Sukeo Oji oral history interview, part 4 of 7, May 26, 2002
Sukeo “Skeets” Oji discusses the rebuilding of Japan. He joined the 553rd engineering construction group to make housing in Sendai. He described the area after the bombing. The individuals who assisted with the rebuilding of Japan were Japanese local contractors. The Government established a special procurement agency in the Administry of Construction. Skeets was a Second Lieutenant assigned to the S2 Operation Section. He supervised the surveying and designing of the building.
During the occupation, Skeets was in Japan from 1946-48 helping with the family housing and making inspection reports for military housing. Skeets related the relocation of the Japanese families to the American Government relocating the Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor.
In 1948, Skeets got orders to return to the United States. Skeets brought his family with him, and he reported to Fort Pickett Virginia. However, the engineering program has deactivated the program and locked up everything.
Skeets left Fort Pickett and went to Fort Benning to attend engineering school. He worked on a few engineering projects before going to the Pentagon to request to be sent to Japan. Before going to Japan, he settled his wife and children in Yuma City. In 1950, Skeets returns to Japan for the second time to build additional buildings.
Later, joined the 2nd Infantry Team from Fort Lewis to go to the Korean War.
<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>
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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>
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2002OH0285_04_Oji
Masato Eddy Kurushima oral history interview, part 7 of 8, February 23, 2002
Masato "Eddy" Kurushima discusses why the natives in the Pacific did not like anyone with Japanese ancestry. Eddy recalled an encounter with the Filipino natives and was mistaken for Japanese soldiers. Eddy says there was always a guard with the linguists for protection. Overall, linguists are treated well in the Pacific.
In the Pacific, there were cases of Japanese soldiers impersonating Nisei soldiers. Therefore, remembering the password is vital. Eddy also discussed acts of heroism in the Pacific. He recalls a Kibei on the frontline rescuing a Japanese soldier.
At the end of the war, Eddy processed the prisoners and civilians at the POW Camp. He shares the difficult part of being an MIS. After the Pacific Theater, Eddy goes to occupation Japan.
Going to Japan post-war, Eddy sees the destruction of the cities and the suffering of the locals. Prewar, you associate the Japanese people and the country with beauty. However, that has changed because of the devastation. Eddy was assigned to Sugamo Prison and the Zama Replacement Depot.
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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=Hawkins%2C+Richard%3A+interviewer">Hawkins, Richard: interviewer</a>
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2002OH0247_07_Kurushima
Masato Yamashita oral history interview, part 3 of 3, October 4, 2011
Masato Yamashita's interview is with Lloyd Fujitani.
When the news of the war is over, Masato Yamashita hears that they might go to the Pacific, and soldiers from I Company sign up for the Military Intelligence Service (MIS).
At the end of the war, Masato's duty is guarding German Prisoners and attends school. Lloyd Fujitani also has guard duty at the end of the war. He watches over the surplus supply and Army equipment. Lloyd recalls the Army recruiting him for the 88th Division. However, he wants to return home.
In December, Masato is discharged and returns to Lodi, CA. He lives with his mother since the passing of his father. Masato works on the ranch for a few years before going to National Trade School to learn mechanics. Later he works at Pine Street Garage in Lodi for ten years. Masato saves enough money and buys the building next door to the auto shop. He owns a supply store called Pine Auto Supply for several years before selling the business.
In September 1946, Lloyd is discharge. Lloyd works on the ten-acre vineyard producing wine for winemakers.
Masato and Lloyd discuss the Nisei legacy. Masato says Japanese Americans and other Asians have more equality now than before thanks to the 442nd contributions.
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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>
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2011OH1049_03_Yamashita
Masami Hayashi oral history interview, part 1 of 2, September 7, 2006
<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--Family">Identity and values--Family</a>
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<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--Asiatic-Pacific+Theater+--Philippine+Islands">World War II--Asiatic-Pacific Theater --Philippine Islands</a>
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Hayashi begins the interview speaking about his family background, being born in Denver and what it was like to grow up there. As a child, he would have the chance to live in Japan and would do so for two years, learning all about the Japanese culture and language that would aid him for the rest of his life. He discusses going to Fort Lupton High School and also attending Japanese language school at the same time. Next, he talks about hearing news of the Pearl Harbor attacks on the radio and wanting to join the Air Force, but was rejected. Instead, he would attend the Colorado School of Mines, studying electrical engineering. However, later he would end up getting drafted into the Army and being placed with the Military Intelligence School (MIS). He would report to Fort Snelling and be placed in the advanced class, where after just six months, he would be shipped out to Manila to begin his assignment translating and interpreting. He discusses working in both Manila and Australia, and being involved with the War Crimes Trials and interrogating prisoners of war.
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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=Leivici%2C+Joanne%3A+interviewer">Leivici, Joanne: 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+07">2006 September 07</a>
video/m4v
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2006OH0705_01_Hayashi