Minoru "Min" Tsubota Interview Segment 22

Family background: parents both from Hiroshima, Japan (ddr-densho-1000-149-1) - 00:03:37
Recollection of a trip to Japan in 1955 to visit father's relatives and family home (ddr-densho-1000-149-2) - 00:07:45
Mother's background: accomplished musician, led a comfortable life in Japan (ddr-densho-1000-149-3) - 00:03:42
Father's decision to come to the United States against the wishes of his parents (ddr-densho-1000-149-4) - 00:04:27
Parents' early businesses, running a small grocery store in Seattle and then a sawmill in Kent, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-149-5) - 00:07:33
Memories of prewar Kent community activities: Japanese dance and singing performances, silent movies (ddr-densho-1000-149-6) - 00:04:32
Description of siblings (ddr-densho-1000-149-7) - 00:03:19
Effects of a tragic car accident, loss of brother on a twelve-year-old (ddr-densho-1000-149-8) - 00:11:27
Memories of a family friend, Dr. Taylor (ddr-densho-1000-149-9) - 00:06:22
Dealing with emotional loss of brother, father, and sister all within a short time span (ddr-densho-1000-149-10) - 00:03:49
Elementary school years: playing in the sawmill, joining the Boy Scouts, having a Caucasian friend (ddr-densho-1000-149-11) - 00:08:05
Introduction to music in junior high and high school (ddr-densho-1000-149-12) - 00:03:21
Attending dances sponsored by the Japanese American Citizens League, facing the disapproval of mother (ddr-densho-1000-149-13) - 00:07:28
Feeling comfortable playing in mixed-race music groups while in high school (ddr-densho-1000-149-14) - 00:05:35
Fascination with learning to fly a plane, saving money to take a five-minute lesson (ddr-densho-1000-149-15) - 00:05:11
Working on the family farm while in high school, managing to pay off father's debts after his passing (ddr-densho-1000-149-16) - 00:07:53
Admiration for mother's strength, learning to value Japanese culture (ddr-densho-1000-149-17) - 00:03:49
Working for a manufacturing plant after graduating from high school (ddr-densho-1000-149-18) - 00:09:10
Seizing an opportunity to try a new venture: importing bamboo rakes from Japan (ddr-densho-1000-149-19) - 00:11:19
Performing with the Nisei Melodian band at dances, Japanese community activities (ddr-densho-1000-149-20) - 00:07:00
(ddr-densho-1000-149-21) - 00:03:03
Volunteering for the army: joining the infantry band (ddr-densho-1000-149-22) - 00:07:26
Hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor while on a military base: separated from unit along with other Japanese Americans (ddr-densho-1000-149-23) - 00:06:59
Arrival at Fort Bliss, Texas, disappointment at being given menial tasks (ddr-densho-1000-149-24) - 00:05:45
Discussion of the Kibei at Fort Bliss, Texas, memories of clashes with Caucasian soldiers (ddr-densho-1000-149-25) - 00:10:20
Taking a trip to Price, Utah, and meeting future wife, Cherrie (ddr-densho-1000-149-26) - 00:05:46
Sneaking out of Fort Bliss, Utah to attend brother's wedding in Los Angeles, California (ddr-densho-1000-149-27) - 00:05:18
Serving as an interpreter for a court-martial involving the shooting of two Issei men (ddr-densho-1000-149-28) - 00:05:41
Acting as an advocate for the Issei witnesses while acting as interpreter for a general court-martial (ddr-densho-1000-149-29) - 00:09:01
Avoiding being selected for Military Intelligence Service Language School (ddr-densho-1000-149-30) - 00:07:54
Getting married in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (ddr-densho-1000-149-31) - 00:09:13
Training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, as a newly married man (ddr-densho-1000-149-32) - 00:04:29
Assignment to the 552nd Field Artillery Battalion (ddr-densho-1000-149-33) - 00:03:17
Discussion of differences between Hawaiian and mainland Nisei: language barrier (ddr-densho-1000-149-34) - 00:06:59
Description of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team's motto, campaigns (ddr-densho-1000-149-35) - 00:06:26
Description of "senninbari," a symbolic cloth belt made by mother to ensure safety in wartime (ddr-densho-1000-149-36) - 00:04:48
Most frightening moment; being wounded, then leaving the field hospital without permission to rejoin unit (ddr-densho-1000-149-37) - 00:08:23
Memories of Dachau concentration camp (ddr-densho-1000-149-38) - 00:09:19
Meeting Eva Braun's mother, remembering the end of the war (ddr-densho-1000-149-39) - 00:07:03
Returning to Seattle after the war (ddr-densho-1000-149-40) - 00:07:42
Encountering discrimination postwar (ddr-densho-1000-149-41) - 00:04:01
Postwar success in the insurance business (ddr-densho-1000-149-42) - 00:03:59
(ddr-densho-1000-149-43) - 00:01:39
Reflections, thoughts for future generations (ddr-densho-1000-149-44) - 00:04:16
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Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-149-22 (Legacy UID: denshovh-tminoru-01-0022)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

Volunteering for the army: joining the infantry band

00:07:26 — Segment 22 of 44

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DATE

August 18, 2003

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

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CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

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Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-149

NARRATOR

Minoru "Min" Tsubota

INTERVIEW TITLE

Minoru "Min" Tsubota Interview

04:34:11 — 44 segments

DATE

August 18, 2003

LOCATION

Seattle, Washington

DESCRIPTION

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 as an interpreter for a court-martial involving the shooting of two Issei men in a Department of Justice internment camp. Assigned to the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, which was involved in liberating the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. Returned to Seattle after the war, and started a successful insurance business.

PRODUCTION

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Tetsuden Kashima, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

API