Partial Transcript: Ray Gerald Shiiki is born January 7, 1927, in Gresham, Oregon. He explains how he gets the nickname "Poopie."

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Assembly Centers; friendship; Japanese Americans; Nisei; sports

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray's parents Rikizo Shiiki and Asa Shiraishi Shiiki, are from Koga, Japan, and immigrated to the United States. They settled in Oregon.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Issei; Issei parents

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Family is the most important to Ray. He loves and appreciates his family dearly. He has three sisters Arie, Sumie, Kisae, and one brother, Tan "Tom." Once a year, the Shiiki family would have social gatherings with the Kobayashi family (Vancouver) and Takahashi family (Vancouver). They would take turns to meet at each other's houses.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; family; Japanese Americans; Nisei; social activities

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Growing up, Ray's family is close with the Kobayashi family and Takahashi family. When Ray is in Fort Snelling, he spends the weekends with his family friends. Ray recalls the values and morals instilled in him by his Issei parents. In 1939, Ray's grandmother is sick in Japan. She asks if Ray's mother would come to visit her. Ray's mother does not want to travel alone and asks Ray to join her. However, Ray is still in school. Ray's teacher encourages Ray to travel to Japan.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Fort Snelling; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; primary school; social activities

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray's seventh-grade teacher is an influential person who encourages him to go to Japan. His teacher served in the United States Navy as a Commander. Ray's friend Frank Sasaki (Portland) served under his teacher in the Navy. Ray's first-grade teacher, Ms. Peterson, is also influential. He recalls seeing her at Gresham's grade school reunion. In seventh grade, Ray goes to Japan with his mother. When Ray is younger, his hair is long, and he is mistaken for a girl in Japan. Ray and his mother are treated well in Japan. Ray's uncle on his father's side was killed in the Manchurian War.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; friendship; Issei; Japanese Americans; Killed in Action; Nisei; primary school; travel

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray visits relatives and receives a parade sword as a souvenir. During the war, Ray buries the parade sword but is unable to find it later.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Japanese Americans; Nisei; travel; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In Japan, Ray's uncle takes Ray around different Army induction centers. Ray was fluent in Japanese when his parents were alive. During his army service, Ray says his Japanese skills did not help him much. Ray recalls his basic training at Camp Hood and going to Fort Snelling.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Camp Hood; family; Fort Snelling; Japanese Americans; Nisei; travel

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray and his three Army buddies at Camp Hood discuss going to Japan. They decide to write a letter to Fort Snelling to go to the language school. The war ends, and Fort Snelling does not need additional people for language. However, ten days later, everyone at Camp Hood is transferred to Fort Snelling. Ray meets a First Sergeant from F Company and works for him as a Supply Sergeant (F Company). Ray explains the housing and company system at Fort Snelling.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: barracks; basic training; Camp Hood; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service Language School; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: When Ray is at Fort Snelling, he says there are no issues. When Ray travels to Japan with his mother, his mother gets seasick from the boat ride. In Japan, Ray meets his grandmother before she passes, and they attend her funeral.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Issei parents; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray says there are more people on the ship when they are traveling to Japan. Going back to the United States, the boat has fewer passengers. Besides attending primary school, Ray goes to Japanese Language School. He says his education is affected by the war.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Japanese Americans; Kibei; Nisei; primary school; travel

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray says the war affected his education. He recalls registering for school in Brigham City, UT. However, the school tells him to sit out for a year, and Ray returns to camp. For Ray's senior year in high school at the camp, he is Class President. Before the war, Ray is influenced by his older siblings' achievements, and he strives to do the same in primary school. After camp, Ray's goal is to go to college.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; higher education; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings; sports; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray recalls individuals who helped him during his school years. Ray says Sylvia Goodfriend, a librarian (New York), helps him countless times. There is also a chemistry teacher, Mr. Barber. When Ray returns from Oxford, OH, Ms. Goodfriend and Mr. Barber drive Ray to Fort Douglas, UT. Ray losses his address book and lost contact with Ms. Goodfriend and Mr. Barber. Rays says he is appreciative and grateful to Ms. Goodfriend and Mr. Barber.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: draft; education; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray recalls the other individuals who influence him are Ms. Peterson and Mr. Sam Alicoat. Ray says Mr. McLaughlan helps his father before the war. Post-war, Mr. Peterson helps Ray with farming.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; farm; farming; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray recalls his childhood friends in the neighborhood. The Hoffmeister family helps Ray's family during the war by storing their belongings. The Bettner family and Elaine Roberts are a few other neighborhood friends. Ray says Gresham is a small town. Therefore, it is easier to have a close-knit friendship with neighbors.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray discusses Al Hoffmeister serving in the South Pacific. After the war, Al tells Ray that he was in combat with a Japanese soldier overseas. Al is badly wounded, and his squad is killed in action. Despite his war experience, Al did not have any animosity with Japanese Americans.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: foxhole; friendship; Japanese Americans; Killed in Action; Nisei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Rays describe Al's life post-war and Al's mother's passing.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: On December 7, 1941, Ray is helping his father and hear the news about Pearl Harbor. Ray and his family are evacuated to the assembly center, and Bob Hoffmeister and his friends follow right behind. Ray and his friends talked as long as they could. Ray says when his friends left, that is the saddest memory for him.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Assembly Centers; Executive Order 9066; friendship; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: When Ray's friends came to the assembly center, that brought him comfort. At camp, Ray makes new friends. Ray emphasizes friendship because he learns a lot from his friends, and he is grateful for their companionship. Ray recalls his parents' reaction on December 7. He says his parents are surprised like him. As an American citizen, Ray never imagined he would be evacuated to camp.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Assembly Centers; Executive Order 9066; friendship; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: After the Pearl Harbor attack, Ray says his parents probably are concerned about their relatives in Japan. One of Pearl Harbor's aftermath is restrictions. Ray recalls curfew. Then there are the evacuation orders. The Shiiki family tries to stay together as long as they could. When the family goes to Minidoka, the family goes in separate ways. One of Ray's sisters is married and living in Portland, OR. Ray's two sisters left for Salt Lake City, UT, then to Ontario, OR. Ray's parents go to Grandview, ID, to work on a farm, and Ray is drafted into the Army.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: curfew; draft; Executive Order 9066; family; farming; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; social activities; World War Two

Subjects: