Partial Transcript: At Camp Savage, Robert reports to the Headquarters Company. Robert recalls in Georgia, he is asked about the level of his Japanese language skills. Robert believes his answer leads to his transfer to Camp Savage for the Military Intelligence Language School.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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Partial Transcript: Robert discusses ranking. He is in the Army at this point for almost a year and a half. When Robert joined the Military Intelligence Language School, the classes have already started a few weeks earlier. The class focus on Japanese conversation skills. Robert recalls working in a hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. He shares a story of how he is an interpreter for wounded soldiers.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Savage; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Robert discusses how he is an interpreter for wounded Prisoners of War (POWs) in Honolulu, Hawaii. A lot of the POWs are skin and bones and could not talk due to their wounds. After a week or so, the POWs recover nicely. The doctors, nurses, and ward boys who treated the POWs are volunteers.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; shrapnel; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Robert discusses his class schedule. The Instructor would assign readings to focus on conversational skills. Robert says many serious students are trying to learn kanji in a short amount of time. Briefly, Robert mentions POWs. At the beginning of World War Two, there are no Prisoners of War (POWs). However, if there is a wounded Japanese soldier, they would receive medical treatment. Robert shares a story in the Philippines about wounded POWs.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Military Intelligence Service Language School; Nisei; Prisoners of War; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Robert goes to the Philippines. Leyte, Philippines, is the first island to be invaded, and there are no oppositions. He gets his assignment and goes to the beach. Robert does not see the Beach Master and unsure what to do. The following day he goes down a road and finds the Prisoner of War (POW) Camp. He reports for duty and interrogates the POWs.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Prisoners of War; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Robert is at the Prisoner of War (POW) camp in the Philippines. His assignment is to interrogate the POWs. However, the POWs are Filipino collaborators. Robert decides to stay the night and return in the morning. On the way to the beach, Robert sees body bags with American soldiers bodies on the road. Robert's outfit is the 10th Corp, Headquarters' Team. The primary task is the translation of documents.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Killed in Action; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; translation

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Partial Transcript: At Camp Savage, Robert spends his time studying and learning conversational skills in Japanese for four to five months. Robert shares a time with John Aiso and a speaker. Robert says he knows the instructors at Camp Savage because they are from the Bay Area. He mentions Tom Sakamoto.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Savage; Japanese Americans; marching; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Robert recalls Hiroshi Ito, a Kibei from Japan. Hiroshi collaborates with Jerry Kitayama for translation.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Savage; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: After Camp Savage, Robert returns to Camp Blanding for basic training. Robert recalls training on the rifle range and receives an expert rifleman badge. He also trains on a light machine gun, small mortar, heavy machine gun, and pistol. Besides weapons training, Robert goes on a 25-mile hike.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Blanding; Camp Savage; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; marching; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Basic training at Camp Blanding is two weeks. Robert recalls a fight between the Mainland soldiers and Hawaiian soldiers. Robert says the Hawaiian soldiers' Japanese is good, but the Pidgin English is hard to understand. As a result, there are misunderstandings between the Mainland soldiers and Hawaiian soldiers. Later on, the relationship between the two becomes better.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "katonk"; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: In the Headquarters Group, the primary task is translating field reports. Robert explains the process of how translating documents from Japanese to English. Robert says there are no tips given during basic training on interrogating Prisoners of War (POWs). Mainly the situation is "played by ear." That is how you determine your interrogation tactics. Robert recalls his Army serial number easily when asked.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interrogate; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; Prisoners of War; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: After basic training, Robert recalls there is a competition between the platoons. The losing team plays for the winners' team ride to Silver Springs, FL. Robert's platoon goes to Silver Springs. Robert discusses Camp Savage is relocate to Fort Snelling. The chef is Nakamura from Berkeley. He cooks delicious Japanese food. Robert recalls going to Minneapolis with his buddies to China Kitchen.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Camp Blanding; Camp Savage; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; rifle

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Partial Transcript: From basic training at Camp Blanding, Robert goes to Fort Snelling and then travels on a troop train to Seattle, WA. Robert goes overseas. He says after graduating basic training, he is a T2 Corporal Rank.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Camp Blanding; Fort Snelling; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; travel; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: On the troopship, there is a mix of Haujin and Japanese American soldiers on board. Robert recalls being seasick on the journey and eating dry crackers. He feels better when they dock in Honolulu, HI. Robert is in Honolulu for approximately one month waiting to go to the South Pacific. While waiting, he helps the doctors with the Prisoners of War (POWs). At the hospital, Robert sees Japanese soldiers for the first time. He recalls his Company Commander having the soldiers march up and down the road.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hakujin; Hawaii; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; marching; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War; South Pacific; travel; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Robert leaves Honolulu, HI, and goes to Leyte Island in the Philippines. On the voyage, Robert is seasick. Numerous islands need linguists. They combine two ten-men teams (Team 6th and 7th) to form the 10th Core Headquarters Team. However, in the Philippines, it is the 24th Core Headquarters Team, but it is still MacArthur's Headquarters.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Japanese American soldiers; marching; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Philippines; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: The 10th Core Headquarters have several Marines divisions attach to it. The 7th, 96th, 27th divisions are Army. Although when there is a battle, the Marine division joins the Army. Robert recalls the Commander would request for an interrogator or interpreter, or translator. He says to translate in the field is difficult than interrogating. Therefore, documents that need translations go to the headquarters. There is one time Robert has to go by himself to Leyte Island in the Philippines. When he goes to Korea, Robert says there is not much opposition there. He goes to Seoul.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; South Pacific; translation; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Robert goes to Korea with the Weapons Carrier Unit they find bags of rice. The first night, the Koreans take away rice and Robert's weapons. Robert says there is a Nisei Lieutenant that speaks English in the Japanese Army. They take him along to see if he is telling the truth. Robert is not assigned a bodyguard, but other translators/interpreters have bodyguards for precaution. Robert also mentions the living conditions.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; living conditions; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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