We had a 'Kibei' first sergeant with a pronounced Japanese accent in addition. My guys from Hawaii had a bad case of 'pidgin' English. Our captain, an Irishman from Ohio, advised the Hawaii Volunteers to learn and speak better English by talking to the 'kotonks'. However, after a few months the reverse was true. The 'kotonks' was talking better 'pidgin' English.

By capturing a German kitchen unit, we found a big pot that we made into a 'furo'. A carpenter in our unit made a slat platform to be sunk into the bottom of the pot of hot water so that we don't get burned.

Since the regiment had a top priority for any rice shipment to the area, during the unit rest period, the cooks prepared it like home and this was a treat for our combat weary stomach, after all the 'K-rations' on the front line. This was a good morale booster too. Also cooked corn on the cob. Also took wild burdock and made 'kimpira gobo' with bouillon soup powder in place of shoyu. Also took chickens from the farm.