Partial Transcript: Yoshiro discusses how the Japanese American soldiers get rice and soy sauce at Camp Shelby. Every payday, everyone puts a quarter in a can to collect money to buy soy sauce. For rice, the Quartermaster goes to every Unit and offers to exchange the potato ration for their rice rations. At Fort Meade Maryland, Yoshiro recalls there is inspection first thing in the morning on a Saturday. The General asks the soldiers how the food was at Fort Meade. Some of the men say "there is no rice". As a result, the General tells the Executive Officers to get rice for Japanese American soldiers.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; basic training; Camp Shelby; Fort Meade; Japanese American soldiers; living conditions; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro learns that the General at Fort Meade Maryland recently returned from Italy. Overseas he knows about the 442nd. After Fort Meade, Yoshiro goes to Camp Patrick Henry, Newport News, Virginia. Yoshiro travels overseas on the transport ship USS Washington. Besides the Japanese American soldiers, other units and divisions are being transported. The voyage across the Atlantic is two weeks long until they arrive in Naples, Italy. Yoshiro explains why the ship zig-zags across the ocean. The day before Yoshiro lands in Naples, the German forces surrender. Two days later Germany surrenders and the war is over.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 171st; 442nd; German soldiers; Germany; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; surrender; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: During the voyage overseas, Yoshiro experiences headaches. However, he thinks the headaches are partially from the seasickness. Yoshiro describes the two weeks on the ship. Yoshiro says he has kitchen police duties cracking eggs and peeling potatoes. Before going overseas, Yoshiro recalls his orders to go to Italy to join the 442nd. He could not tell his family where he is going, no letters are permitted. At Poston, Yoshiro learns how to swim. Yoshiro describes how a swimming pool is made at camp through building an irrigation system for farming.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; correspondence; farming; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; Poston; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: When Yoshiro lands in Naples, Italy, he is given Italian, French, and German phrasebooks. Yoshiro issued an M1 and bayonet. When Yoshiro drives the military truck there is a mounting clip to store the rifle. Yoshiro mentions as a driver sometimes you can pick up a pistol from a random place. For example an American issue 45 or an Italian barrette. Yoshiro recalls marching off the USS Washington after it docks in Naples and going to the replacement depot. The Japanese American soldiers are there for three weeks.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; marching; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: When Yoshiro goes to the replacement depot in Caiazzo, he does training in foreign weapons. Yoshiro says some of the soldiers go on training hikes. However, Yoshiro misses out on the hike because he is on kitchen duty. Overseas, there are a lot of mosquitos and Yoshiro uses DDT bombs to repel the mosquitos. At the end of the war, Yoshiro receives a Good Conduct Medal, Area Ribbons, and Victory Medal for his service in the Army.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro arrives in Italy at the end of April 1945 and Germany surrenders two days later. When the war ends Yoshiro is at the replacement depot. He recalls military jeeps driving with signs saying, "The war is over". In Caiazzo, Yoshiro does not interact with the locals until he meets with the 442nd. Yoshiro describes the neighboring town. Food is lacking due to war. Some of the soldiers prefer the food of the camp to the neighboring town. From the replacement depot, Yoshiro travels by train to Livorno-Leghorn. Then by truck, he goes to Castelflortino. Castelflortino is now a site for American Military Cemetery.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; civilians; Germany; Japanese American soldiers; Leghorn; Livorno-Leghorn; Nisei soldiers; surrender; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In Italy, Yoshiro meets his cousin Rudy Tokiwa from K Company. Also in Italy, is Yoshiro's neighbor and classmate from Salinas, CA. Yoshiro's friend also knows Rudy, but as Kacho. Yoshiro explains that Rudy is short for Rudolpho. Rudy's father names him Rudolpho because he visited Italy. Rudy receives an award for his injury in Italy and previously made an oral history.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; family; friendship; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro says his cousin Toshio "Duke" Tokiwa (Rudy's brother) also has military experience. Duke is left behind at Camp Shelby as part of the cadre. However, Yoshiro meets with Duke at Fort Meade. Duke is deployed overseas first. He arrives in Germany four weeks before the war ends. Yoshiro recalls the 442nd in Hawaii. Yoshiro also mentions he has done another oral history at his Senior Center other than the Go For Broke oral history.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Camp Shelby; family; Fort Meade; Germany; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei veterans; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro discusses his positive experience in the military service. He says he is, fortunate, to serve in the 442nd. He describes the many privileges they have in Italy. For example, other units deferred to the 442nd, and Military Personal would bypass restrictions for the 442nd. On Yoshiro's military uniform, he has a patch of the 442nd. He says the patch signifies liberty and freedom for all.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; friendship; Italy; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro returns to the United States on a victory ship and lands in New York. Yoshiro remains in training until Japan surrenders. The infantry units continue to do training exercises. Yoshiro is not fluent in reading Japanese Kanji. Therefore he does not consider going to the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). He would not be effective in reading handwritten dairies. In Italy, Yoshiro receives correspondence from his family. He describes what vmail is.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; correspondence; family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro returns to the United States on a victory ship. He lands in New York City. In Italy, the United States Military is selling vehicles to the public and the members of the Army Forces. Yoshiro shares a story about buying the used jeep. At this time the 442nd is being sent home. Yoshiro ships the jeep back to the United States with him when he leaves Italy.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro ships the jeep with him to New York. There are also a few other guys from the 442nd who bought jeeps and they drive to Seabrook, New Jersey together. Yoshiro drives home cross country and stops by Chicago, Denver, and Salt Lake to visit friends. Yoshiro also shares information at Seabrook Farms.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; farm; farming; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In 1946, Yoshiro is discharged from the Army. He uses his GI Bill to go to school at San Jose State College and UC Berkeley. Yoshiro majors in Biochemistry. Yoshiro discusses an interesting class he takes in Microchemistry. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Yoshiro works at the California Department of Health Services in the laboratory section. The first lab Yoshiro works in is the Sanitation lab.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discharge; education; GI Bill; higher education; Japanese Americans; Nisei veterans; post-war

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: After four years in the Sanitation lab, Yoshiro transfers to the Air Industrial Hygiene Lab. He describes his job duties in air pollution. Yoshiro works 20 years as an Air Pollution Research Specialist before retiring. Currently, Yoshiro is in a different field dealing with carcinogens. He discusses situations in Japan and Taiwan with PCD poisoning. Congress then passes the Toxic Control Act.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro discusses Congress passes the Toxic Control Act. There is a lot of requirements for the regulations from the time the chemical is made to the time the chemical is destroyed. The Federal Agency Yoshiro works at now is US Environment Protection Agency. The Agency is made up of ten regions. Yoshiro is in region nine which covers California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands. Yoshiro recalls working with another veterans at the agency.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro's first wife is Lorraine Sugioka. She has passed away over twenty years ago. Yoshiro remembers meeting Lorraine in chemistry class at UC Berkeley. Yoshiro is now remarried to Julia. Julia has two daughters from her first marriage, Cynthia and Kathleen. Yoshiro has two sons from his first marriage, Grant and Scott. Grant is married and lives in Vacaville, CA. Grant is a firefighter. Scott works for PG&E. Cynthia works for Social Security and lives with Yoshiro. Kathleen has a five-year-old daughter and is married to a Paramedic.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: children; Nisei; Nisei veterans; Sansei; Yonsei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro discusses the USS Hornet on Alameda. Yoshiro explains the PCD compliance agreement and regulation for the museum to operate to continue using the Hornet. Yoshiro says he also wrote the compliance agreements with the Navy, USS Midway, and USS Missouri.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro attends the Japanese American Service East Bay. This event is a social service for elderly Japanese. Yoshiro is on the Board of the Japanese American Service East Bay. Yoshiro is close with his cousins when they were young. After the war, they see and another socially.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Nisei; Nisei veterans; social activities

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro describes his cousin Rudy as a young child. Rudy is very outgoing and supportive of his friends. Around 1938 or 1939, Rudy goes to Japan and his parents left him there. Although Rudy is of Japanese descent, he is considered an outsider to the other children. Rudy's older sister lives in Japan and her husband works for the Manchurian railway. Rudy is sent to Manchuria and would be an immigrant similar to everyone else there. Before the war, Rudy returns to the United States and volunteers in the Army.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; children; draft; family; friendship; Issei parents; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; siblings; travel; World War Two

Subjects: