Robert Sugimoto oral history interview, part 2 of 5, October 15, 2007

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Dublin Core

Description

Robert Sugimoto's family moved to Watsonville, CA, after a death in the family. He graduates high school in 1938 and continues farming. He discusses social activities and dating in Watsonville. In 1941, Robert receives his draft notice into the Army.

Robert packs his bags and goes to San Francisco, CA. He reports to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. At Keesler, Robert is in mechanic school, with no basic training. He works as an airplane mechanic short term before he is transferred to Camp Blanding Hospital as an X-ray technician.

Robert says his friends are drafted before him and faces discrimination in the military after Pearl Harbor. He shares stories of their experiences. The following day of the Pearl Harbor attack, Robert says everyone treated him the same. He did not experience any discrimination or mistreatment like his friends.

Robert is at Camp Shelby for four weeks. He reunites with his friends from home. After four weeks, Robert receives new orders to report to the Headquarters Company part of the 442nd. He gets a one-way ticket to Camp Savage. He discusses the relationship between the Mainland soldiers and the Hawaiian soldiers.

Identifier

2007OH0816_02_Sugimoto

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Location of Birth

War or Conflict

Branch of Service

Entrance into Service

Citation

Sugimoto, Robert: narrator, Yuge, Tim: interviewer, and Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher, “Robert Sugimoto oral history interview, part 2 of 5, October 15, 2007,” Japanese American Military History Collective, accessed November 23, 2024, https://ndajams.omeka.net/items/show/1053500.