Interviews
“Agreement of silence”
I find it true among the veterans - now, even among ourselves - I think combat is such a horrible experience that few if ever, want to talk about what happens in combat. And so there is this…agreement of silence. And not only do they not talk to their wives, their children, or anybody else, but we don’t even talk to each other, you see.
We do get together, we love to get together, we’re extremely comfortable together. You know, 24 hours a day in combat seems like eternity. You know, when you don’t know when you’re going to die any moment, you know, life could come to an end and people are asking you to do what is normally almost an impossible task, at peace time no one would ask you to do, and you’re constantly…that pressure to achieve something that’s almost physically impossible in great, great danger. You learn to depend upon each other, so much so that when you haven’t seen somebody even for five, ten, fifteen, twenty years and you see them again, not only are you overjoyed, but nothing has changed.
Date: August 28, 1995
Location: California, US
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Memories of dusty conditions at Minidoka incarceration camp
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Making the decision to resist the draft
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Discharged from the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor
(b. 1918) Founder Azumano Travel
Reaction to a 1942 speech by Mike Masaoka, Japanese American Citizen League's National Secretary
(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement
Death of sister in October 1942
(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement
Laid off for being Canadian
(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952
First impression of New York City during war time
(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement
Neighbors' sympathy after Pearl Harbor
(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement
Volunteering to serve for the U.S. military in Japan
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Awareness of concentration camps as a Japanese American
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Being stationed in Japan during the American occupation
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Reaction of Japanese American community toward draft resistance stance
(b. 1925) Draft resister
The role of the media in influencing people's opinions
(b. 1925) Draft resister
Living conditions in prison while serving time for resisting the draft
(b. 1925) Draft resister
Talking to children about decision to resist the draft during World War II
(b. 1925) Draft resister