Partial Transcript: (Interview starts at 16 seconds) Thomas recalls the time at Schofield Barracks the Commander allowed the Japanese American soldiers to keep their weapons. The soldiers are preparing to go to Wailua. Thomas says none of the Japanese American soldiers are kicked out of the service. Some left because they are old. When December 7th happened, the guys who left returns back to serve.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Thomas talks about serval topics such as working on gun replacements and his daughter being born on May 25. He sees his daughter for the first time before leaving for five years of deployment. Thomas reminisces about when he first meets his wife in Japanese Language School. Before getting married in 1940, Thomas visits see her in camp. His wife comes from a family of eight daughters.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: dating; family; Hawaii; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; wedding

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Partial Transcript: Thomas talks about the rescue of the 131st Battalion, he is reclassified as unfit for duty. The war in Northern France is not going well, and they lost a lot of equipment. Then the Army decided to recruit about 50 guys to drive 25 jeeps up to Epinal, France. The Technical Sergeant is Yeiki Kobashigawa. Kobashigawa is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Many of the Nisei soldiers do not know how to drive cars yet because they never own a car before the war. Thomas shares stories of their driving experience. When they arrive at their destination, they are stationed at Seckenheim place between Mannheim and Heidelberg. This is the last time the unit is together because of some transfer to various outfits.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate); Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Thomas recalls driving officers to Paris, Belgium, and other areas. He recalls driving a Sergeant who showed movies about the point system. Another driving duty is being a driver for an artillery outfit Lieutenant Colonel Malin Craig Jr. Post-war Lieutenant Col. Craig Jr. is assigned to go to Japan. He asked Thomas to go with him to be his driver in Japan. However, Thomas cannot read the Japanese writing system and did not go. When Lieutenant Col. Craig Jr. returns to Hawaii, he becomes Head of the United States Army Pacific area. Malin Craig Senior is one of the top Generals in Washington D.C. Thomas says if he is not married, he would have gone to Japan with Lieutenant Col. Craig Jr.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: colonel; France; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Lieutenant Colonel; Nisei soldiers; post-war

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says Tech. Sgt. Yeiki Kobashigawa is a quiet and outstanding guy. He describes a time in Cassino crossing the Rapido River, Tech. Sgt. Kobashigawa searches for mines and tripwires and suffers injuries. You never know how a person would react when you encounter dangerous situations. E Company is on the left of the F Company (Thomas's Company). After crossing the river in the darkness, they march in a single file line going through the forest. There is a disturbance on the left side, and E Company starts firing, B Company on the right begins firing too. This ends up to be a mistake of friendly fire. The next morning the E Company Commander is angry because a few soldiers are killed.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; Cassino; France; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Salerno

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Partial Transcript: Thomas discusses the fear of war. Yeiki Kobashigawa receives the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his acts of heroism in Cassino and later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Another Nisei who awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the DFC is Staff Sgt. Allan M. Ohata. Ohata is a classmate of Thomas at McKinley High School, class of 1936. Thomas says Kobashigawa does not talk much, very quiet. However, his leadership is good and gets the work done. Thomas admires him. Ohata is also a non-talkative person. He did not get married and moves to Los Angeles post-war.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; Distinguished Service Cross; high school; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Medal of Honor; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; Salerno

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says Yeiki Kobashigawa and Allan M. Ohata are good leaders. Ohata is promoted from the ranks. Ohata is sent to command C Company. Thomas describes an incident with Ohata and the General. The General's aide is Wells Lewis (his father is Sinclair Lewis). Lewis is killed because he is at the frontlines. Thomas read General Eisenhower promoted this General.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; front line; Hawaiian soldiers; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Killed in Action; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says the General gives the command for Ohata to push his Company to the frontlines. Ohata replies to the General he will do it his way. The General is unhappy with Ohata's response and said Ohata's rank will be taken away. Ohata tells his men to follow his orders despite what the General says.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate); company; France; front line; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: In the Company, Thomas has to delivers messages for the Captain. Thomas recalls the 100th Lost Battalion Rescue. The 36 Division would obey the General's commands.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 442nd; France; Hawaiian soldiers; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas gets married in 1940 to Frances Fusako Masumoto, before joining the Army. When he received his draft notice, Thomas only thought he would be in service for one year. Thomas leaves the engineer company a month or so before going to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. His new assignment is with the Supply Depot Unit.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; draft; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Thomas discusses leaving Hawaii on a commercial passenger ship, SS Maui. The trip takes about five to six days. During those days, Thomas would sunbathe and play cards. Some guys are seas sick and laid in bed the whole trip. The SS Maui lands in Oakland, California, and then the guys board a train. Thomas says the curtains are pulled down to blackout the windows. Thomas originally is with the regular Army. Some of the other guys on the ship are from the 298 and 299 National Guards. There are 1432 soldiers, and some go to the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Thomas reflects on N. Nakatani and George O'Connell.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; blackouts in war; California; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas is not sure how the 100th Battalion is called "one puka puka." He describes seeing the mainland from the train. The train stops at a little store, and Thomas says the guys are excited and run into the store. He recalls going to New York from Camp Shelby with 17 guys.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says Fort McCoy in Wisconsin is a nice place. He recalls some funny moments in Wisconsin. There is one time the guys go to a football game, and the driver of the car is staring at the Nisei soldiers. In doing so, the driver hit a car in front of them. Another time, the guys go swimming in a pond, and the water is brown. Someone says there is a snake and everyone jumps out. In B Company, Company Commander Clarence Johnson builds a skating ring and appoints Thomas to water the snow.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: company; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland; Nisei soldiers; social activities

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Partial Transcript: Thomas discusses a photograph of the Hawaiian Nisei soldiers in the snow. He says this is the first time the guys see snow unless the guys have been to mountains before. When they return to the Barracks, they get a pint of ice cream. The weather is cold enough that they can leave the ice cream by the window, and it is still hard the next morning. When Thomas goes to Shelby, Mississippi, he says there is a difference in weather from Wisconsin. The weather is hotter in the summer. Thomas says they continue training at Shelby.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; basic training; Camp McCoy; Camp Shelby; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas talks about chiggers. If you go through the grassy areas, there are many bugs. He recalls Easter Sunday the entire Battalion goes for a 25 miles walk. The walk starts at daylight, and the first 10 to 15 miles is great, then the ambulances start following the company for emergencies. At night, the guys could not hold on anymore and boarded the ambulance. Most of the guys finish the walk. The walk is not easy, and it is difficult for the guys who had to give up. On the walk, they also see other outfits walking.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Camp Shelby; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says they keep the regulation distance from the next person when walking. However, Thomas sees the other outfits walking. He says it looks like they are dragging their tail because they are not within regulation. At Camp Shelby, some of the 442nd join the 100th Battalion. Thomas says there is acceptance with the soldiers. He gives examples like Nakatani and O'Connell. It is hard to socialize in the Army. You only know the guys within your platoon. The Army is not a social gathering. However, there is a lot of gambling.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 442nd; Camp Shelby; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland; Mainland soldiers; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas says there are differences, but in war, those differences do not matter. He shares his thoughts when the 442nd comes to Italy. The Company Commander did not give them a company to lead. Instead, they are at the end of the squad like a regular private. They may be Sergeant and Tech Sergeants and are talented, but there are no battle experiences. The Corporals and First Class Privates are up for promotions. When a large number of high tech sergeants come in, the quota is filled, and can not get promoted. Thomas thinks this cause a little resentment. In Thomas's squad, there is no promotion. There is only one Staff Sergeant.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 442nd; company; discrimination in the military; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Italy; Mainland; Mainland soldiers; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Thomas discusses the weekend pass to Sparta and racism. He reflects on his childhood and a term he hears. Thomas gives examples of segregation in Hattiesburg. After seeing the treatment of segregation, he can correlate the derogatory phrase he hears from his childhood. Thomas says there is one colored person at McKinley High School, but there is no discrimination towards this person. However, the Japanese Americans are discriminated from the Caucasians.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "colored"; discrimination; Hawaii; high school; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland; prejudices; race discrimination

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Partial Transcript: Thomas talks about Castle Estate Kindergarten. The Castle Estate donates a few million to the University of Hawaii and builds a kindergarten there. Thomas's brother works at the kindergarten there as a custodian for a while. He is now sure when his father retired. (Interview ends at 56 minutes and 34 seconds)

Segment Synopsis:

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

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