Frank Tanabe oral history interview, part 2 of 3, June 28, 2008

In May, Frank S. Tanabe and four other Nisei were the advance crew to set up Tule Lake. Before the war, Frank has writing experience. He continued his passion for writing at Tule Lake by starting Tulean Dispatch newspaper. In September, he went to Idaho to work on a farm picking apples. He recalls experiencing discrimination on the way to the farm.

After the apple harvest, Frank returned to Tule Lake to teach literature at a high school. Frank has not seen his parents in a long time and asks for a transfer to Minidoka. In February 1943, Frank arrived in Minidoka and got a job offer in Chicago.

In December, Frank volunteered for the Army and was inducted. Frank went to Camp Savage and then Fort Snelling before going overseas. Overseas, Frank went to India and then to the Occupation of Japan.

In October 1945, Frank and George Iwataki went to Okinawa. Franks was assigned to Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) and tasked to take the 77th Infantry Division Language Team to Sapporo. Eventually, Frank was discharged at Zama and was recruited by Allied Translator and interpreter Section (ATIS) as Department of Army Civilian.

Later, Frank worked for the International News Service (INS). When Frank worked for INS, he worked with Warren Iwataki. Warren worked at the copy desk, and Frank was a reporter. Frank recalls his tenure at INS and the highlights of his career.

In 1947, Frank met his wife through family friends and married. In 1959, Frank worked as an Information Specialist/News Writer for the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands with Headquarter Company (USCAR).

2008OH0889_02_Tanabe

1919 Aug 10