Arthur Kurahara oral history interview, part 2 of 4, October 6, 2004
Files
Dublin Core
Creator
Description
Arthur Kurahara discusses working in the sugar mill as a mechanic in 1939 until the war. After being discharge from the war, he goes back to the sugar mill and gets promoted as supervisor.
Kurahara learns about the Pearl Harbor attack through the neighbor girl and is in disbelief. He then he listens to the radio to verify the information. Kurahara volunteers when there is an announcement for volunteers. Kurahara says being a volunteer is hard. At the time people are looking down upon those who volunteer especially Japanese Americans. It is a sense of stabbing the Japanese Americans in the back. He did not expect this type of reaction.
Kurahara goes to Schofield Barracks and assign to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. His family and friends send him off before going to the Mainland. After five days of travel, he reaches Oakland and then is relocated to Mississippi. At Camp Shelby, Kurahara does his basic training. Kurahara trains with the heavy weapons company. His duty is to carry water cooler for machine gun. The water cooler keeps the gun cool when it is firing.
During training, the USO gives the opportunity for the soldiers to visit an interment camp in Arkansas. Kurarhara goes because he is curious to see what kind of camp it is. Kurahara has lots of respect for the Mainland boys who volunteered from the interment camps.
Kurahara learns about the Pearl Harbor attack through the neighbor girl and is in disbelief. He then he listens to the radio to verify the information. Kurahara volunteers when there is an announcement for volunteers. Kurahara says being a volunteer is hard. At the time people are looking down upon those who volunteer especially Japanese Americans. It is a sense of stabbing the Japanese Americans in the back. He did not expect this type of reaction.
Kurahara goes to Schofield Barracks and assign to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. His family and friends send him off before going to the Mainland. After five days of travel, he reaches Oakland and then is relocated to Mississippi. At Camp Shelby, Kurahara does his basic training. Kurahara trains with the heavy weapons company. His duty is to carry water cooler for machine gun. The water cooler keeps the gun cool when it is firing.
During training, the USO gives the opportunity for the soldiers to visit an interment camp in Arkansas. Kurarhara goes because he is curious to see what kind of camp it is. Kurahara has lots of respect for the Mainland boys who volunteered from the interment camps.
Subject
Type
Format
video/m4v
Extent
0:29:02
Language
Date
Identifier
2004OH0498_02_Kurahara
Oral History Item Type Metadata
URL
http://www.goforbroke.org/oral_histories/mp4/498-Kurahara-Arthur-2.m4v
Date of Birth
1921 Jul 08
Location of Birth
War or Conflict
Branch of Service
Entrance into Service
Location of Basic Training
Unit of Service
Campaigns/Battles
Index
Yes
Citation
Kurahara, Arthur: narrator et al., “Arthur Kurahara oral history interview, part 2 of 4, October 6, 2004,” Japanese American Military History Collective, accessed April 19, 2024, https://ndajams.omeka.net/items/show/1050837.