Partial Transcript: George Mitsuru Matsunaga was born on May 28, 1925, in Wailuku, Maui. George's father was born in Hawaii and named George after a Sheriff on Maui. Growing up, George attended Japanese language school in addition to primary school. At home, George spoke Japanese to his parents and grandmother.

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Keywords: education; family; Hawaii; Japanese American; Japanese Language School; primary school

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Partial Transcript: At home, there were 11 family members - George's parents, grandmother, uncle, George's three sisters, and three brothers. George's father was the head of the household and was hard working. George's father worked as a plumber and a keysmith. George's mother took care of the house and the children. She was also active with the Buddhist Church with George's grandmother.

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Keywords: Buddhist; child rearing; employment; family; Hawaii; higher education; Issei; Japanese American; Nisei; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: George had many influences growing up, such as his father, uncle, school, and Boy Scouts. George's parents taught him filial piety and to study hard. At Japanese language school and the Boy Scouts, George learned other moral values that influenced him to be a good person.

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Keywords: employment; family; Hawaii; Japanese American; Japanese Language School; Japanese values and morals; mainland; Nisei; Sansei; youth organizations

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Partial Transcript: George recalls the teachers at school were strict and would visit the home in the evenings. In the late 1920s, there was a Great Depression, and George describes the financial effects it had on his family.

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Keywords: education; Japanese American; Japanese Language School; Nisei; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: George describes his childhood activities. He enjoyed playing hanafuda, karuta, and sports. George explains he was left-handed and learned how to use his right hand to play baseball and other activities. George's father was previously a baseball coach and aspired for George to be a left-handed pitcher. At school, George's father did not want the teachers to change George's ability to write with his left hand in fear it would emotionally affect him.

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Keywords: childhood activities; Japanese American; Nisei; primary school; sports

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Partial Transcript: George recalls his school years and his teachers. George was a playful child but was a good student. He recalls a teacher flunking some of the students in fourth grade and feeling bad for them. At home, for entertainment, there was a radio. However, George's father would listen to baseball games most of the time. Near George's house was a theater. Occasionally, George would go to the theater to watch movies.

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Keywords: childhood activities; education; Hawaii; Japanese American; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: During George's high school years, the war started. He recalls meeting Military Personnel and learning about the Pearl Harbor attack. George feared that the Japanese Americans would be oppressed by the non-Japanese. On December 8, there was a blackout already, and the Japanese submarine attempted to attack the oil refinery. The following night the Japanese attacked again.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: blackout; high school; Japanese American; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; Sansei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: After December 7, Japan attacked again for two days. At school, George recalls digging trenches and carrying a gas mask every day even at graduation. Before December 7, George did not experience oppression or discrimination. The area he grew up in was a diverse community.

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Keywords: Hawaii; high school; Japanese American; Pearl Harbor; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: George and Stanley became good friends because they attended Japanese language school together. Later, Stanley Watanabe became a Sergeant in the 442nd. Before December 7, George did not experience any discrimination until after the attack on Pearl Harbor. When George was 18 years old, he volunteered for service and went to the mainland. He recalls hearing people calling him derogatory names.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "Jap"; 442nd; Army; friendship; Hawaii; Japanese American; Japanese Language School; mainalnd

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Partial Transcript: George recalls segregation in the South. George felt the situation was ironic that the Japanese Americans were considered "white" and not colored. He remembered riding on a bus and being instructed to sit in the front and not the back with the African Americans. George could not understand what the difference was. Before graduating high school, the Army was looking for volunteers for the 442nd. In Maui, there were many volunteers. George's brother tried to volunteer but was not accepted. Later George's brother was drafted.

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Keywords: 442nd; draft; Hawaii; Japanese American; Japanese American soldiers; mainland; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: George said it was good that his brother was not accepted when he volunteered for the Army. George's brother's friends in service died overseas in the war. George explains a blue star represents a family member/son is in the service. A gold star represents being killed in service. George remembers seeing many gold stars in his neighborhood street. When a neighbor's son was killed in action, the neighbors would be a support system for each other.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; casulaty; draft; European Theater; France; friendship; Hawaii; Italy; Japanese American; Japanese American soldiers; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: After graduating high school, George worked for a pineapple cannery and attended the University of Hawaii. When George was at school, the Army came and recruited him for the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). George took an exam and physical. On January 3rd, George was sworn in for Service and went to a replacement depo outside Schofield. He trained for a week before going to the mainland.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; Hawaii; high school; higher education; Japanese American; linguist; mainland; Military Intelligence Service; Sansei; Schofield Barracks; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: George leaves Hawaii for the first time on a troopship to go to the mainland. The trip took eights days. George wondered when will the war end. However, when he arrived at the camp in Minnesota, the Colonel told the men to expect a 20-year war. After completing his schooling, George goes to Fort McClellan. George recalls asking to join the 442nd. However, linguists were needed in the Pacific.

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Keywords: blackout; Fort McClellan; Hawaii; Japanese American; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Sansei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: On June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces landed, and Normandy was invaded. George and 5,000 servicemen went to the movie theater with a Chaplin to pray for the soldiers' safety. At the Military Intelligence Service Language School, George learned various curriculum ranging from Japanese military terms, Japanese battleships, kanji, and other subjects. When George was in the occupation, he learned to speak Japanese more fluently.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: European Theater; Hawaiian identity; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Military Intelligence Service Language School; occupation; Pacific Theater; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: In November 1944, George completed his training and went to Fort McClellan, Alabama. In December 1944, George went to Fort Snelling. Most of George's outfit went overseas to the Philippines and Okinawa. The remaining 20 men from the outfit went to the CIC School in Maryland (Camp Ritchie). George learned FBI work - close-range shooting, fingerprinting, photography. Later, George went to Fort Meade, Maryland, and took furlough. George received news the war ended and was shipped out immediately to Camp Stonemann Pittsburg to go overseas.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Fort McClellan; Fort Meade; Fort Snelling; Hawaiian soldier; Japanese American soldier; Military Intelligence Service; Military Intelligence Service Language School; Philippines; World Wat Two

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Partial Transcript: George traveled to Washington DC on his furlough and later learned the war was over. In Washington, he spent his time at church with a lady from Hawaii. George also traveled to Chicago and saw a Cubs game. Being from Hawaii, George recalls his first time seeing snow. The weather was cold, and he was scolded for placing his feet near the potbelly stove at camp.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Hawaiian identity; Hawaiian soldier; Japanese American soldier; mainland; Military Intelligence Service; sports; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: When George was in the service, he occasionally corresponded with his parents. However, the letters were censored. George discusses Clark/Division - Playtime in Chicago and Barney Hajiro.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Hawaii; Japanese American; Japanese American soldiers; mainland; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Sansei; sports; World War Two

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