While stationed in Germany, Willie meets his future wife Ingeborg. He describes what he does for socializing. Two examples Willie mentions are eating at Wienerschnitzel and going to the opera house.

Besides being stationed in Germany, Willie is also stationed in the United States and Vietnam. This included Fort Lee Virginia, American Embassy in Germany (until 1959), Fort Huachuca Arizona (about a year), American Embassy in Vietnam (Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay), Eglin Army Base in Florida (training camp for Rangers for jungle and swap training stay a few months), Strike Command Headquarters MacDil Air force Base 1962 and Fulda Germany Army Base. Willie says there are not many military setups. He works with the Military Assistance Advisory to help set up the German military-diplomatic Corps.

In November 1971, Willie retires from his service and works at various companies such as Toyota, Defense Contract Administration Service, and University of Houston Procurement Technical Assistant Services.

Willie and Ingeborg have four children together - Linda, Judy, Tim, and Tom. Their grandchildren are a dog and a cat. Willie's purpose of doing oral history is to share what lessons his Issei parents taught him and what childhood experiences shaped his thinking.

From racism in the military, life lessons, and his military service, Willie wants his children to do their best and tell the truth. He gives an example of reparations and how not every Japanese American did not receive reparations.

At the end of the interview, Ingeborg speaks and says their marriage is like Rocky Road ice cream and she hopes their children will appreciate their dad after watching the oral history. ]]>
Tanamachi, Willie: narrator
Horsting, Robert: interviewer
Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]>
Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2006-05-19]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Houston, Texas]]>

During World War II, like some Japanese American soldiers, Willie faces struggles with promotions within the military. The only option is to transfer to different units. At the time Battle of the Bulge starts, Willie is approved to transfer and joins 171st Infantry Separate.

Willie discusses his duties and departments within the military. He works in the personnel department and post-war in supplies. After the war, Willie stays with the military. His decision is based on the way he is treated as an equal by his colleagues. Although there are some racist individuals, there are more people who see past his ethnicity.

During Occupation in Germany, Willie stays there from 1945 to 1953. He describes the effects of war on the cities and how the cities start to rebuilding economically. He also mentions the Hermann Goring and Rudolph Hess’s trial and the German gang Werewolves.

In 1946, Willie works in a supply depot in Munich. There are two supply depots. One is called Indiana Supply Depot (food) and the other is called Alabama Supply Deport (clothing). When troop's dependents came over to Germany, the BMW factory becomes furniture storage for dependents. As the economy starts thriving, the BMW asked for their factory back to build cars. Besides working in the military, Willie finds himself lucky in love and marries a German woman. They have been married for 53 years.]]>
Tanamachi, Willie: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer
]]>
Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2006-05-19]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Houston, Texas]]>
World War II--Veteran history]]> World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team]]> Identity and values--Nisei]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Tokunaga, Toshio: narrator]]> Horsting, Robert: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2007 November 17]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Bellevue, Washington]]> Military service--Post-World War II service]]> Identity and values]]> Japanese Americans--Post-World War II]]> Sakamoto, Manabu: narrator]]> Horsting, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 27]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]> Industry and employment]]> World War II--Military service--Basic training]]> Military service--Post-World War II service]]> Sakamoto, Manabu: narrator]]> Horsting, Richard: interviewer]]> Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher]]> Go For Broke National Education Center]]> 2004 March 27]]> eng]]> Oral Histories]]> Torrance, California ]]>

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