Watanabe discusses his experiences serving in the Korean War and living in Korea in general. He also talks about his family's struggles while he was away during World War II related to losing their farm and possessions with no redress. Later,…
Harvey Watanabe describes how he met his wife and the family that they started together. Watanabe then transitions to discussing his outlook on war, enemies, and the necessary emotional transition to perceiving former enemies. Lastly, after giving…
Watanabe discusses his father's immigration from Japan to the United States and his work at a plantation in Hawaii. He then talks about his mother; discusses attending Japanese language school; discusses Japanese dialects; talks about attending…
Watanabe discusses his experiences as a Nisei linguist and his CIA assignment in Korea; provides some thoughts regarding military occupation in Japan; and discusses his experiences traveling to visit relatives in Japan. Next, Watanabe describes…
Mr. Watanabe first discusses where he was born and raised, and talks about his passion for music, which included a career as a musician. Leading a unique military career, Mr. Watanabe served in the 442nd and the MIS, before he was finally assigned to…
Mr. Watanabe discusses the importance of Nisei storytelling and committing these stories to tape through oral histories. He next describes what it was like coming back to Hawaii after the war and talks about the important event of Hawaiian statehood.…
Ray Wells's interview is combined with Julian Quayles.
Raymond C. Wells is born May 5, 1922, in Eagle Colorado. Julian Minor Quayles, Jr is born January 15, 1917, in Staunton, Virginia. Both men serve in the 141st Infantry Battalion during World…
Ray Wells's interview is combined with Julian Quayles
Julian Quayles joins the National Guards during his sophomore year in college. He is a part of Company B, 124th Infantry, 31st Division. Julian does his training at Camp Blanding. He describes…
Ray Wells's interview is combined with Julian Quayles
Julian Quayles discusses what happens after he escapes from the German soldiers. Julian with another Officer, finds shelter on an Italian civilian's property until they can rejoin the American…
Ray Wells's interview is combined with Julian Quayles.
Wartime is a heavy discussion. However, in this interview, Ray Wells and Julian Quayles talk about the lighter side of World War Two. Both men highlight areas of v-mail, homecoming, and…
Westdale discusses his family and upbringing. He details about joining the Army Air Corps and his experiences in the Corps. Westdale also discusses about December 7, 1941 and the sentiment towards the Japanese in America.
Westdale discusses more about December 7, 1941 and its aftermath. He details about why he joined the army and his family's reaction to it. Westdale also discusses about some of his time in the Army Air Corps and about some of his experiences at Camp…
Westdale discusses his experiences at Camp Shelby and his interactions with other Japanese Americans. He details about the letter his sister wrote that got him transferred to the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion. Westdale also discusses about weaponry…
Westdale discusses his family, childhood, and friends. He details about traveling to and his experiences in Italy. Westdale also discusses about his experiences in combat, German Weaponry, The Lost Battalion, and religion.
Westdale discusses about camaraderie and his experiences in Germany. He details about the horrors of war, Adolf Hitler, and Benito Mussolini. Westdale also discusses about his experiences in France and in post-war Europe.
Westdale discusses about his experiences in Germany and his homecoming. He details about his post-war life and employment. Westdale also discusses about the legacy of Japanese American Soldiers.
Jack Wayne Wilson is born in Newburgh, Indiana, on January 3, 1924. His mother is Sadye Mae Anderson Wilson she is a descendant from the Daniel Boone family. His father is Baron Faron Wilson. Jack's father starts working the coal mines at a young…
Jack discusses his experience in the European Theater and how they advance to the Moselle River by Vosges, Italy. Jack's battalion finds themselves surrounded in enemy lines.
There are several attempts to deliver supplies to the Lost Battalion;…
Wilson discusses his amily and childhood. He details about his experiences with veteran organizations. Wilsons also discusses December 7, 1941 and other world events.
Wilson discusses his childhood, joining the Army and experiences during basic training. He details his combat experiences in Italy and France. Wilson also discusses his knowledge of the Japanese American Units.
Wilson discusses his combat experiences in Europe. He details about his experiences at Camp Carson and post-war life. Wilson also discusses about his family and keepsakes.
Jack Wilson recounts his early life in Indiana and working on building LSTs before being drafted. Next he describes his training and assignment to the 36th Infantry Division in Italy, as well as the fighting around Monte Cassino. Lastly, he describes…
Jack Wilson recounts the small battles that lead up to his unit becoming the Lost Battalion. Next he describes the resupply efforts, attempts to find a way back to friendly lines, and relief by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The interview ends…
Thomas Ukichi Wozumi is born July 24, 1918, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father Utaro Wozumi, and mother, Otsuru Yamamoto Wozumi are Issei from Japan. He has two older siblings, Mildred and James.
Thomas Ukichi Wozumi discusses basic training and going to the Mainland to McCoy and Camp Shelby. Thomas changes from the regular Army to the 100th Battalion. There are differences between the Mainland soldiers and the Hawaiian soldiers. However,…
Thomas Ukichi Wozumi goes on leave to New York before going overseas. He shows an original menu he got from Miyako Restaurant in New York. Thomas departs on a cargo ship and lands in Iran and travels to Naples, France.
Mr. Yabu discusses his parents' backgrounds and talks about his real father leaving the family when Shigeru was an infant. Mr. Yabu grew up in San Francisco and surrounding communities, moving often as a child. He discuses various topics of his…
Mr. Yabu discusses his memories prior to the outbreak of the war, specifically focusing cultural differences he experienced growing up in a Japanese-American family. He also discusses learning judo from a family member and how his knowledge of judo…
Mr. Yabu spends the first portion of the interview discussing memories of his time at Heart Mountain. He discusses the magpie, which became his family's pet, he rescued on a trip to the Shoshone River and the swimming hole he frequented while in the…
Mr. Yabu discusses his enlisting into the United States Navy and traveling to San Diego to the naval recruit training center. He worked for a time in the San Diego Naval Hospital before befriending and eventually working for Robert Stewart MacDonald.…
Mr. Yabu speaks about his wife's background and discusses attending college and working various odd jobs in San Diego after his discharge from the Navy. Introduced to the Boys' Club by his brother-in-law, Shigeru would go on to work for the Boys'…
A brief section where Mr. Yabu shows off a few photographs and describes them. Photographs include his uncle's 442nd photo, San Francisco's Boy Scout Troop 12, himself carrying the 1984 Olympics torch, and a photograph of his grandfather.
Hiroshi Yafuso talks about Japanese farming in Hakalau. He also discusses his experiences in Japanese school and church. Yafuso talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He goes on to reveal how he was drafted and how he ended up in…
Hiroshi Yafuso talks about the end of World War Two. He went on to talk about attending trade school, so he could learn how to repair radios. Yafuso explains how he started a technology repair store in Hilo. He also describes how Tsunamis impacted…
Hiroshi Yafuso talks about life as a repairman. He also discusses what he did as a child in his leisure time. He describes what life was like in Hakalau for Japanese farming families like his family. He briefly talks about his high school experiences…
Hiroshi Yafuso talks about being inducted into the Army and his overall experiences while in the military. Yafuso discusses his military decorations, post military life, and family. He briefly talks about his translation work and his siblings.
Yaguchi discusses his youth growing up in rural Washington. He talks about his family: father, siblings, stepmother. He discusses memories regarding: raising hogs, high school sports participation, holiday seasons, and Pearl Harbor attack.
K. Yaguchi shares recollections of evacuating home with his family and describes in detail the camp facilities. He also talks about his military training and early combat experiences in the Europe. He relays anecdotes regarding: segregation in…
K. Yaguchi talks about his combat experiences in the European Theater at Bruyeres and the Gothic Line. He shares anecdotes regarding: European civilians, getting military orders, viewing casualties, and time spent in between battle engagement. He…
Katsumi Yagura tells his father and mother's immigration stories. He also shares his memories of his parents and their physical descriptions. He briefly talks about his father's farm work in Utah. He talks about his siblings and his religious…
Yagura continues to talk about his experiences while in high school. He describes his experiences with discrimination in California. He discusses his parents decision to return to Japan. He talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath,…
Yagura continues to describes what life was like while at Poston Concentration Camp. He talks about a work stint he had in Colorado. He explains the level of contact he had with his family who returned to Japan. He shares his thoughts on Japanese…
Yagura talks about the end of World War Two. He briefly talks about the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and enlisting. He discusses his translation work while in Japan. He describes his social activities while stationed overseas. Yagura talks…
Yagura talks about how people reacted when Korean War soldiers returned to the United States. He reveals how much he has shared his war stories with family. He explains the reasons for wars. He briefly talks about several United States presidents.…
"Dear Shige, This is a short note to say thanks ever so much for the beautiful blue crib blanket for David Grant. It came while Yas was in Cleveland. He's to report for induction tomorrow! We've been lucky to be together for this length of time. He's…
Yamada talks about his father’s job as a railway laborer, discusses his birth story, and talks about living and working in a hotel during his childhood. He also talks about his experiences growing up in Spokane, Washington and talks about…
Yamada talks about recreational activities during his childhood such as swimming, judo, and going to movies. He also talks about attending Japanese language school, his experiences living in Japan with his grandparents as a child, and what attending…
Yamada discusses Executive Order 9066 and its effect on Japanese Americans; talks about his experiences working as a railroad laborer; discusses witnessing incarcerees traveling to Heart Mountain; and talks about his thoughts on loyalty. Next, Yamada…
Yamada talks about his experiences with the Women’s Army Corps (WACS) at Fort Snelling, discusses visiting [Minidoka] incarceration camp, and talks about his assignments at Fort Snelling as a clerk. He then talks about his troop train assignment,…
Yamada begins the interview with an introduction on where he was during the surrender of Japan during the war. He would be part of the occupation forces in Japan, specializing on translating documents that would be used in the War crimes trials. He…
Yamada discusses learning Japanese at a young age, taking Japanese language school, in addition to his regular schooling. He would also visit Japan with his family and see the farming community that his family came from. While back in the United…
Yamada continues his experiences in occupied Japan, including taking kendo lessons and the reform that was brought about. He talks about the things Americans tried to teach the Japanese such as equality, education and ethics. After his time with the…
Yamada begins the interview talking about his family and how they came to move from Hiroshima to Los Angeles. His father would work as a flower farmer while Kazuhiko and his siblings attended english and Japanese school. He would attend Gardena High…
Yamada continues his recollection of being shipped out from San Francisco and taking a month long ship ride to New Zealand, followed by Australia. There, he would get his first assignment, and join the 24th Division, where they would translate and…
Masako "Mary" Yamada was a United States Army Nurse during World War II. She was born in Belvedere, California, but moved to New York City during her youth, where she attended nursing school and volunteered to be a US Army Nurse. She describes her…
Mary Yamada describes how her family's different religious affiliations. She never attended Japanese language school growing up, but she always wanted to learn to speak Japanese. Instead, she learned other languages in school, such as Spanish, Latin,…
Mary Yamada shares a photograph of herself during a bivouac at Fort Dicks. She describes her experience at Fort Dicks, where she treated different patients. She mentions that she was often the first Japanese American that people encountered -- an…
Mary Yamada explains why she wanted to be sent overseas during the war, even after receiving numerous rejections. After the war ended, she returned home to look for a house for herself and her mother to live in. She also took that time to go back to…
In this video clip, Mary Yamada shares some newspaper clippings about herself becoming the first Japanese American teacher eligible to teach at public schools. She also shares some photographs of herself in her Army Nurse's uniform, her…
Yamada discusses being born on August 21, 1940 in Hawaii. His parents
immigrated in 1910 from Japan for the opportunity to be a contract labor. In Japan, their families are farmers. Yamada admires his Father because he bought rental property,…
Yamada discusses playing sports in his childhood such as barefoot football, tennis and fishing with his friends. One holiday that his family celebrates annually is the Emperor of Japan's birthday and New Year (because of the food). They also sing…
Yamada discusses his experience on the Mainland and going overseas. Yamada is not at Camp McCoy for very long. Only a few months for infantry training for the 100th Infantry Battalion. Later he volunteers for Military Intelligence Service.
Yamada discusses his time in the Dutch East Indies now know as Indonesia. He describes seeing a lot of casualties of Prisoners of War (POWs). He says the action happens so quickly that bodies keeping piling up.
Tom Yamada discusses stories from his time in service. During occupation in Japan, Yamada works with naval officer Lieutenant Lim. 20 years later, Yamada runs into Lieutenant Lim at Radio City Music Hall and thinks of him kindly . Yamada also thinks…
Yamada discusses about his family, briefly living in Japan, and growing up in Kahului, Hawaii. He details about Pearl Harbor, its aftermath, and being drafted. Yamada also discusses about joining the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), his…
Yamada discusses about his experiences in post-war Japan. He details about his post-war life. Yamada also discusses about his experiences in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS).
Kazuo Yamaguchi was born and raised in New York. His father came to America from Japan to start a living. Kazuo mentions that his father was always homesick, and his fondest memory with him was singing Japanese folk songs. The reason how he and his…
Kazuo Yamaguchi describes the difference between the attitudes of East Coasters and West Coasters in regards to the term "shikata ga nai." He talks about the way he grew up influenced by the Asian American stereotype in school -- good student,…
