Ken Miya oral history interview, part 2 of 5, February 23, 2002

Miya discusses hearing about Pearl Harbor on the radio on December 7, 1941. During this time, Miya is 18 years old attending Senior year of High School. He did not feel racism or prejudices from his classmates. However, he does experiences racism after high school at restaurants.

He graduates from High School the following year in May when Pearl Harbor is attacked. Unable to apply for college, Miya looks for a job. Miya says that the only jobs available for Japanese Americans are minimal labor. He finds employment at a canning company. Miya would work at the canning company during the winter months and return back to farming for harvesting.

Miya tries to volunteer for service after High School but could not due to his Japanese ancestry. He is considered A1, enemy alien. Later Miya is drafted and is on enlisted leave until 1944. In 1945 Miya goes to Fort Meade for basic training. On his free time on the weekend, he would travel to Hattiesburg and New Orleans. After 17 weeks of training, his unit is deployed and he stays a month longer for cat eye driving. Once overseas he goes to a replacement camp and is assign to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

video/m4v

0:29:14

2002OH0246_02_Miya

http://www.goforbroke.org/oral_histories/mp4/246-Miya-Ken-2.m4v

1923 Mar 06

Yes