Interviews
Resisting transfer from Jerome
When I, the next day, the battalion commander came in, maybe he heard that I was there or something. The troops didn’t come in, but he came in. And I reported to him and no sooner did I report, then he said, well he says,” I’ll have you transferred immediately.” And I was sort of shocked, I said,” but I just got here, I’m just reporting, why are you transferring me?” He says,” well you’re Korean and these men are all Japanese Americans.” And he says,” Historically, Koreans and Japanese don’t get along.” He says,” I know that from being up on the islands.” He said,” and that’s the reason why.” And I responded,” but they’re Americans and I’m American, we’re all fighting for the same reason, I don’t see why I can’t stay.”
Date: August 28, 1995
Location: California, US
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Train ride to Jerome Relocation Center
(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.
Response to loyalty questionnaire
(b.1909) Nisei from Washington. Incarcerated at Tule Lake and Minidoka during WWII. Resettled in Chicago after WWII
Larry designing chairs in the camp
Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda
Move from Tule Lake to Minidoka
(b.1909) Nisei from Washington. Incarcerated at Tule Lake and Minidoka during WWII. Resettled in Chicago after WWII
Receiving a negative reaction from father upon asking about World War II experience
(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor
Memories of dusty conditions at Minidoka incarceration camp
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Neighbor took care of hotel business during the World War II
(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer
Family life in a Japanese Canadian internment camp in Slocan
(b. 1920) Incarcerated during World War II. Active member of the Japanese Canadian community
The Perspective of Youth
(1923–2006) Community activist. Co-founded the Manzanar Committee
Institutionalization as a bad aspect of camp
(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist
Awareness of concentration camps as a Japanese American
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation