George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview Segment 1

Origins of name (ddr-manz-1-29-1) - 00:05:15
Family background of parents (ddr-manz-1-29-2) - 00:03:39
Parents' small businesses: barber shop, pool hall, bathhouse (ddr-manz-1-29-3) - 00:04:27
Growing up in Colton, California (ddr-manz-1-29-4) - 00:04:38
Attending Japanese language school with children from surrounding communities (ddr-manz-1-29-5) - 00:06:03
Memories of community picnics (ddr-manz-1-29-6) - 00:03:03
Visiting Little Tokyo in Los Angeles (ddr-manz-1-29-7) - 00:03:07
Helping in family's grocery store (ddr-manz-1-29-8) - 00:02:13
Activities growing up (ddr-manz-1-29-9) - 00:03:43
Impact of December 7, 1941, on family's grocery store (ddr-manz-1-29-10) - 00:04:58
Selling family store in preparation for mass removal (ddr-manz-1-29-11) - 00:02:12
Traveling to Arizona, having to show travel permit at each town (ddr-manz-1-29-12) - 00:03:59
Living in Glendale, Arizona (ddr-manz-1-29-13) - 00:03:34
Farming in Glendale, Arizona (ddr-manz-1-29-14) - 00:02:02
Description of parents and family dynamics (ddr-manz-1-29-15) - 00:04:26
Making deliveries in the Poston concentration camp (ddr-manz-1-29-16) - 00:06:43
Impressions of Poston as an outside observer (ddr-manz-1-29-17) - 00:04:31
Volunteering for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (ddr-manz-1-29-18) - 00:02:20
Joining the 442nd RCT as a replacement troop (ddr-manz-1-29-19) - 00:03:03
Tensions between Hawaiians and mainlanders (ddr-manz-1-29-20) - 00:03:02
Meeting soldiers from the Aleutian Islands (ddr-manz-1-29-21) - 00:01:52
Dealing with Hawaiians and the 'no-no' issue (ddr-manz-1-29-22) - 00:03:16
Description of training (ddr-manz-1-29-23) - 00:05:29
Taking a trip to New York City (ddr-manz-1-29-24) - 00:02:59
Traveling by ship to Europe, encountering enemy submarines (ddr-manz-1-29-25) - 00:03:48
Joining the 442nd RCT in Italy as a replacement troop (ddr-manz-1-29-26) - 00:06:37
Landing in France (ddr-manz-1-29-27) - 00:04:35
The tension of fighting in first battle: "What am I doing here?" (ddr-manz-1-29-28) - 00:07:38
A close encounter with an enemy tank (ddr-manz-1-29-29) - 00:05:58
Scavenging weapons during combat (ddr-manz-1-29-30) - 00:04:08
By chance, capturing a German machine gun nest (ddr-manz-1-29-31) - 00:05:00
Becoming separated from squad (ddr-manz-1-29-32) - 00:04:50
Witnessing the deaths of fellow soldiers (ddr-manz-1-29-33) - 00:07:23
Description of circumstances surrounding the rescue of the "Lost Battalion" (ddr-manz-1-29-34) - 00:04:34
Charging at the enemy after witnessing the death of friend and fellow soldier (ddr-manz-1-29-35) - 00:08:16
The chaos of battle: capturing German prisoners (ddr-manz-1-29-36) - 00:03:42
Being wounded in combat (ddr-manz-1-29-37) - 00:07:17
Shooting and wounding a German soldier (ddr-manz-1-29-38) - 00:04:56
Feeling like the 442nd RCT was being used as "cannon fodder" (ddr-manz-1-29-39) - 00:02:18
Recovering from injuries and receiving the Distinguished Service Cross (ddr-manz-1-29-40) - 00:07:28
Encountering employment discrimination postwar (ddr-manz-1-29-41) - 00:06:48
Receiving the Medal of Honor (ddr-manz-1-29-42) - 00:06:05
Speaking publicly about wartime experiences (ddr-manz-1-29-43) - 00:03:00
Meeting future wife (ddr-manz-1-29-44) - 00:02:38
Reflections (ddr-manz-1-29-45) - 00:03:02
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ddr-manz-1-29-1 (Legacy UID: denshovh-sgeorge-01-0001)

Origins of name

00:05:15 — Segment 1 of 45

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May 14, 2008

Manzanar National Historic Site Collection

Manzanar National Historic Site Collection

Courtesy of the Manzanar National Historic Site Collection

Manzanar National Historic Site
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ddr-manz-1-29

George T. "Joe" Sakato

George T. "Joe" Sakato Interview

03:20:35 — 45 segments

May 14, 2008

Denver, Colorado

Nisei male. Born February 19, 1921, in Colton, California. In 1942, moved with family to Glendale, Arizona, during the "voluntary evacuation" period. Volunteered for the military and served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team as a replacement troop. Fought in Italy and France in 1944, and was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Kirk Peterson, videographer

Manzanar National Historic Site Collection

Courtesy of the Manzanar National Historic Site Collection

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