Partial Transcript: In the fall of 1941, Ko is a student at Cal Tech University and doing well in his studies. Besides his academic studies, Ko is on the Varsity Cross Country Team and occasionally attends social school functions. Ko discusses December 6, the day before the Pearl Harbor attack.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: dating; education; friendship; higher education; Japanese Americans; Nisei; social activities; sports

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko's parents' business is doing well despite the signs of war in Europe. Ko recalls a local butcher sharing German news and explaining German terminology. In 1941, there is a draft happening and Ko is not worried about being drafted. Ko discusses his classmate from Cal Tech University, Watt Wada. Watt would talk with Ko and another Nisei classmate about philosophy and the situation in Japan. Ko is aware of the lack of oil in Japan but did not think the issue would lead to war.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: draft; employment; European Theater; friendship; Germany; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko is more knowledgeable about the situation happening in Germany than in Japan. A week before the Pearl Harbor attack, Watt predicts Japan's attack. However, Ko does not take Watt seriously. On December 7, Ko and his high school friend go to Toyo's house and hears the radio broadcast of the Pearl Harbor attack. Ko and his friend quickly return home. After confirming the news, Ko's Issei parents are concern about the effects of Pearl Harbor.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; dating; friendship; Germany; higher education; Issei; Japanese Americans; Japanese language school; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; travel

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko discusses the media reports following days after the Pearl Harbor attack. He says the media exaggerated the news to instill fear. However, Ko and his family continue with daily life as normal. The customers at Ko's parents' produce market show sympathy and concern towards the Sameshima family. Ko says there are no signs of discrimination.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; higher education; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Mrs. Howard is the landlord of Ko's parents' produce market. In an article Mrs. Howard says pre and posts Pearl Harbor, she would watch Ko's father perform his patriotic rituals in the morning before opening the store every day. Mrs. Howard says Ko's father is a loyal American. When news of evacuation is announced, Ko's parents are concern about their business. To their surprise, the customers purchase items from the market and cleared the inventory.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Executive Order 9066; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; race discrimination; racism; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: When Executive Order 9066 (EO9066) is announced, Ko's parents have to figure out how to proceed with their produce market. As for Ko, he is deciding if he should continue his education. A school in Minnesota stated they would accept transfer students from Cal Tech. Therefore, Ko and his friend Masaki get a special pass to travel to the East Coast. Later, Ko's brother-in-law, Tom Omori, informs Ko about Carnegie Tech. Ko and Masaki change their route from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; discrimination; family; interment camp; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; racism; relocation centers; travel

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: On March 31, Ko and Masaki go to Union Station and travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ko and his Issei parents each have their own difficulties to face when Executive Order 9066 is enforced. Ko's Issei parents are sent to Santa Anita Assembly Center and then to Amache. Ko and Masaki find out they are not accepted into Carnegie Tech and then travel to Minneapolis.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Amache; Assembly Centers; discrimination; Executive Order 9066; family; higher education; interment camp; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; racism; travel; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko travels to Twin Cities, MN. Shares story of train from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh where half of the passengers were US draftees and British military.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: higher education; travel

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: For five months, Ko is on his own to fend for himself. Ko finds a will to survive by finding jobs to support himself. Ko sends applications to big Ivy League schools and is accepted to the University of Texas. As for Ko's parents, they are at Amache. During these difficult times, Ko says he meets some nice people.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Amache; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Executive Order 9066; higher education; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; racism; S.I. Hayakawa

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko graduates from the University of Texas with a major in Aero Engineering. During his two years at the University of Texas, he says his classmates are kind and welcoming. He discusses being reclassified from 4C to 1A. Ko has a hard time finding jobs because he is 1A.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discrimination; draft; enemy alien; friendship; Japanese Americans; Nisei; racism; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko first notices segregation on his bus ride from Chicago, Illinois, to Austin, Texas. He shares a story about an African woman on the bus and discusses segregated drinking fountains and restrooms. Ko finds it strange that he would be considered Caucasian when he is Japanese American. Ko says on his bus ride to Austin, Texas he meets nice people but recalls one threatening comment.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; discrimination; Japanese Americans; Nisei; racism; travel

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko shares a story of a time in Pittsburgh, and a lady staring at him for being Japanese American. In June 1944, Ko graduated from the University of Texas. Ko could not find a stable job because of his classification as 1A. Ko learns of his father's health issues in camp. Both of Ko's siblings are not in Amache, and Ko decides to volunteers to be an internee at Amache. In camp, high school teachers are needed, and Ko is asked to be a teacher. Soon after, Ko receives his draft notice for the Army in Brown County, Colorado. On December 1, 1944, he is inducted in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Amache; employment; interment camp; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; siblings; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko is drafted in 1944 into the Army. At Fort Leavenworth, Ko does KP duty and is recruited by Captain Yamada for Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Ko scores high on the exam and is placed in a high-level class - D1 for Instructors.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: draft; Japanese Americans; Lost Battalion; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko discusses how he becomes familiar with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) when he is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ko attends a USO show and meets some Nisei who are in MIS.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Savage; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service Language School; Nisei; social activities; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko goes to basic training in Alabama and says the recruits are young. The training cadre at basic training are instructors who return from battle. Ko recalls learning about the legacy of the 442nd and the 100th from the hakujin cadre. Ko says besides his Military Intelligence Service (MIS) interview, the MIS factored in his college education and his fluency in Japanese before recruiting him. In December, Ko travels to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and lives on a turkey farm.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "katonk"; 100th; basic training; Camp Savage; education; European Theater; Hakujin; Hawaiian soldiers; higher education; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Japanese language school; living conditions; Mainland; Mainland soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: The turkey farm is on the outskirts of Camp Snelling. Ko describes the living conditions of the army base and curfew time. For the studious students who study past curfew, they use a flashlight and study in the restroom.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: barracks; basic training; Camp Snelling; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Military Intelligence Service; Military Intelligence Service Language School; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Before leaving camp, Ko's mother tells him to be careful. Ko says he does not need a special reminder because he is brought up with Issei values. Also, his mother gives him an omamori (lucky charm). At Camp Snelling, Ko is classified as D1 and trains for six months. Ko discusses his level of Nihongo.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: After graduation from Camp Snelling, Ko goes to Monterey, as a Military Intelligence Language School Tech Sergeant Instructor. Ko discusses George Aratani, Senior Civilian Language Instructor.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Snelling; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko discusses the women students and their training. The women students are training for administrative work. During the occupation in Japan, the women will be task with translating documents at their desks rather than fieldwork.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "katonk"; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ko remains in contact with his Issei parents when he is in Military Intelligence Service training. Before the closure of Amache, Ko's parents reunite with Chiko (Ko's sister) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ko's brother is also MIS.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: correspondence; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; siblings

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In the summer of 1945, World War Two is coming to an end. Ko is aware of the occupation period in Japan, but not the aspects. Ko discusses the reforms in Japan during the occupation. After the MIS school, he is commissioned to Manila, Philippines, for the war crimes trial. Six months later the Philippines government takes over the war crime trials and Ko is transferred to Tokyo. Ko discusses the types of war crime trials in Manila and Tokyo.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Military Intelligence Service Language School; Nisei

Subjects: