaz, Utah.




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Nihei, Ken: narrator]]> Hanamura, Wendy: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]>
World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath]]> World War II--American Concentration Camps--Topaz (Central Utah)]]> World War II--Temporary Detention Facilities--Santa Anita]]> Kojimoto, Mitsunobu: narrator]]> Wasserman, Steven: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 May 01]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Alameda, California ]]>