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…
Enoch Kanaya reflects on his time in combat and his squad members.
He said their confidence in each other helped them do their jobs well and they trusted each other.
After the war ended, Enoch was assigned to guard the Prisoners of War (POWs)…
Nishijima recalls his families forced removal to Santa Anita Temporary Detention Center and then to Granada (Amache) Concentration Camp. He describes the living conditions at camp and how he obtains a job as a truck driver while living there. When…
George Suzuki was drafted and went to Military Intelligence Service Language School. The experience at Fort Snelling was easygoing because he already knew some of the Niseis. Also, his girlfriend lived in St. Paul.
Minato discusses basic training and discharge. After his discharge he meets his wife and gets married. They have children and grandchildren. Minato shares his wartime experience. During Japanese Language School he discloses his memorable moments at…
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.
At Fort Snelling, Frank Hiratsuka works in the postal section processing incoming mail. On his weekends off, sometimes Frank flies home to visit his parents. Frank is later assigned to go to Schofield in Honolulu, HI.
James Fujii felt the teachers were instrumental with the move to Nyssa. The teachers protected the Japanese Americans from discrimination. In 1944, James graduated high school. He recalls spending three and a half years in Nyssa during wartime.…
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.
Onchi discuss receiving treatment for his injuries and being discharged. Onchi's brother is also drafted into service. Post-war, Onchi goes to college and becomes an Optometrist, gets married and has children. He receives the Purple Heart and Bronze…
Edward Fujii's interview is with his wife, Aya Fujii.
When Edward Fujii receives his draft notice, he reports to Fort Dix, Utah, for his induction into the Army and then goes to Camp Fannin, TX, for basic training.
Nakamoto discusses various job experiences from working at Federal position level, MCI, and owning his own company. Nakamoto is part of the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) and he describes their mission and contribution to the…
Sato discusses a speech he gave during Memorial Day; talks about the generational differences between Issei, Nisei, Sansei, and Yonsei; and discusses participation in oral history interviews. He then shows and describes photographs taken with…
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.
Robert Sugimoto moves to California from Detroit with his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. He enrolls in television school and graduates six months later. Robert works several jobs before buying an appliance store. He operates a store called Bob's…
Ko Stanley Sameshima's Army career is full of many contributions and accomplishments. He graduates from Military Intelligence Language School and becomes a linguist during the Occupation of Japan. Ko joins the civil censorship as a First Lieutenant…
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…
In May 1984, Shigeo retires from Northrop Grumman and returns to Hawaii to live with his sister. Shigeo is grateful for those who have shown him gratitude for his service, especially his doctors. He shares his experience of appreciation with the…
Janet Brown Hardwick Brown is the oldest of the Hardwick sisters. She is married to Phil Brown and has three children and grandchildren. Susan Hardwick is the youngest sister and is a real estate agent for 30 years. The Hardwick sisters start a…
Seichi Sakaida discusses his leaders and squad members. He is in basic training for almost a year before deployment overseas. He lands in Naples, Italy. Seichi is in K Company and the mortar pool unit. His duty is to support the infantrymen.…
Kubota discusses meeting his wife and being married for 45 years. Post-war, Kubota and his wife move to California where he finds a job at the VA Hospital in West Los Angeles. He works for teh VA Hospital for 25 years before retiring. Kubota and his…
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…
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…
Paul Takao Bannai likes to be active in the community, but there is not enough time. Paul is part of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) for more than 60 years. Paul would like to put more time into helping Go For Broke. However, if they…
Paul Takao Bannai's political career starts in 1972 when he is elected to Gardena City Council. Later, in 1973, he is elected to California State Legislature with the help of President Reagan and the widow of an Assemblyman. Paul is the first…
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,…
When Lillian Matsudaira moves to Philadelphia, she works at an insurance company as a clerk. Lillian stays in Philadelphia for nine months before going to Cleveland. In 1945 Seattle reopens, and Lillian goes back home at the end of July.…
Tadayoshi Sugiyama discusses the two forms of citizenship. One by birth and one by bloodline. Although Japanese Americans are born in the United States, their treatment after Pearl Harbor shows otherwise. Tadayoshi says the FBI has a lot of…
Tadayoshi "Tad" Sugiyama is originally from San Francisco City, few blocks away from Japan Town. Tadayoshi's Issei parents come to the United States in the early 1900s and work at Tadayoshi's grandfather's restaurant in San Francisco, California.…
In 1948, Toshi Beverly Iba returns to the United States. She reunites with her older brother and helps him with his nursery business. Toshi also attends a Los Angeles Costume Design School and later graduates.
Post-war, Shigeru Iba he meets his wife, Toshi Beverly Iba. They have been married for 54 years and have three children, Gary, Glenn, and Alan. Glenn has two sons, and Alan has two sons.
In 1946, Shigeru and his brother buys a nursery together…
Yoroku Ito discusses the German soldiers surrendering and the end of the war. At the end of the war, he is the Company Mail Clerk. Yoroku discusses helping the Lieutenant mail German items back to the mainland. The Lieutenant also gives Yoroku a few…
William Yoshito Thompson arrives in France and lands in Marseille. William's unit is the 2nd Battalion Head Quarters, which services the Rifle Company. In the Rifle Company, there is E Company, F Company, and G Company (the heavy weapons company).…
Sukeo “Skeets” Oji worked for 42 years in the military and federal civil service. His hard work was due to his parent's upbringing. Skeets' mother was a picture bride who immigrated to the United States. She gave birth to eight children and raised…
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…
James Murata described his war experience as embittered and prideful. He discusses the consequences of human beings’ actions. He believed the Nisei served their country with loyalty and honor during World War Two. James does not think about…
Charley discusses the opportunity to visits, Jerome and Rohwer. When traveling to New York after the war, he meets a mutual friend of Eva's who he corresponds with during wartime. During wartime, he describes how the soldiers' shower on the…
Sumio Frank Shimada was in the Regimental Reserves and carried the BAR. He recalls moving up to the combat zone, and on the side of the road, he saw blanket-covered bodies. Frank could not help but wonder who they were and who they left behind. Those…
Post-war, Hitoshi G. Sameshima is active in the community giving back to others. He discusses how he gets in evolved with the Japanese American National Museum (JANM).
Thanks to the Nisei contribution to World War Two, future generations will…
Minamide discusses the war ending and homecoming. Before being discharge at Camp Beale, he is ask to join the Military Intelligence Service . Since his Father is passed away, he feels his duties are to return home to his family. When returning home,…
Miya discusses discharge in 1946 in Chicago. In Chicago Miya is reunites with other Nisei soldiers who serve in the Military. He describes the contribution of the Nisei soldiers to World War Two.
During the occupation, George Mitsuru Matsunaga stayed with the CIC. He recalled a food shortage in Japan and saw the Japanese nationals trying to survive. During George's travel, he became friends with three Marines who fought in the Guadalcanal on…
Tamagawa discusses his post-war education and education. He details about getting married and has two children. He shares an experience with Japanese Prisoners of War. Tamagawa leaves a message for future generations and what was the hardest part…
In New Guinea, Nobuo "Nob" Yamashita's assignment is to interrogate Prisoners of War (POWs). He says the POWs are happy someone can speak their native language and be treated decently. The goal of interrogating the POWs is to find out their mission…
Fukasawa discusses moving to to Oelwein, Iowa because his wife has a teaching job there. He gets a job at John Deere and saves enough money to buy a house. Later he joins the National Guard in 1947 until 1952.
Hara discusses his occupation experience in Japan and his contribution as a Nisei. During occupation, Hara's duties involve translation and interpreting. Hara describes first experience in an interrogation is with a Japanese Admiral. He also helps…
Post-war, John Akira Takekawa sat in on the war crime trial of General Tomoyuki Yamashita. The General Yamashita trial was daily and took approximately 30 to 60 days for the hearing. John also attended General Masaharu Homma's trial in Manila.
…
After the war, Susumu Sarae goes back to Hawaii. He is a taxis driver for several years before going back to Okinawa, Japan. In Okinawa, Susumu works for the civil service for a year on rebuilding houses. Part of his duties is looking for land and…
Misaka discusses his basketball teammates and having reunions every five years. He also takes about his contribution to his basketball team. After basketball, gets involved in bowling and other sports. Misaka meets his wife in Salt Lake in 1947 and…
Yukihiro discusses working at Brother-in-Law's grocery store in Bellfower post-war. Shortly after he opens a produce market for 17 years in Norwalk and went wholesale after. From prewar and post-war, Yukihiro describes the changes of the city. He…
During the Occupation of Japan, Isamu "Sam" Saito got an opportunity to travel around Japan. He recalls visiting Osaka, and the locals have their dialect. Luckily, his cousin from Yokohama helps translate for him.
Akama discusses his homecoming. He details about his post-war employment. Akama describes meeting his wife and raising a family. Akama shares photographs he took during the war and post-war.
Yano discusses his near death experience from surgery, Army Day Parade, and going to the East Coast. While visiting the East Coast, Yano experience discrimination. He details about being discharged, education, and adjust to civilian life. Yano…
Joe Saito discusses Japanese traditions and Japanese being able to receive citizenship in 1952. Post-war he meets his wife at a YMCA dance and marries her in 1947. They have three children and grandchildren. Saito gets involve in civic work after his…
Yamane continues to reflect on his war service. He talks about his son's service. He discusses his wife's first marriage. He describes his children and grandchildren. He shares his best experiences while in the military. He talks about training new…
Shinmoto discusses the family business and meeting his wife. Shinmoto and his wife have three children, two grandchildren, and a great grandchild. He shares advice for the future generation and photographs prewar and post-war.
Post-war, James returns to the United States and goes to trade school on a G.I. Bill. James learns to bake and becomes a baker for five years. Eventually, he changes professions and goes into produce because the job is stable with union pay.…
Kurahara discusses getting discharged from the hospital and being sent to a reconversion unit for training. Shortly after, Kurahara finds out the war is over and is assign to guard the Prisoners of War. Post-war, Kurahara graduates from Columbia…
Theodore "Ted" Yenari discusses meeting his wife, children and grandchildren. He shares his hopes and dreams for his grandchildren for the future. After his military career, Yenari is active in community organizations and competes in pole vault,…
Clarence "Matt' Matsumoto discusses a time when he encounters German soldier during battle that is non-combative. Matsumoto recalls raising their hands to each other and walking away. During the war, Matsumoto serves in the K Company mortar squad as…
Post-war, Ken Nihei and five other 442nd men escorted 400 German POWs to Rosenheim, Germany. Ken was in Italy for a year and eight months before going home.
In August 1946, Ken returned to the United States, and he took a short road trip to San…
Hanamura recites a poem he learned in school, discusses how he would like to be remembered, talks about his friendships with other veterans, and discusses meeting his wife. Lastly, Hanamura talks about his children, discusses the differences between…
Yokogawa discusses his experiences in Rangoon, including staying in a Baptist mission house, and visiting a temple while sightseeing. He also talks about the many locations he was stationed within India and Pakistan and being stationed with a British…
Toyoda discusses today's Japanese American community and the future of Japanese Americans. He gives a message to Nisei veterans. Toyoda also discusses the night of December 7, 1941.
Watada discusses how the legacy of 442nd Regimental Combat Team proves that the Japanese Americans are Americans. After the contribution of the Nisei soldiers there is better treatment of Japanese Americans for the future. Watada can see the…
Takahashi discusses the state of the Japanese American community. He details about not getting married and the Korean War. Takahashi also discusses about Civil Rights being violated during World War Two and details about his hope for future…
When Shigeru Inouye is at McCormick General Hospital in Pasadena, CA, he meets another wounded Lieutenant who encourages him to go to school in Kentucky.
On August 25, 1947, Shigeru received an acceptance letter to Centre College. Shigeru shares…
Ariyoshi discusses his transition to business consulting after completing his term as governor of Hawaii, as well some of the other positions he held in various industries. He then talks about meeting his wife, and discusses his children and their…
Murakami discusses his grandchildren and the Japanese American Community. Murakami is on the board of the Japanese American Citizen League for a year and the Japanese American Veteran Association for six years. Currently Murakami is involve with…
Tsuneishi discusses his sister Florence in Japan and his other sister Frances works for the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS). Tsuneishi recalls the ranking of the Military Intelligence Service and his promotion. The emotional impact…
Sakoda recalls the moment he learned about the end of World War Two, and his long journey back to the United States. He also discusses returning to Kauai after receiving his discharge papers and seeing his family for the first time after the war…
