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6584 items

Narrator George Morihiro

Nisei male. Born September 19, 1924, in Tacoma, Washington, and spent childhood in Fife, Washington. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to the Puyallup Assembly Center and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Drafted into the army in 1944 and joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe. Awarded the Purple Heart for actions in the Battle …

Narrator Sam Ogo

Nisei male. Born September 1, 1919, in Millwood, Washington, where father worked for SP&S railroad. After serious injury, father quit the railroad and moved family to Spokane, Washington, where they operated numerous hotels. Sent to Japan with siblings in 1933 to attend school. Was only one in the family to return to the U.S. three years …

Narrator Henry Shimizu

Nisei male. Born November 26, 1928, in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. Grew up in Prince Rupert, and was removed with other Japanese Canadians to Hastings Park, Vancouver, Canada, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Moved to the New Denver incarceration camp and then resettled in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his family. Studied and practiced medicine …

Narrator Larry "Shorty" Kazumura

Nisei male. Born November 7, 1920, in Mountain View, Hawaii. Grew up in Hawaii, where parents ran a sugar cane plantation. Was working hauling lumber when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Was not dismissed from work like other Japanese Americans, and was required to clean up the aftermath of the bombing. Volunteered for …

Narrator Grace F. Oshita

Nisei female. Born January 2, 1925, in San Francisco, California. Spent childhood in San Francisco where family operated successful miso factory and grocery store. Father arrested by FBI in February 1942 and sent to Fort Lincoln internment camp, North Dakota. Family removed to Tanforan Assembly Center and Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Graduated from Topaz High School …

Narrator Norman Mineta

Nisei male. Born November 12, 1931, in San Jose, California. During World War II, removed to Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, and served in the military as an intelligence officer in Japan and Korea. Served on the San Jose City Council from 1967 to 1971, and as mayor …

Narrator June M. Hoshida Honma

Nisei female. Born June 23, 1936, in Hilo, Hawaii. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, father was picked up by the FBI and detained at Sand Island internment camp, Hawaii. The rest of the family was removed to the Jerome concentration camp, Arkansas, to be reunited with him. After Jerome closed, transferred to …

Narrator Kiyoshi Seishin Yamashita

Nisei male. Born February 14, 1920, in Kent, Washington. Grew up in the nearby town of Auburn, where parents ran a farm. Family was involved Auburn Buddhist Church. Graduated from the University of Washington in 1942 and removed to the Pinedale Assembly Center and Tule Lake concentration camp, California. Recruited out of Tule Lake to teach …

Narrator Marjorie Matsushita Sperling

Nisei female. Born July 27, 1922, in Wapato, Washington. Grew up in Wapato, where family ran a farm. Was attending the University of Washington when the war broke out on December 7, 1941. Removed with family to the Portland Assembly Center, Oregon, and the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. While in camp, worked for the recreation …

Narrator Frances Ota

Nisei female. Born January 22, 1923, in Wilsonville, Oregon. Taken to Japan to live with family for a few years before the outbreak of World War II. Returned alone to Oregon to join sister at age sixteen with the help of a white benefactor. Removed to the Portland Assembly Center, Oregon, but then left immediately to …

Narrator Lawson I. Sakai

Nisei male. Born October 27, 1923, in Montebello, California. Grew up in Montebello, where father and other family members ran a farm. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, family moved to Colorado to avoid mass removal. In 1943, volunteered for the army and joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, fighting in campaigns in Italy and France. …

Narrator Matsuko Hayashi

Born in 1921 in Parlier in Fresno County, California, Matsuko Hayashi (pseudonym) grew up as the second oldest of the eight children of a first-generation immigrant who had come to the United States as a sixteen years old, and his wife who had come as a "picture bride." They raised grapes on three farms that Matsuko's …

Narrator Katsugo Miho

Nisei male. Born May 15, 1922, in Kahului, Maui, Hawaii. Grew up in Kahului, where parents ran a hotel. Was attending the University of Hawaii as a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. As a member of the ROTC, was inducted into the newly formed …

Narrator Fumiko M. Noji

Nisei female. Born October 13, 1909, in Bellingham, Washington. Lost her United States citizenship when she married an Issei through an arranged marriage. Before 1920, her husband's family established Columbia Greenhouse, one of the first Japanese American-owned greenhouse businesses. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Tule Lake concentration camp, California. Husband was held by the …

Narrator Grayce Uyehara

Nisei female. Born July 4, 1919. Raised in Stockton, California. During World War II, removed during senior year at College of the Pacific, Stockton, California. Incarcerated at the Stockton Assembly Center and Rohwer concentration camp, Arkansas. Resettled with family members in Philadelphia. Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work. Active volunteer with the …

Narrator Jimi Yamaichi

Nisei male. Born October 27, 1922. Grew up in San Jose, California, where his father had a farming operation. Incarcerated in the Pomona Assembly Center, Heart Mountain concentration camp and Tule Lake Segregation Center. Worked on an engineering crew on the Shoshone Dam, and later was a carpentry foreman in Tule Lake. Was in Tule during …

Narrator Mits Koshiyama

Nisei male. Born August 7, 1924, in Mountain View, California. Grew up in the Santa Clara Valley, California, working on his family's leased strawberry farm. In June of 1942, he was involuntarily "evacuated" to Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, then to Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Graduated from high school in camp and at the age …

Narrator Kara Kondo

Nisei female. Born May 24, 1916, in the Yakima valley, Washington, and spent childhood in Wapato, Washington. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to the North Portland Assembly Center, Oregon, and then to the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Was on the staff of the camp newspaper, the Heart Mountain Sentinel. Left camp for Chicago, …

Narrator Ruby Inouye

Nisei female. Born November 17, 1920, in Seattle, Washington. Grew up in Seattle, and graduated salutatorian from Broadway High School. Was enrolled in the pre-medical program at the University of Washington on December 7, 1941. During the war, removed to the Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and the Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Left camp to attend the …

Narrator Minoru "Min" Tsubota

Nisei male. Born December 1, 1918, in Kent, Washington. Became interested in music in junior high school, and played in various music groups. Upon graduating from high school, worked for a manufacturing plant, and then volunteered for the army. Separated from unit along with other Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and eventually served …

Narrator Arthur Ogami

Nisei male. Born April 10, 1922, in Whittier, California. Spent childhood in California, before being removed to Manzanar concentration camp in 1942. Left Manzanar several times to work as a beet topper for local farmers. Decided to expatriate to Japan because of mother's wishes, and was transferred to Tule Lake concentration camp. In 1945, was moved …

Narrator Dave Tatsuno

Nisei male. Born March 31, 1913, in San Francisco, California. Spent difficult childhood years in San Francisco under care of a guardian while family lived in Japan. Graduated with a degree in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley before World War II. Removed to Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and then to Topaz concentration …

Narrator Eiichi Edward Sakauye

Nisei male. Born January 25, 1912, in San Jose, California. Grew up in San Jose, working on family's extensive farmholdings, and graduating from San Jose Teachers College. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, was removed to Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, and Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. While at Heart Mountain, became the agriculture superintendent, and …

Narrator Kazuko Uno Bill

Nisei female. Born June 5, 1921, in Seattle, Washington. Raised in South Park, Washington where family operated a small produce farm. Attended Cleveland High School and the University of Washington. Was in senior year of college on December 7, 1941. Father picked up by FBI following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and sent to Missoula internment …

Narrator Cedrick M. Shimo

Nisei male. Born October 1, 1919, in Heber, California, in the Imperial Valley. Grew up in Boyle Heights. Received draft notice one day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and joined the Military Intelligence Service. After being denied furlough to visit his mother in Manzanar concentration camp, refused to serve overseas with his unit. Was placed …
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