Partial Transcript: Shigeo Iwamasa is born November 12, 1923, in Waihee-Waiehu, Maui. Shigeo's father is an Issei from Yamaguchi Prefecture Japan, and his mother is from Hilo, Hawaii. Shigeo's father immigrates to Hawaii for better opportunities. However, he finds it difficult to find jobs other than plantation labor. Shigeo is not certain how his parents meet. His mother might be a picture bride.

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Keywords: family; Hawaii; Hawaiian identity; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; plantation

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo discusses his siblings. In order from oldest to youngest - Matsugi, Matsuko, Shigeto, Shigeo (himself), Toshio, Suneo, and Hairo. Shigeo's father has a brother in Japan, but Shigeo does not have the opportunity to meet his relatives in Japan.

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Keywords: family; Hawaii; Issei

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo attends a grammar school that has approximately 300 students. The students primarily come from plantation families. After primary school, Shigeo attends Japanese Language School for an hour, including Saturdays. After Shigeo completes the 7th-grade, the grammar school creates the 8th-grade class. Shigeo's class is the first to graduate 8th grade.

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Keywords: childhood activities; Hawaii; Japanese language school; plantation; primary school

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Partial Transcript: At the Iwamasa's home, the children mainly speak English. They did not speak Japanese except for Shigeo's sister. Shigeo's parents are different in their approach to childrearing. Shigeo's father is a very kind man but stern and comes from a family of samurai. Shigeo's mother is soft and gentle. Shigeo recalls having a good life growing up. The siblings all got along, and Shigeo helps supports the family. Shingo's favorite activity is playing cowboy and Indians with the neighborhood boys.

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Keywords: child rearing; childhood activities; family; Hawaii; plantation; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo helps his father on the plantation to grow food. Going to the market is not easy at times. Walking to the market is about two miles. Shigeo is constantly busy with activities on the plantation. Besides growing vegetables, he also helps makes starch for his mother's laundry. On the weekends he waters the vegetables for his school projects, and he works at the golf course. During the seasonal months, he goes to the mountains to harvests guava. The Iwamasa family did not have a lot of money. Shigeo's father makes 30 dollars a month, and they did extra side jobs for additional income.

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Keywords: childhood activities; Hawaii; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: The Iwamasa family did not have a lot of money. Shigeo says they did not have money to buy shoes. Although they did not have a lot of material items, Shigeo says they have an honorable life. The parents work hard to keep the family together and provide for the family. Shigeo recalls if he is mischievous, he would not be allowed to go to the movies. A movie ticket at that time is 10 cents. Shigeo also mentions there is prejudice. He gives an example about a Korean girl in High School.

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Keywords: "Jap"; child rearing; childhood activities; children; family; Hawaii; Issei; Nisei; Pearl Harbor

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Partial Transcript: On December 7, Shigeo is working on the golf course and he sees a Naval platoon airplane on fire. Someone from the golf course says Pearl Harbor is being attacked. Later that day, the news about Pearl Harbor is confirmed by news outlets. Following the Pearl Harbor attacks, radio and other items are confiscated. The radio is Shigeo's form of entertainment and source of news. Shigeo's father's attitude towards the United States is that this is his home. He did not express any feelings about Japan. Pearl Harbor event changes everything and makes the Japanese Americans the enemy alien.

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Keywords: discrimination; enemy alien; Executive Order 9066; family; Hawaii; interment camp; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; plantation; travel; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo is in Honolulu when he hears the US Army is forming an all-Japanese American unit. Shigeo decides to volunteer for service and returns to Maui to volunteer. He takes his physical exam and is accepted into service. The biggest regret for Shigeo is not being able to tell his parents goodbye before going to the mainland.

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Keywords: 442nd; family; Hawaii; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: After two months at Camp Shelby, Shigeo writes a letter back home and informs his family about the news. Shigeo compares his absence from home to the military term absent with official leave (AWOL). Shigeo is upset that the induction process into the Army happens quickly, there is no courtesy. Later, Shigeo understands this is a Military secret. Shigeo flashbacks to the Pearl Harbor event, when he witnesses two Japanese submarines in the vicinity of Maui. Their objective is to destroy the field supply. Shigeo says this is the moment that starts his Military career.

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Keywords: 442nd; basic training; Camp Shelby; correspondence; Hawaiian soldiers; Mainland; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo has basic training at Camp Shelby for one year before having a break in October. He goes to Alabama to escort Prisoners of War to harvest peanuts. The peanuts are turned into oil for ammunition. Shigeo says that is a good distraction because he has never been to Alabama. Shigeo's is assigned to Regimental Headquarters and goes to the Department of Agriculture for administration work.

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Keywords: 442nd; Camp Shelby; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Mainland; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo approximately meets the mainland soldiers within two weeks of basic training. Shigeo respects the mainland soldiers. Despite the internment camp and discrimination, they still volunteer for service. Shigeo considers Shichizo Toyota a good friend and admires him the most. Shichizo is always smiling no matter what. Within the second week of combat. Shigeo finds him killed in action and stays with his body.

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Keywords: 442nd; artillery; artillery fire; friendship; Hawaiian soldiers; Killed in Action; platoon; relocation centers; squad; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: As the squad moves forward, Shigeo remains with Shichizo Toyota's body. He did not want anyone touching him. When the registration soldiers arrive at pickup Shichizo, Shigeo rejoins his squad. Shigeo discusses how Shichizo's death is a huge impact on his life.

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Keywords: artillery; artillery fire; foxhole; friendship; front line; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Killed in Action; Mainland soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: When Shigeo discovers his friend, Shichizo Toyota, is killed in action, and examines the body. Shigeo misses Shichizo's smile.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; artillery fire; friendship; German soldiers; Hawaiian soldiers; Killed in Action; Mainland soldiers; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo discusses being evacuated to a hospital in Nice, France. The doctors could not diagnose his condition. Shigeo asks for discharge, and he is sent back to his unit in the Alps. However, Shigeo returns to the hospital in Cannes. Shigeo thinks he has measles and shows the doctor. Shigeo is familiar with measles because he had it when he is a child.

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

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo recovers from measles and receives an order to go to Northern France. Shigeo is assigned to be a chauffeur. In Germany, Shigeo drives Officers around. The following day, Shigeo is assigned as a staff driver to a Major General.

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Keywords: colonel; France; Germany; Hawaiian soldiers; Nisei soldiers; squad; troop; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Shigeo is assigned again as a staff driver to the Major General. The Colonel requests Shigeo to be his permanent driver and asked if he would like to go to London.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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