Jotoku Asato oral history interview, part 1 of 2, April 26, 2008

Asato begins the interview talking about his family background, including his parents coming from Okinawa prefecture and settling down on Maui. He talks about growing up in Paia, attending Paia School and picking pineapples at Maui Pineapple. He would also attend Japanese language school, and enjoy playing marbles and golf with friends. Next, he talks about being in the pineapple fields when he first heard of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and staying at the boarding house due to curfew. He would volunteer for the Army, going first to Schofield Barracks before getting shipped to the mainland. Once arrived, they would head to Camp Shelby in Mississippi, to begin their basic training. He talks about going into towns and the hot weather they endured before shipping overseas and landing in Naples. Next, he talks about his first combat in Rome, and seeing the gruesome casualties.

video/m4v

0:56:09

2008OH0856_01_Asato

http://www.goforbroke.org/oral_histories/mp4/856-Asato-Jotoku-1.m4v

1923 Dec 18

Yes