Partial Transcript: Leo Morishita is born December 24, 1923, in Shelley, Idaho. He has four siblings, Tamiyo Morishita (seven years older), Sadao Morishita (five years older), Kenzo Morishita (two years older), and Yutaka Morishita (three years younger). Kenzo is one of the survivors of the last eight standing from the Lost Battalion rescue. Yukawa is stationed in Germany during wartime.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Japanese Americans; Lost Battalion; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo's name is given to him by the farmer owner Mr. Pugmeyers. Leo's full name is Leo Toshio Morishita. Leo's father is Tsurukichi Morishita. In 1897, Leo's father comes to the United States from Hiroshima, Japan. Leo's father first works at the Great Northern Railroads, then becomes a barber and later opens a pool hall. Leo's father decides to sell his business and raise the children on the farm.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; family; farm; farming; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo's father immigrates from Hiroshima, Japan, and lands in Seattle, Washington. His father signs a contract to help set up the railroad tracks for the Great Northern Railroad. In 1947, Leo's father celebrates his 50th anniversary of coming to the United States. Leo's father often shares his life stories with his children. Leo recalls his father's story about the winter season in Montana and not having winter clothing.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo recalls his father's story about the winter season in Montana and not having winter clothing. Leo's father goes to the store and buys some new clothes. However, he is a petite man, and the clothes are too big for him. Leo explains how his grandfather finds out how his father is skipping school in Japan. This is one of the reasons Leo's father decides to come to America. Another reason is Leo's father and mother (Tsune Morita) wanted a better life and feel they would have more opportunities in the United States.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo says his father does not talk about his family in Japan. However, Leo's mother does talk about her family often. Her father is in the lumber business, and they correspond often. Leo's grandmother passes away at a young age after his mother is born. On Leo's mother's side, her brothers served in the Japanese Army during the Manchurian War and World war Two.

Segment Synopsis:

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

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In Idaho Falls, there is a Japanese School Leo attends. After primary school and on Saturdays, Leo goes to Japanese School to learn how to speak, read, and write Japanese. The Japanese School remains open until 1941. Leo also attends daigaku after graduating High School. At home, Leo speaks Japanese.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; education; Japanese language school; Nisei; primary school

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo says the Japanese Community in Idaho Falls is fairly big with probably 100 families. The Morishita family moves to different farms because of the rent cost. Leo explains during this time, Issei are not allowed to own land due to the Alien Land Law. When Leo's oldest brother turns 18, the Morishita family buys a 380-acre farm under his name. Leo visits his home last year, and his childhood home is still there. However, the neighbors' homes are gone.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; family; farm; farming; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo starts school early due to his birthday. Leo attends Iona Elementary School in Idaho. Leo's siblings also attend the same school and did well. However, Leo has a hard time because English is not his first language. Leo's siblings help him learn English, and he later attends another school after they buy a farm in Osgood, Idaho. The landlord of the farmland subdivides the land into many subdivision and sell the lots to Japanese Americans.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo discusses the farm their family buys in Osgood, Idaho. Mr. Shattuck, the landlord, sells the firstborn in the Japanese family. Leo explains percent of revenue made is goes towards rent. In Leo's school years, he says several teachers make an impact on his life. Leo mentions, Ms. Thelma Gray.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Japanese Americans; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: At school, Leo says he only speaks English. Leo's favorite classes are reading, penmanship, and spelling. Leo recalls doing the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of a few classes but not all. For lunch, Leo normally brings a sandwich in a paper bag to eat. Moreover, Leo participates in Boy Scouts at a Mormon Church and attends Mormon sessions on Tuesdays afternoon. On Sundays, he attends Mormon Church.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; childhood activities; education; Japanese Americans; Nisei; youth organizations

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo says the Bishop at the Mormon Church asks the Japanese Community to no longer attend the Church. The Japanese Community was not happy but later joins a Methodist Church, in Idaho Falls. Growing up, Leo does not observe any holidays or Japanese customs. Leo's hobbies include hunting and fishing.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; childhood activities; discrimination; Japanese Americans; Nisei; prejudices; racism; siblings

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In grade school and high school Leo participates in baseball, track and field, football, and basketball. Leo attends Osgood Elementary School and Ammon High School. Leo describes his position in each sport he participates in.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: high school; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo attends a co-ed public school. Leo plays on the football team. His football jersey number is 30. Leo says there are over 200 students in his high school. He explains what class B school is. A school above 250 students is classified as class A. A School below 250 students is classified as class B. Besides helping on the family farm, Leo works on the sugar beet crops for the LDS Mormon Church.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; employment; friendship; Japanese Americans; Nisei; youth organizations

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In 1942, Leo graduate high school. Leo recalls President Truman visiting his town. After Pearl Harbor, Leo says there is a curfew in place. His coach has to get him a permit to play basketball games after hours. Also, Leo says he cannot watch movies due to the curfew. Leo discusses the FBI confiscating guns, weapons, radios, and cameras following the Pearl Harbor attack. Leo says his family gave their guns and camera.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: curfew; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo's favorite radio show is Amos and Andy, and Joel Lewis matches. At home, to keep the food cold, Leo says they use blocks of ice. He explains how food is refrigerated. Also at home, there is a phone. Leo explains how they make phone calls in the 1940s.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; farm; farming; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Leo discusses the Idaho Falls Community. Leo recalls when his mother receives a letter when her father passes away. During the holidays, Leo's mother makes special dishes. Leo describes the meals his mother prepares and fishing.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: correspondence; family; friendship; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; social activities

Subjects: