Paul Bannai oral history interview, part 1 of 8, September 15, 2002
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Paul Takeo Bannai is born July 4, 1920, in Delta, Colorado. Paul explains the meaning of this name. Paul grows up in Utah and Colorado before moving to Boyle Heights, CA.
On December 7, Paul hears about the Pearl Harbor attack, and he reports to the Elective Service Board in Exposition Park. Before December 7, Japanese Americans are classified as 1A. However, after Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans are classified 4C.
Due to the 4C classification, Japanese Americans cannot serve. Paul and a few others from the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) write a letter expressing their rights as citizens. As a result, the Japanese American classification is changed, and Paul volunteers for the military.
When evacuation orders are announced, Paul's family goes to Manzanar first. Paul delays his evacuation to continue his work at the bank. Later, Paul joins his family at Manzanar briefly before going to Idaho for farming. Through the Quaker's Program, Paul applies for college and goes to Drake University, IA.
On December 7, Paul hears about the Pearl Harbor attack, and he reports to the Elective Service Board in Exposition Park. Before December 7, Japanese Americans are classified as 1A. However, after Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans are classified 4C.
Due to the 4C classification, Japanese Americans cannot serve. Paul and a few others from the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) write a letter expressing their rights as citizens. As a result, the Japanese American classification is changed, and Paul volunteers for the military.
When evacuation orders are announced, Paul's family goes to Manzanar first. Paul delays his evacuation to continue his work at the bank. Later, Paul joins his family at Manzanar briefly before going to Idaho for farming. Through the Quaker's Program, Paul applies for college and goes to Drake University, IA.
Identifier
2002OH0307_01_Bannai
Oral History Item Type Metadata
URL
http://www.goforbroke.org/oral_histories/mp4/307-Bannai-Paul-1.m4v
Date of Birth
1920 Jul 04
Location of Birth
Incarceration Facilities
War or Conflict
Branch of Service
Entrance into Service
Unit of Service
Citation
Bannai, Paul: narrator, Nakaishi, Russell: interviewer, and Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher, “Paul Bannai oral history interview, part 1 of 8, September 15, 2002,” Japanese American Military History Collective, accessed April 19, 2024, https://ndajams.omeka.net/items/show/1053246.