Partial Transcript: Before the war, Ray's parents buy land in Damascus, OR. The land is purchased under Ray's sister's name because their father is an alien. When evacuation orders are announced after Pearl Harbor, Ray's parents ask the cannery owner to help them watch over their land. Later Ray's parents discover the name on the deed of the land is the cannery owner and not Ray's sister. However, Ray's parents are making the mortgage payments.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Alien land laws; Executive Order 9066; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor

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Partial Transcript: In 1948, the Shiiki family is living in Vanport, OR, and the Hoffmeister family suggested to Ray's parents to move to a 15-acre farm. Across from the 15-acre farm is the White Rose Dairy, owned by Bob Wilson. Bob wants to do something different with the land and asks Ray's parents if they want to farm the land. Ray's father is getting older and is not interested. However, Ray decides to farm with his brother Tom's help and Bob's financial backing.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; farming; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Ray decides to go into farming with his brother Tom and Bob Wilson's financial backing. Bob is willing to invest money into Ray's farm without signing documents or personally know Ray. Due to his prior experiences, this is the first time he learns about trust. Two years later, Bob wants to sell the land and offers to sell the land to Ray. Bob is willing to sell the land to Ray. Besides Bob Wilson, Ray says Don Schneider and Carl Graff are influential in Ray's start in farming.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Ray finds a way to accumulate the 100 acres of land behind his farm. Ray farms for 40 years before selling the land to a golf course. Then Ray goes into the herb business for ten years selling to grocery store chains. Ray retired in 1990. Ray's farm is called Shiiki Brothers. In the early years, Ray sells berries in the fresh market.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war

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Partial Transcript: In Portland, OR, there is an early morning market where peddler comes to buy fresh produce. Ray recalls being taking advantage of by a customer.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: When Ray sells the Shiiki Brothers Farm, he keeps the herb garden. Ray names the herb garden Shiiki Farm and the business is under his wife, Mary, and son, Lon. Ray says the herb business is less laboring and stressful. Ray discusses moving the herb greenhouse to West Linn, OR. Ray and his family retired from the herb business in 2000.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; farming; Japanese Americans; Nisei veterans; post-war

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Partial Transcript: The Shiiki family learns about relocation when they hear everyone talking about it and hearing the announcement on the news. The Shiiki family's business is starting to get established, but now they have to get their affairs to go to the assembly center. An assembly center is a livestock place, and Ray describes the living conditions. Ray works for one month as a busboy.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; employment; Executive Order 9066; farming; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: At the assembly center, Ray gets a job as a busy boy. When the pay period comes, Ray does not get paid because he is fifteen years old. A few weeks later, Ray goes to Eastern Oregon with his friend, George Nishimura, to work on a sugar beet farm. Ray recalls meal time and his parents comforting the family during this rough period. However, family life is difficult to maintain in camp because there is no privacy.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; employment; Executive Order 9066; farming; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: From the assembly center, the Shiiki family goes to Minidoka. Ray recalls his parents telling his sisters and brothers if there is a chance to leave camp, they should leave. Ray is fifteen when he is at Minidoka, and he wants to complete his education. In the summer, Ray helps the Idaho farmers.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; education; Executive Order 9066; family; farming; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray discusses the loyalty questionnaire. He has never doubted his identity as an American citizen. Ray is drafted and is proud to serve his country. He discharged in 1946. At Minidoka, Ray's mother works as a dishwasher, and his father works as a boiler man. Ray's sisters and brother have left camp. Ray says the food at camp is not that great. However, his mother would try to make the food taste better. He recalls going to other blocks to eat meals with his friends.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; discharge; discrimination; draft; Executive Order 9066; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Minidoka; Nisei; siblings; sports; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray discusses farming in camp. In Minidoka, the soil is healthy and produces good crops. Ray recalls servicing the tractors after farming in the summertime. Ray also works on the farm during the potato harvest. Since grade school, Ray has loved baseball and joins the baseball team at school, camp, Camp Hood, Fort Snelling, and American Legion. The baseball coach at Twin Falls is the same in the American Legion. Ray says he treated everyone well.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Hood; farm; farming; Fort Snelling; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; sports; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: In high school, Ray plays baseball against other baseball leagues. Ray says he learn how to play baseball in grade school. There is a teacher who is a good athlete who teaches the students how to play. Ray likes playing third base and shortstop. In high school, Ray's position is a pitcher. However, third base is Ray's favorite position.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: high school; Japanese Americans; Nisei; primary school; youth organizations

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Partial Transcript: Through baseball, Ray makes many good friendships. In camp, Ray recalls playing baseball with Hank Hiro and Ted Okido. Hank teaches Ray a helpful baseball trick. Ray discusses the different tournaments they play in. Ray is grateful for the friends he makes in camp and still maintains contact with them.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Ray discusses the friendship he has made over the years, especially in camp. In camp, you are limited in what you can do. Sport is an outlet that allows us to bond with others and build friendships. Besides playing baseball in Minidoka, he plays football and basketball. Ray previously plays baseball on the Gresham Gophers (junior high school), Wolverines (Twin Falls), Hunt Idaho Wolverines (American Legion), Battalion Team (Camp Hood), Fort Snelling (Fort Snelling), and No Names (softball team at Fort Snelling).

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; sports; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray says he knew he would be drafted into the Army. Therefore he tries to get much of his education done. Before going to Salt Lake City, UT, for his induction, Ray visits his parents. After leaving camp, Ray's parents move to Grandview, ID, for farm work.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray recalls visiting his parents in Grandview, ID, on his furlough. Ray gets an invite from his friend Corey (Ontario) to visit Gresham. Along the trip, they see signs prohibiting Japanese Americans. Ray and Corey go to a restaurant to see a friend and have lunch. Ray visits another friend, Chuck.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "Jap"; discrimination; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray visits Gresham and sees his friend Chuck. Ray and Chuck's sons go to school together. In 1988, Ray's farm was on fire, and Chuck is a voluntary fireman. Despite the signs in Gresham saying no Japanese, Ray did not feel any hostility with his friends. Ray recalls discrimination in Minneapolis.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "Jap"; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; racism; World War Two

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