Partial Transcript: Ray is inducted at Fort Douglas, UT, with Jerry Shimizu (Washington), Rick Sato (Washington), Yosh "Porky" Nishimoto (Washington). There is another Japanese American who is inducted but left on family hardship. Post-war, Ray remains in contact with Jerry, Rick, and Porky. After Fort Douglas, Ray goes to Camp Hood. Ray is assigned to the Tank Destroyer Outfit.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; draft; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray recalls the 25-mile hike at basic training and playing baseball. After Camp Hood, Ray goes to Fort Snelling, MN, and is assigned Supply Sergeant, F Company. As a Supply Sergeant, Ray coordinates inventory and supplies of uniforms and beddings. When Fort Snelling disbanded, the soldiers go to Presidio, Monterey. Ray recalls a Major who is a 442nd veteran.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; basic training; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; sports; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray recalls a Major who is a 442nd veteran and is relax with orders. The Major says he would give everyone Class A passes if the work is finished. Ray says the work is done within ten days, and the guys got to have free time. Ray recalls visiting friends and play pool or go bowling.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; social activities

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Partial Transcript: After Fort Snelling is disbanded, Ray goes to Presidio Monterey by train. Ray says the move goes smoothly. At Presidio, Ray remains with F Company and has the same duties at Fort Snelling. On some occasions, Ray visits San Francisco. He even gets to watch the 49ers play football. Ray says the treatment in California is the same as at Fort Snelling or any other place. Ray recollects an incident with the Hawaiian soldiers and the Navy.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discrimination; Fort Snelling; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei soldiers; post-war

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Partial Transcript: When Ray hears the news that the war is over, he is happy. He discusses his thought on the atomic bomb in Japan. After being discharged from the Army, Ray does not reenlist. However, his friend Yoshi Nishimoto decides to reenlist for four years. Ray goes to San Jose, CA, to see a friend before going back to Portland, OR. Ray's friend, Rick Sato, goes home to Washington.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: farming; friendship; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Post-war, Ray collects his 52-20 for a while before working in a Japanese grocery store. Later, Ray has an opportunity to be a buyer for fresh produces. In 1948, Ray becomes an independent farmer with his brother.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; farming; Japanese Americans; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: Ray discusses how he meets Mary Muramatsu, his wife (1953-2008). Before the war, Ray previously knew Mary's brothers from kendo tournaments. In camp, Ray lives at Block 31, and Mary's family lives at Block 34. Block 34 is near the baseball field, and Ray would normally eat by Block 34. After camp, Ray supplies fresh produces to Mary's family grocery store. Ray says he is close with George, Mary's brother. At Minidoka, Ray does not have romantic feelings towards Mary because of the five-year age difference. However, after camp, Ray begins dating Mary, and they get married. Ray shares his story of how he asks permission from Mary's father for her hand in marriage. Mary's siblings are George, Hank, Rose, Grace, and Aki.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; dating; friendship; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; siblings; social activities; sports; wedding; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray and Mary got married on February 15, 1953. Ray shares stories of his life with Mary. He says he has had many happy years with Mary. As a farmer, Ray is constantly busy. However, there are downtimes. When there is free time, Ray goes bowling, fishing, and golfing with his in-laws. Mary's family also enjoys razor clams.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: dating; family; farming; fishing; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; social activities; sports

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Partial Transcript: Ray and Mary have three children together Rick, Lon, and Gail. Rick owns a multimedia business in Portland, OR. Lon previously assisted with designing and overseeing the development of a golf course. Later he works for Yorke & Curtis, Inc. Lon has one son and one daughter. Gail is married to Jeff Martin, a policeman (Hillsboro, OR). They have one daughter.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: children; employment; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; Sansei; Yonsei

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Partial Transcript: Ray's second son, Lon, is familiar with the family business. Rick and Gail are not involved with the family business when they go to college. Ricks and Gail both graduated from the University of Oregon and began working. Ray and Mary briefly share their camp experience at Minidoka with their children. Ray says they do not ask too many questions. However, the grandchildren will ask questions when they have school assignments on the camp experience. One regret Ray has is not being able to speak to the students at his granddaughter's school.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; children; discrimination; employment; Executive Order 9066; higher education; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; Sansei; World War Two; Yonsei

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Partial Transcript: Ray says he has not shared his war experience with his children yet. Ray is willing to share his experiences in the Army with his children if they want to know. Every once in a while, his children might ask a question, and Ray will answer. He does not feel there is a generation gap between the Nisei and Sansei, unlike the Issei and Nisei. Ray says his oldest son has a relationship with his grandparents growing up. Rick was born in 1954, and Ray and Mary would take him to visit bachan. As a child, Rick is fluent in Japanese and has a closer relationship with his grandparents than Lon and Gail.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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Partial Transcript: Ray discusses Mary's side of the family. Mary's mother passes away early. However, the children have a chance to bond with Mary's father. Ray is happy that his children can meet the Issei in the family. Ray describes the generation gap between growing up Nisei and Sansei. In Portland, there is a Japanese Community. However, at school, the children socialize more with the Hakujin. Both Lon and Gail marry a Hakujin.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: children; Hakujin; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: Ray shares a story about Pacific Citizen. Ray attends Miami University on a scholarship program from the Quakers of Philadelphia. While attending school, he lives at Reverend Porter's house. Ray's roommate is Pete Hironaka. Pete is a long-time cartoonist for The Pacific Citizen. Rays say he illustrates Ray during wartime. Post-war, Ray recalls talking to Pete on the phone and receiving Pete's book "Report from the Round-Eye Country."

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; higher education; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: Ray discusses an illustration done by Pete Hironaka for Pacific Citizen. The cartoon is done in the summer of 1945 when Ray is attending Miami University. Ray's roommate is Pete.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: Ray's elementary school is small. There are four grades in one classroom. In each grade at most, there will be eight students. The fifth grade to eighth grade is in a different classroom. When Ray graduates the eighth grade, there are three Caucasians and four Japanese Americans. Ray says it is easier to make friends in a smaller setting. During World War Two, he does not feel his Hakujin friends discriminate against him or other Japanese Americans. After returning from Minidoka, his friends treat me the same as before.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Hakujin; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; Portland; primary school; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray recalls taking kendo classes for five years with his siblings before the war starts. Before evacuation, Ray says the family burns their kendo equipment in fear of what would happen to them. Ray discusses Nakamura Sensai (Japan) and kendo tournaments. Ray briefly mentions Bill Nakamura's changes after taking kendo classes.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discrimination; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; Nisei veterans; sports; youth organizations

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Partial Transcript: Ray says Bill Nakamura becomes a different person after kendo classes. Bill is more reserved. Ray thinks the training and discipline for kendo in Japan is different from kendo in America. At Minidoka, Ray's interest is in baseball, softball, and football.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; sports; youth organizations

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Partial Transcript: Ray says the Nisei legacy created a positive heritage for the next generation to follow. He hopes the next generation will use the opportunities the Nisei did not have in positive ways. Ray's decision to participate in the oral history program is to share his war and camp experience with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The most important value is to be yourself and treat everyone kindly. Ray values and appreciates all the relationships he has with family and friends.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; friendship; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei veterans; Sansei; World War Two; Yonsei

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Partial Transcript: Post-war, Ray does not attend veteran reunions as much as he likes. However, he is appreciative of the opportunity to make an oral history.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ray describes photographs. The first photo is of Ray and his brother Tan in their kendo uniform. The second photo is a family photo from 1937 (top row left to right: Sumie, Arie, Kisae. Second row left to right is brother Tan, and Ray himself). The third photo is a family photo of Ray's parents and the five children. The fourth photo is of Mary's family (top row left to right: Frank, Grandfather Marumatsu, Mary's father Matsutaro, George. Second row left to right: Henry, Mary, Hako, and Grace). The fifth photo is of a girl's softball team that Ray helps coach in Minidoka.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; Nisei; siblings; sports

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Ray continues to describe photos. The sixth photo is Ray's high school baseball team. The seventh photo is a no-name softball team. The eighth photo is a Nisei veterans baseball team. Ray is not in the picture because he is at work. However, he used to play on the team. Ray shares a story about a baseball game in Portland. The ninth photo is from 1955 on the farm. Ray grows broccoli.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: farming; Japanese Americans; Nisei; sports

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