Partial Transcript: Thomas Ukichi Wozumi is born July 24, 1918, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father, Utaro Wozumi, is from Kumamoto, Japan. He works as a sugar cane field worker and at Castle Estate kindergarten school. His mother, Otsuru Yamamoto Wozumi, is from Japan as well.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas has two older siblings name Mildred Sumie Kanayama and James Tsuruo Wozumi (who passed away). Thomas lived at the kindergarten. Their family home is wooden frame building two-story house that is part of the classroom. There are three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Near the kindergarten, there are duplex homes that Japanese families lived in. Also, across the street, there is a camp called King Cook and Kapiolani (check to spelling) that Thomas uses to play at. From this area, 25 guys join the serve.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; Hawaii; Hawaiian identity; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas discusses childhood friends Masami Murakami, Shoichi Nomura, Yasuto Furusho, Kenji Norbori, Kiyoshi Maeda and Kioshi's brother that join the 100th with him. Besides being playmates growing up, they attend school together at Washington Intermediate School, McKinley High School, and Japanese Language School.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; childhood activities; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; high school; Nisei; primary school

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Partial Transcript: Thomas describes his father as a petite man who is about five feet and two inches. He is a smoker and passed away from throat cancer. Thomas remembers his father as a kind man who provides for his family. The Wozumi family is well off because housing and electricity are free. They also would get leftover food from the kindergarten school. Thomas's father would make cottage cheese from the extra milk. Thomas loves cheese. The Castle Foundation owns a large property, which includes the kindergarten school.

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Keywords: family; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says the owners of the kindergarten school treat his father very well. His father is a proactive employee who takes care of the yard and cleaning the classrooms. Other family members work at the kindergarten, such as Thomas's mother, brother, and himself. Previous to working at the kindergarten, Thomas's mother works as a housekeeper and a manicurist. The family also raises chicken and pheasants and a vegetable garden.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; family; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans

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Partial Transcript: At home, Thomas's mother cooks primary Japanese food. For New Year, they would make mochi. Thomas also describes making rice from a cement stove in a Japanese pot. One of Thomas's chores is heating the ofuro, a Japanese soaking bathtub. Thomas recalls cutting the trees to heat the ofuro.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Hawaii; Issei parents; Japanese identity and values; living conditions; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas discusses the ofuro. He says the family is not financially wealthy, but they have many things. He briefly compares the living conditions at the camp. In 1935 parents travel to Japan to visit. He does not recall his parents talking about relatives.

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Keywords: Hawaii; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; travel

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Partial Transcript: Thomas describes his trip to Japan in 1970. In school, Thomas did not play sports due to his size. However, he does participate in the barefoot football league outside of school. His position is full-back and line back.

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Keywords: childhood activities; Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas discusses his other activities, such as fishing and diving for squid. He describes how to dive for squids. He is also part of a softball team as a part-time coach. In 1995, the softball team goes to Kansas for the World Series Championship. He talks about age and stamina.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei; social activities; sports

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Partial Transcript: Thomas does not recall their family taking trips, but they do explore the island of Hawaii. He describes how the roads are different back then, and it takes longer to travel. Side note, on June 6, 1942, the Army gives Thomas a free trip to the mainland to Wisconsin. Thomas looks back at his high school years. His Issei parents have hopes of Thomas going to college, but his grades prevent him.

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Keywords: Hawaii; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei; travel

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says his parents speak a little bit of English, but mainly pigeon. He attends Japanese Language School for a short time. Thomas recalls a time when the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) is recruiting Japanese Language speakers from the 100th. During Thomas's youth, he would go to the movies. His favorite genre is cowboys and action. He lists the three movie theaters Princess Theater, Empire Theater, and Liberty Theater, which are now closed. Thomas also watches Japanese movies.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate); childhood activities; family; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; MIS; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas lists the cowboy actors such as Hoot Gibson, Tom Mix, and Henry George Carey Jr. Thomas calls the movie theater that he frequents when he is a child and he would throwing rocks on the roof of the theater. Across the street from the theater is the Japanese School. There are two Japanese Language Schools in Kaka'ako, Hawaii.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas recalls the influential role models in his life. Thelma Wicky his 8th-grade teacher, and Mrs. Looper from McKinley High School (her husband is the head of the education department, Mr. Harold Looper). Also, there is the Principal of McKinley High School, Miles E. Carey. During the war, he goes to Poston internment camp in Arizona. He becomes the director of the education program.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interment camp; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Poston

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Partial Transcript: Thomas graduates from high school in 1936 and finds a job. Three to four of Thomas's friends, including himself, go work for a service station near the post office and FBI Office. Part of his duties are parking and cleaning cars. Thomas says there is no tension at that time; therefore, there is no interaction with the FBI. Also, Thomas works for the Castle Foundation for awhile. Before 1941, he works for New Fair Dairy LTD in Kaphulu, Hawaii, delivering milk, and he receives his draft notice.

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Keywords: Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas is drafted on March 25, 1941 and reports to Schofield Barracks. Thomas finishes basic training in three months. Two hundred of the men are assigned to the Engineer group. Thomas goes to A Company Engineer with ten Japanese, and the remaining guys are Caucasian and one Chinese. He recalls First Lieutenant Harvey Reed Fraser. Thomas says he is the most outstanding guy he ever knows. Thomas recalls a warrant officer position becomes available, and Thomas's friend from Roosevelt High School takes the test. His friend surpasses the high ranking officers who apply for the warrant officer position. Thomas and his friends from the company have annual reunions.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; friendship; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; Lieutenant; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Previously Thomas, Kenneth Lister, Edwin Okuma, Donald Wong (B Company Clerk) meet annually for their reunions. This year they are unable to see each other. Thomas cannot drive anymore, and the other guys have injuries. On December 17, Company Commander Harvey R. Fraser talks about the Japanese. Thomas and the other Japanese Americans are allowed to keep their rifles and animations. The Company Commander Fraser did not take away their guns. Later, Thomas discovers the Company Commander Fraser does not leave for the South Pacific. Instead, he is assigned to create a new engineer company. Company Commander Fraser has many awards and honors, which include the General Patton Award.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: Post-war, when Thomas is playing softball in Phoenix, he learns that Harvey R. Fraser is nearby in a care home. Fraser does meet with the surviving soldiers for a reunion. Fraser's son-in-law is a Deputy Commander of the 25th Division. Thomas recalls having lunch at the General Quarters with the guys. The Company moves to Wailua on December 7.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; sports

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Partial Transcript: Before Pearl Harbor, the war in Europe and Asia did not involve the United States yet. When Thomas receives his draft notice, he assumes his Army service will be done in a year. On December 7, Thomas takes a taxi to join the platoon at Makapuu Air Base to build wooden barracks. At the Air Base, Thomas sees a dead body for the first time. The platoon is a mixed ethnic group.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; platoon; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Thomas is part of the regular Army. Before arriving at the Air Base, he sees a dead body. Thomas recalls the attacks just ended at the Air Base when he arrives. However, there are still planes flying above. The airplanes are flying low and can see the pilot. He shares an incident when the Sergeant cannot find the key to unlock the guns. Thomas says you cannot shoot the rounds often because they are deadbolt. You have to feed the bullets one at a time.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; rifle; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Thomas describes his feeling about the attack. Before the attack, around June, the guys in the company, not just Japanese Americans, would have social gatherings together. When the war started, he does not know the other guys' sentiments. The Commander speaks to the whole company at Schofield Barracks and supports Japanese American soldiers. Thomas recalls a Japanese American soldier who is five feet tall, and he stays back at the camp at the supply depot. The other Caucasian soldiers could do the same task as him. Thomas shares a moment about a candy store (the interview stops at one hour and 43 seconds).

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; Commander; Hawaiian soldiers; Nisei soldiers; platoon; World War Two

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