Partial Transcript: Taira and his brother Jim are together for 442nd and replacements. Taira is a medical aide, and Jim and another Nisei are the litter bearers. He has one hour of first aid training for five days at basic training. He recalls his father saying do a good job and do not bring shame to the family. Taira is assigned to Company M and given a crash course of all his equipment in his medical bag. Tech Sergeant Hirata gives Taira encouragement and support.

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

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Partial Transcript: In the field, Taira sticks close to Tech Sergeant Hirata and gives him practice experience. Taira does a good job as a medical aide with the encouragement and support of Tech Sergeant Hirata. After his tour with them, he goes back to the 3rd Battalion Medic. With the 3rd Battalion, he helps with the sick calls. Sergeant Matsuda takes Taira under his wings. Taira recalls being on duty and giving aid to a Prisoner of War (POW) named Hans. With Sergeant Matsuda's guidance, Taira successfully treated Hans.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Taira reports to Fort Meade on his birthday to ship overseas in 1945. However, there is a measles outbreak, and he does not ship until late February or March. Taira describes traveling overseas in the Atlantic Ocean. When he lands in France, he goes to Marseilles, but the 442nd has gone to Italy. He goes to Leghorn to catch up with the 442nd. Taira travels on a landing ship tank (LST) and gets seasick. He says it is the worse compared to his first voyage to France.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; European Theater; France; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Leghorn; Livorno-Leghorn; Nisei soldiers; travel; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Taira spends multiple days on the landing ship tank (LST) and is seasick. He arrives in Italy to meet with the 442nd. Before coming overseas, Taira received training as a rifleman but now is assigned as 3rd Battalion Medic, Company M. Taira's brother Jim is a litter bearer for Company L. As a medic, the Tech Sergeant takes Taira under his guidance. Taira says the are some advantages to being under his position. Taira is treated well as a medic.

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

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Partial Transcript: Taira recalls being under the guidance of Tech Sergeant Matsuda. The tech sergeant advises on the dos and don'ts on the battlefield. Taira says he doesn't worry about getting shot, but worries for his family. The first wounded soldier for Taira was not bad. Taira says he did not have a tough time being a medic because he has Tech Sergeant Matsuda for support.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: European Theater; family; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: When the 442nd leaves, Taira goes to a hospital in Forgia. Taira becomes interested in bacteriology. He recalls another medic taking a microscope when the Germans are surrendering. Taira wants to further his education and takes courses studying bacteriology. Taira also visits an anatomy museum in Italy.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; education; European Theater; higher education; hospital; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; surrender; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: In Italy, Taira's first battle is the Gothic Line. Taira is a frontline medic. The interviewer, Robert, explains the Gothic Line. He says when the 442nd leaves Italy to go to France, the advancement to stop the Germans stopped at the Gothic Line. The hillside is heavily fortified, and the American Army did not advance within the six months when the 442nd was gone. The Gothic Line was the last stronghold defense. When the 442nd returns after the staging are set and break the Gothic Line in 32 minutes. Afterward, it is chasing the German soldiers. Taira shares how his friend Yousa gets a Bronze Star by reporting a POW relationship. Medals are given to groups and not individuals.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Bronze Star; German soldiers; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War

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Partial Transcript: When the war ends, Taira goes to the airport in Italy. At the airport, the Prisoners of War (POWs) are being processed. As a medic, Taira is still with Company M but returns to the 3rd Battalion in Pisa. Taira recalls the 442nd is returning to the United States and soldiers are being discharged by the point system. Therefore, Taira stays in Italy for occupation. When the veteran soldiers are discharged, the newcomers are promoted in ranking when they come overseas.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Italy; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War

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Partial Transcript: When Taira is in the frontline, the hardest part for him is to let go of the idea do not mess up. His cultural value and his father's words stick with him. Taira says there is a motto in medicine, do no harm, and he relates that to not tell anyone about his deficiencies. The best experience in the military is being discharged. Taira recalls being in a room with a recruiter asking Taira to join the reserves, but he declines. For Taira's service, he receives a Combat Medic Badge. Later, he gives it to his wife as a bracelet to wear. Moreover, the military gives him ten dollars extra a month.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Issei parents; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Overseas, there is a restriction on how much you can spend. Taira gives an example of how he bought his father and himself a watch. In Switzerland, it is his rest period. Taira says the locals are friendly and recalls some of their nice gestures. Taira discusses the black market.

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Keywords: Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; Prisoners of War; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: When Taira is in Italy, his parents leave Manzanar, and Seabrooks Farms offers them a job. Taira learns later that his parents take the job at Seabrooks Farms to be closer to him when he returns home. In October 1946, Taira is discharged, and he goes to Richton. Before the war, Taira does not think about higher education. However, Taira is interested now since he has a GI Bill. He sees an advertisement about Lincoln Prep School and enrolls in four classes. Drake University excepts his high school record plus the Lincoln Prep School courses. For his homecoming, he gets can peaches from his mother for his birthday.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: higher education; homecoming; Issei parents; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: Taira is accepted into Drake University, and his mother gives him three hundred dollars from the money she saves. At Drake, there are many Jewish students because the Eastcoast has a quota on Jewish students. Taira works at the girls' dormitory as a dishwasher for two meals a day. Taira's roommate plays on the football team and always studies at the last minute. Taira is amazed at how fast he learns.

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Keywords: higher education; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; social activities

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Partial Transcript: After Drake University, Taira goes to the University of Utah to be closer to his wife. He studies bacteriology. In 1951, Taira gradates college, he works in a lab in Utah part-time while going to graduate school. Taira's wife is Nobuko Okumura. They both went to Manzanar and corresponds with one another when Taira is overseas. When Taira returns after the war, they get married. When Taira's parents lose their jobs at Seabrooks Farm, Nobuko suggests they come live with them. Taira is grateful and appreciative of his wife. Taira says having the same belief and cultural upbringing is important.

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Keywords: correspondence; dating; employment; higher education; Japanese Americans; Manzanar; Nisei; Nisei veterans; social activities; wedding

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Partial Transcript: Taira's wife Nobuko Okumura speaks Japanese. He thinks his wife is perfect because they fit culturally and they know each other well. Taira and Nobuko could not get married right away because her father's and brother's workplace was on strike. When Nobuko receives her paycheck, she gives it to her parents. Taira says he is the same way with his parents. Taira and Nobuko wait five years until they can get married and have one son. Taira shares a story about diapers.

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Keywords: family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: Taira and Nobuko's son, Steven is a producer for a television station for 25 years. Steven is married to Susan. Taira and Nobuko had another child, but she passed away after birth. Taira and Nobuko have plans for their daughter's burial but are declined because of their ancestry. As Taira gets older, he sees more situations. When he was a child, he only knows about housing issues.

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Keywords: discrimination; employment; family; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: Taira hopes the treatment of the Japanese Americans will not happen to anyone else. Taira says the Japanese American situation is how you see it. The Japanese Americans did not have civil rights. As times are changing and the opportunities for the next generation are getting better. Taira discusses camp life and how the depiction is not accurate.

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Keywords: discrimination; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: Taira discusses Ken Uchida, a Lieutenant Colonel. Ken served in the war at Fort Sam, San Antonio. In honor of Ken, there is a picture made of those who served in San Antonio. Moreover, the new reserve center is named after him. Taira recalls reading an article that Ken asked for his account in the military, and he can show some of the Generals. Taira narrates a photo from April 1. The Japanese Americans are loading the train at Union Station to go to Manzanar. The next photo, shown is from the LA Times of Taira and his brother.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; forced removal; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Manzanar; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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