Fred Shiosaki Interview Segment 45

Born in Hillyard, Washington; description of siblings (ddr-densho-1000-190-1) - 00:02:26
Father's work upon immigration to the U.S.: railroad laborer, hotel busboy (ddr-densho-1000-190-2) - 00:06:58
Parents marry, open a laundry business (ddr-densho-1000-190-3) - 00:03:26
Growing up in a Japanese labor community in Hillyard (ddr-densho-1000-190-4) - 00:06:24
Family dynamics, values (ddr-densho-1000-190-5) - 00:07:26
Having friends of different ethnicities growing up (ddr-densho-1000-190-6) - 00:03:50
Memories of traveling into Spokane every weekend to attend Japanese language school (ddr-densho-1000-190-7) - 00:05:10
Childhood pastimes: watching silent films (ddr-densho-1000-190-8) - 00:01:29
Ethnic identity in high school: dating, being excluded from a roller skating rink (ddr-densho-1000-190-9) - 00:03:26
Hearing news of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor: "I felt vulnerable" (ddr-densho-1000-190-10) - 00:03:37
Father's loss of a friend and mentor after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1000-190-11) - 00:05:32
Feeling uncomfortable upon returning to school; hearing of FBI arrests (ddr-densho-1000-190-12) - 00:05:15
Recalling the period following Pearl Harbor: barred from taking photos as editor of school annual (ddr-densho-1000-190-13) - 00:06:14
Changes in Spokane's Japanese American community with the influx of "voluntary evacuees" (ddr-densho-1000-190-14) - 00:04:18
Attending Gonzaga university after being barred from volunteering for the military (ddr-densho-1000-190-15) - 00:05:41
Family's plan should mass removal happen to them (ddr-densho-1000-190-16) - 00:01:48
Volunteering for the military without telling parents (ddr-densho-1000-190-17) - 00:07:06
Being singled out as Japanese Americans during swearing-in ceremony (ddr-densho-1000-190-18) - 00:03:50
Brother's military service experience as the only Japanese American in an integrated unit (ddr-densho-1000-190-19) - 00:02:44
Witnessing segregation Mississippi: "It was a just completely different world for us" (ddr-densho-1000-190-20) - 00:05:58
Training alongside Japanese Americans from Hawaii: learning pidgin "just so we could get by" (ddr-densho-1000-190-21) - 00:06:18
Being reviewed by General George C. Marshall before going overseas (ddr-densho-1000-190-22) - 00:04:12
First impressions of war-torn Europe (ddr-densho-1000-190-23) - 00:08:28
Traveling to different ports by landing craft (ddr-densho-1000-190-24) - 00:03:11
First experience with combat and casualties (ddr-densho-1000-190-25) - 00:05:55
Remembering the battle of Hill 140 (ddr-densho-1000-190-26) - 00:05:47
A squad leader uses improvised Japanese language to communicate with troops (ddr-densho-1000-190-27) - 00:03:57
Activities during rest period (ddr-densho-1000-190-28) - 00:04:47
Being moved to France (ddr-densho-1000-190-29) - 00:04:08
Combat in Bruyeres: new replacement soldiers seeing battle for the first time (ddr-densho-1000-190-30) - 00:07:08
Pulled out of rest period for the rescue of the "Lost Battalion" (ddr-densho-1000-190-31) - 00:10:28
Realizing the immense casualties after the battle of the "Lost Battalion" (ddr-densho-1000-190-32) - 00:06:49
Aftermath of the battle of the "Lost Battalion"; not having time to write to family (ddr-densho-1000-190-33) - 00:06:03
Not realizing the 442nd's accomplishments until after the war (ddr-densho-1000-190-34) - 00:04:57
Secretly being transferred back to Italy (ddr-densho-1000-190-35) - 00:05:12
Being in a precarious position as reserves during the breaking of the Gothic Line (ddr-densho-1000-190-36) - 00:08:01
Winding down near the end of the war (ddr-densho-1000-190-37) - 00:03:57
Escorting a German prisoner of war, feeling angry (ddr-densho-1000-190-38) - 00:05:56
Attending lectures in Florence while waiting to return to U.S. (ddr-densho-1000-190-39) - 00:05:33
Returning home, meeting a member of the "Lost Battalion" from Texas (ddr-densho-1000-190-40) - 00:05:10
Experiences flying prior to World War II (ddr-densho-1000-190-41) - 00:05:33
Coming back to Spokane after the war, a confrontation with a supposed Pacific war veteran (ddr-densho-1000-190-42) - 00:03:49
The aftereffects of war: nightmares, reticence to talk about experiences (ddr-densho-1000-190-43) - 00:07:27
Meeting future wife; difficulty finding work (ddr-densho-1000-190-44) - 00:05:56
Helping parents obtain U.S. citizenship (ddr-densho-1000-190-45) - 00:07:07
Brother's history as a U.S. citizen caught in Japan during World War II (ddr-densho-1000-190-46) - 00:07:30
Description of wife and children (ddr-densho-1000-190-47) - 00:09:30
Looking back on life experiences (ddr-densho-1000-190-48) - 00:05:57
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ddr-densho-1000-190-45 (Legacy UID: denshovh-sfred-01-0045)

Helping parents obtain U.S. citizenship

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

00:07:07 — Segment 45 of 48

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April 26 & 27, 2006

Densho Visual History Collection

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

ddr-densho-1000-190

Fred Shiosaki

Fred Shiosaki Interview

04:21:24 — 48 segments

April 26 & 27, 2006

Spokane, Washington

Nisei male. Born August 23, 1924 in the area of Spokane, Washington, known as Hillyard. Grew up in a multi-ethnic Hillyard area where his parents owned the Hillyard Laundry. When World War II began, was a senior at Rogers High School. Went on to attend Gonzaga University and then volunteered for military service, joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated U.S. Army unit consisting of Japanese Americans. Mr. Shiosaki fought in Europe, then returned to Spokane where he finished his degree at Gonzaga, and started his career and family.

(This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.)

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

API