Partial Transcript: Seichi recalls Ted Tanouye is a Mainland soldier who is a cook. When you go to war, it is hard to keep track of what other squads or platoons are doing. You learn about the story about other soldiers later on. The only interaction Seichi has with Ted is in the Kitchen. They exchange greetings nothing more. As for James K. Okubo, he only knows him by name.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland soldiers; Medal of Honor; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi is at Camp Shelby for a year doing basic training. After a year of training, Seichi says he feels anxious and ready to move on. He departs from Newport News, VA, and lands in Naples, Italy. The voyage takes 29 days and Seichi gets seasick. The convoy consists of 100 ships. When Seichi arrives in Naples, he says the harbor is damage from the bombing and there are structural damages to the buildings. Moreover, there are not that many civilians.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Camp Shelby; civilians; convoy; European Theater; Hawaiian soldiers; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi describes the civilians looking hungry. He recalls dig a hole and placing food in there. The local kids would jump in the hole and take what they can. Seichi is in Naples for about a week. He says there is a difference between basic training and war. In battle, you can hear the artillery fire and being at the front line. At the front line, you can see the effects of artillery fire on a tank. Furthermore, the shocking thing about war is seeing a dead person and reflecting on your survival.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; artillery; artillery fire; European Theater; front line; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Killed in Action; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi says seeing a dead person is hard but seeing your soldier is more difficult. Seichi is in K Company 4th Platoon, machine gun section. Seichi's lieutenant is Harry Kanada. Seichi lists his squad - Mitsuo Tachibana, Stanley K. Sakuma, Mitsuo "Matt" Matsumoto, and Yasu Nakamatsu.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; European Theater; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland soldiers; Nisei soldiers; platoon; Southern France; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi says their platoon leader is George Iwamoto and later H. Aoki. Seichi describes George and says he is a smart person. He is a terrific trainer and a good leader. The commission officer is Lieutenant Gay. Lieutenant Gay is also a good trainer but leaves later. Seichi also mentions Lieutenant Springfield.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; basic training; European Theater; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Lieutenant; Lost Battalion; Nisei; Southern France; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses his first day in action. He says the riflemen and Sergeant are in the frontline and the mortar company is in the back. Seichi is in the mortar company. He remembers hearing artillery fire but does not know which direction it is coming from. Seichi's duty is to support the infantrymen. The Sergeant will give the mortar company directions and distance where to fire.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; artillery; artillery fire; European Theater; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; mortar; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi describes a mortar and how it operates. The barrel is approximately 16 millimeters (30 inches), and the size of the smooth-bore is approximately 60 millimeters. There is a metal tube mounted to a base plate with a bipod. There is one soldier who operates the mortar and another soldier who carries the ammunition. Seichi describes a projectile. You cannot fire in the forest because you can hit a tree branch. Therefore, the projectile needs to be fired in an open space.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; European Theater; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Southern France; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses the danger of firing a mortar. You have to handle the mortar shell with care. If you drop the pin, the mortar will explode. When a mortar is fired, it makes a whistling sound. Being in the mortar company, there are blindsides. You rarely see what is in front of you. Unless you are in a forward position you can see the front line. Seichi recalls a time when they are on top of a hill, he can see the front. As long as you do not have trees or anything blocking the field of vision, you can see the front. Seichi says they are always under direct fire from German soldiers. Seichi talks about the last push at Po Valley. This is when he sees his friend Victor Hada killed in action.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; artillery; artillery fire; European Theater; front line; German soldiers; Gothic Line and Po Valley; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; KIA; Mainland soldiers; Nisei soldiers; Po Valley; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses George Iwamoto. In France, the platoon is moving forward to some homes near Bruyeres. George is leading and Seichi is in the back. The shell hit the building and George is paralyzed. H. Aoki takes over George's position for the rest of the campaign. Seichi says at Po Valley the 96th Division helps supports them in battle.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Bruyeres-Biffontaine; casualty; Gothic Line and Po Valley; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland soldiers; Nisei soldiers; Po Valley; Southern France; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi says he encounters friendly fire but does not know the details. The toughest part of the campaign is the Lost Battalion. In France, Seichi remembers being in a battle for about nine days in Bruyeres. Seichi finishes taking a bath and they receive news about the Lost Battalion. The company heads out at 2 AM in the forest for the rescue mission. Seichi says on the way to the rescue, they are hit hard with artillery fire, and his sergeant gets hit. The battle goes on for three days and the company losses a lot of men. After the rescue of the Lost Battalion, Seichi says seventeen of them have to defend the area.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; artillery; artillery fire; Bruyeres-Biffontaine; European Theater; France; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Mainland soldiers; mortar; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi recalls General John E. Dahlquist. Seichi says he is relieved when the Lost Battalion is rescued. The weather is raining and cold. Seichi says they did not have winter gear for the conditions. Some soldiers get trench foot. Seichi describes what the Lost Battalion looks like after the rescue. There is a review after the rescue.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; artillery; artillery fire; European Theater; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; trench foot; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi says he is slightly wounded from a tree burst. Seichi describes the Gothic Line and its importance. He recalls climbing up the steep mountain. Seichi says the climb is rough because he is carrying his backpack, the mortar equipment, and ammunition. They climb up the mountain in the early morning. Seichi and his company were at the Gothic Line five months prior. Due to the loss of their men, they wait for replacements to go back to the Gothic Line. 100th Battalion C Company takes over and Seichi sees the Second in Command. The Second in Command is his brother. Seichi is shocked and concerned for his brother.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 442nd; artillery; artillery fire; European Theater; front line; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Lost Battalion; mortar; Nisei soldiers; Po Valley; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Seichi recalls seeing his oldest brother, Masao, in Genoa after the Gothic Line. Masao is a 100th replacement. Seichi discusses when he finds out the Genoa is taken over and the war is over. When the war ends, Seichi is at the airport processing the German soldiers and sees his other brother, Susumu. Susumu lands in Naples right when the war is over.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 442nd; European Theater; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Issei; Issei parents; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War; Southern France; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: When the war ends, Seichi stays to process the German soldiers. He later goes to Florence and guards the ration camp. Seichi recalls coming home and landing at the harbor in Hawaii. He says there is only one person there to greet them, James Oura's sister. Seichi has a camera at this time and says he wish he has taken a picture of James' sister at the harbor. He does take some pictures on the voyage home and shows them 50 years later.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; photographs

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Partial Transcript: When Seichi returns home, his parents are very happy. However, he still has two brothers in Italy, and the youngest brother is drafted. During the war, Seichi's father is worried about their safety. This causes him to lose a lot of weight. A year later, Masao, Seichi, and Susumu reunite together. Post-war, Seichi returns to his job at the plantation working at the auto shop. The pineapple plantation closes after 34 years and he is transferred to Del Monte Kunia. After working at Del Monte Kunia for 12 years, Seichi retires.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 100th; 442nd; draft; Hawaiian soldiers; homecoming; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Post-war, Seichi says he did not think of using his GI Bill to further his education. Seichi's wife, Sally Miyamoto, is a cafeteria manager for the school district. She has to serve on a different island for one year before she can work in Honolulu. Sally is chosen to work at Molokai for her year of service. When Sally comes to Molokai, a friend introduces them. Seichi says, out of 200 Hawaiian soldiers who serve in K Company, Seichi is the only person from Molokai.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; dating; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; wedding

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Partial Transcript: Seichi and Sally have three children together - Vernon (structure engineer in Oakland, CA), Joanne (Elementary teacher in Washington), and Shelly (teacher in Orange County, CA). There are five grandchildren Kimmy, Kelsey, Michael, Macey, and Todd.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Hawaii; Nisei; Nisei veterans; Sansei; Yonsei

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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses his war experience and the Nisei contribution to the war. Post-war, Seichi visits Europe and Bruyeres twice. He visits the battlegrounds and attends the Lost Battalion reunion. Seichi says the Nisei contribution helps gives the future generations equality to find jobs. He recalls getting coffee from the Red Cross in Texas and experiencing racism.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Bruyeres-Biffontaine; European Theater; France; friendship; Lost Battalion; Mainland; Nisei veterans; racism; Sansei; Southern France; travel; World War Two; Yonsei

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Partial Transcript: Seichi says the Japanese Americans are American citizens and they showed their loyalty by fighting in the war. The 442nd made many contributions and sacrifices for future generations and to fight against racism. Seichi wants his children and grandchildren to know that their father, grandfather fought in Europe along with their two uncles and returns home safely.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei veterans; Sansei; Yonsei

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