Partial Transcript: Nobuo "Nob" Yamashita is born September 28, 1920, in Los Angeles, CA. He has a younger brother, Eiji "Ace," and they live on 9th street. They live on 9th street for 13 years before moving to Gardena to start farming. The farming business only last a few years due to the Great Depression. In 1938, Nob graduates high school, and his family gets an opportunity to operate a fresh produce business in Bell. Ace attends Bell High School and excels in his studies and school activities.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; high school; Issei parents; Nisei; siblings

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Nob recalls the family does well in the fresh produce business that his brother, Ace has a car to drive himself to high school. Ace graduates high school in 1941 and receives a scholarship to Occidental College. Nonetheless, Ace decides to turn down the opportunity to give Nob a chance for higher education. Nob wants to attend vocational school to become a train or ship engineer. However, the war starts. In May 1942, Nob and his family are evacuated to Manzanar.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; family; high school; Manzanar; Nisei; siblings; sports; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Nob's father passes away and his mother, Suyo, remarries. His step-father is Akira. Nob has two older sisters who live in Japan. Later Nob's sisters travel to the United States. However, one of his sisters returns to Japan. When the war starts, the sister in Japan comes to the United States with her four children to reunite with the Yamashita family. Nob has a half-sister who lives in Carpinteria, CA, operating a floral business.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: children; Issei parents; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Growing up, Nob says he learns martial arts from his brother to defend himself from bullies. He attends Redondo Beach Union High School for three and a half years and transfers to Gardena High School. Nob learns Japanese because his mother is active in the Japanese American community. He also attends a Japanese school.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hakujin; Japanese Americans; Japanese language school; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: After graduating from Gardena High School, Nob's family buys a fresh produce business in Bell, CA. He works six or seven days a week helping his parents. Although he does not get money from his parents, he earns money from the difference in wholesale and retail prices. With the extra money earned, Nob shares it with his brother.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: farming; high school; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Nob says there are not many options for jobs after college. Nob's brother encourages him to get higher education, but then the war starts. Instead of college, Nob attends vocation school and works as a mechanic. On December 7, Nob hears the news about Pearl Harbor. Nob says the community of Bell treated his family well. They did not experience any discrimination. When they are evacuated, then they realize how serious the situation is. Nob's parents lose their family business.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; discrimination; higher education; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: After the Pearl Harbor attack, there is a curfew. However, that did not stop Nob from attending a vocational school or going out at night. Nob says the Japanese Americans are successful at farming and the fresh produce business. He shares his thoughts on evacuation. Nob also mentions his parents deposit their savings into a Japanese bank and loses their money.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; curfew; discrimination; education; farming; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Before going to Manzanar, Nob's parents sell their fresh produce business to a competitor at a low price. At Manzanar, Nob recalls making their bed mattress with straws. To occupy his time in camp, Nob works laying linoleum. He discusses the benefits of working with Terminal Island guys.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; Executive Order 9066; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; Shikata ga nai; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Besides working at Manzanar, Nob plays baseball. He recalls inviting one of the Yoshida sisters to watch him play baseball, and he did not play very well. Later, Nob and his brother get an opportunity to work on a sugar beet farm in Montana. When the sugar beet season is over, Nob's brother decides to stay in Montana to work on the railroad. In November 1942, Nob is homesick and goes back to Manzanar. Nob learns about the recruitment of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and takes the exam. Nob passes the exam and volunteers for service.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Executive Order 9066; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings; sports; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In late November 1942, there is a Manzanar riot, and a few Japanese Americans are shot. Nob goes to Fort Snelling for his Military Intelligence Service (MIS) training. Nob says if you have an IQ of 110, that qualifies you to be an officer. Nob learns the first group at Camp Savage, spends most of their free time cleaning the campgrounds and preparing the area for the second group. Nob is the second group that arrives at Camp Savage.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "Buddha heads"; Fort Snelling; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: At Camp Savage, Nob goes through six months of training. He recalls some of the guys studying in the restroom when lights are out. Nob learns conversational Japanese, Japanese military terms, and kanji. Nob's instructor is David Itami and was killed in action during the occupation.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Killed in Action; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Besides Nob, 14 other guys volunteer for the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) from Manzanar. However, only 12 make it into MIS. Before shipping out overseas, George Hiyashito becomes the Staff Sergeant of a ten-men team. Later, George marries his brother-in-law's sister.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Japanese Americans; Manzanar; Nisei; occupation; wedding

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: After completing the six months of training for Military Intelligence Service (MIS), Nisei and Kibei is ranked T5, and the others are made officers or civil service. Nob shares his thoughts on the ranking. When it is time to go overseas, Nob departs from Angel Island to New Guinea on a Liberty Ship. On the way, there is a typhoon, and the ship almost sinks. Overseas, they are assigned to various divisions.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discrimination in the military; Japanese Americans; Kibei; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Pacific Theater; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In New Guinea, Nob says the MIS are assigned to different divisions. Each division has two officers to lead. Nob says there are some hardworking officers. Nob shares his thoughts on promotion. For 22 months and three campaigns, there are no promotions for the Nisei. Nob is ranked T4. When Nob arrives in New Guinea, there are no MIS officers available. Therefore, the Navy officer, Ensign Sherman, is in charge of them.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discrimination in the military; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; New Guinea; Nisei; Pacific Theater; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Nob recalls Ensign Sherman taking good care of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) unit under his leadership. He makes sure they receive a combat badge for their service in New Guinea. However, other units did not feel that MIS should receive the combat badge because they are not infantrymen. Nob is attached to the 6th Division. He serves with the 1st, 20th, and 36th infantry regiments. In New Guinea and Luzon, Philippines, Nob teams up with Kiyoshi Fujimura (Kibei). In New Guinea, Nob has two bodyguards. He recalls being called racial slurs by other officers. He tries not to make waves during his Army career.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discrimination; discrimination in the military; Japanese Americans; Kibei; Military Intelligence Service; New Guinea; Nisei; Pacific Theater; Philippines; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In Nob's free time, he would visit the Air Force and Navy guys to exchange goods. Nob recalls getting lamb, rice, and canned goods. Nob says there are two Taiwanese Prisoners of War (POWs), and he trains them to wash clothes and cook. Later the General from the 6th Division learns about the Taiwanese POWs and takes them away.

Segment Synopsis:

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

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Nob discusses the beach landing in New Guinea. In the evening, there are banzai attacks with Japanese snipers. Nob says the Japanese snipers would hang from the tree to get a single shot. Therefore in the morning, it is a routine to shoot the machine guns at the trees to check for snipers. The advantage of the US rifle is they shoot several rounds before reloading, whereas the Japanese guns needed to be reloaded after one shot. Nob also mentions it is hard to capture Japanese soldiers unless they are wounded or killed. The Prisoners of War (POWs) they capture are 80 to 90 percent Taiwanese or Korean laborers.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; New Guinea; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War; rifle; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Nob discusses techniques how to speak to the Prisoner of War (POWs). Nobs says the tougher you are with them, the less the POWs will talk to you. Nob recalls one case with a POW being interrogated with a rifle. The following morning the POW passes away, possibly from fear. Nob discovers if you treat the POWS with humanity, they are more responsive. Some events are not reported about the POWs. For example, some POWS are captured in civilian clothing. Nobs say they could be trialed and executed as spies. Another example is cannibalism.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Military Intelligence Service; New Guinea; Nisei; Pacific Theater

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In New Guinea, POWs would try to escape through the mountainous landscape. To avoid detection, the POWs would not build fires to cook their food. POWs are questioned about cannibalism when captured. The POWs said they ate their comrade to survive. Nob does not report this because he does not feel it is necessary. However, this information regarding the POWs comes out later. Also, in New Guinea, many soldiers die from diseases. The worst cases are ticks and typhus. Nob says contracts dengue fever. In Luzon, Philippines, there are cases of malaria, and Nob is one of the soldiers infected. Nob said some soldiers pretended to take the preventative medicine because it makes your skin yellow.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interrogate; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Pacific Theater

Subjects: