George Matsunaga oral history interview, part 1 of 3, October 9, 2010
George Mitsuru Matsunaga was born on May 28, 1925, in Wailuku, Maui. George had many positive influences that shaped him during his informal educational years. At home, his parents taught him filial piety and to study hard. In English school and Japanese language school, the teachers taught him to be a good student and person. Life outside school, George was active in the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. He also enjoyed playing hanafuda, karuta, movies, and sports.
Life for George changed on December 7, 1941. George recalls learning about the Pearl Harbor attack and described Japan's attempt to attack the oil refinery. At school, George remembered digging trenches and carrying a gas mask every day even to graduation. After Pearl Harbor, George feared what would happen to the Japanese American community.
When George graduated high school, he attended the University of Hawaii and worked for a pineapple cannery. At the University of Hawaii, the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) recruited George. On January 3, George was sworn in for service and went to a replacement depo outside Schofield. George left Hawaii for the first time to go to the mainland for training.
At the CIC School in Maryland (Camp Ritchie). George learned FBI work. Later, George went to Fort Meade, Maryland, and took furlough. George received news the war ended and was shipped out immediately to Camp Stonemann Pittsburg to go overseas.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Matsunaga%2C+George%3A+narrator">Matsunaga, George: 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=Hawkins%2C+Richard%3A+interviewer">Hawkins, Richard: 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=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>
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2010OH1015_01_Matsunaga
Kazuo Hinatsu oral history interview, part 4 of 6, February 10, 2005
<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--European+Theater">World War II--European Theater</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--442nd+Regimental+Combat+Team">World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Military+service--Veteran+history">Military service--Veteran history</a>
Hinatsu would arrive in Naples after a long journey across the ocean. He talks about his war experiences and route that the unit took while in combat. First, he talks about going through Civitavecchia and Sasseta, stopping at Hill 140, where the 442nd took heavy casualties. Throughout the war, he would be assigned to set wire down to help with communications at the front line. He also talks about the shelling that the German soldiers shot at them, including a close call that threw Hinatsu out of a trench, leaving him shaking with fear. Next, they would head through Bruyeres and the Vosges Mountains, where they would face tree bursts and rescue the Lost Battalion.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hinatsu%2C+Kazuo%3A+narrator">Hinatsu, Kazuo: 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>
<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=2005+February+10">2005 February 10</a>
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2005OH0530_04_Hinatsu
Sadaichi Kubota oral history interview, part 4 of 7, September 26, 2003
<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--European+Theater">World War II--European Theater</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--442nd+Regimental+Combat+Team">World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team</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--Veteran+history">World War II--Veteran history</a>
Kubota discusses about digging a trenches for sleeping during wartime and how he suffers from a back injury. In the Vosges Mountain, soldiers are afraid of tree burst from shrapnel. So the trenches are covered to protect them from danger. In the winter time to keep warm, soldiers sleep in pairs.
During combat and battles, there is no time for bathing except when resting time. Soldiers either shower when the shower unit comes or use their helmet to get water to do quick bathing. For food, soldiers have K rations or C rations. Overseas, Kubota recalls during summer they would raid farm houses and eat fruits. In Romo-Arno Kubota would exchange cigarettes, candy or rations with Nationals for local food.
Kubota recollects his wearing his new boots after Bruyeres. Kubota hurts his ankle and is in field hospital where he meets a French boy. Kubota is kind to the French boy and gives him food. In return the french boy invites him to his house where Kubota eats bake chicken and potatoes. The next morning before Kubota gets ready to leave, the French boy gives him an egg and wishes him luck. Kubota feels the blessing from the French boy protected him. When the war in Europe ends and Kubota guards prisoners of war. He also discusses war memorabilia he obtains overseas.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Kubota%2C+Sadaichi%3A+narrator">Kubota, Sadaichi: 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=Matsunaga%2C+Ford%3A+interviewer">Matsunaga, Ford: 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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<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2003+September+26">2003 September 26</a>
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2003OH0382_04_Kubota