Cedrick M. Shimo Interview Segment 20

Origins of name (ddr-densho-1000-260-1) - 00:01:44
Father's family background: owners of a huge sake brewery in Japan (ddr-densho-1000-260-2) - 00:03:28
Mother's family background: samurai origins (ddr-densho-1000-260-3) - 00:03:27
Moving with family to Los Angeles (ddr-densho-1000-260-4) - 00:03:19
Memories of the ethnically diverse neighborhood of Boyle Heights (ddr-densho-1000-260-5) - 00:03:20
Community activities: mother was Japanese language school teacher (ddr-densho-1000-260-6) - 00:03:17
Participating in kendo tournaments (ddr-densho-1000-260-7) - 00:04:40
Activities with the Boy Scouts (ddr-densho-1000-260-8) - 00:03:48
Participation in the Cougars, a community baseball league (ddr-densho-1000-260-9) - 00:03:21
Attending UCLA business school; developing a questionnaire regarding hiring prospects for Nisei (ddr-densho-1000-260-10) - 00:03:48
Nearly attending Keio University in Japan (ddr-densho-1000-260-11) - 00:01:37
Studying U.S.-Japan relations at Berkeley at onset of World War II (ddr-densho-1000-260-12) - 00:09:12
Hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor while attending Berkeley (ddr-densho-1000-260-13) - 00:02:46
Drafted into the military just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1000-260-14) - 00:03:30
Hearing about the FBI arrest of father while in basic training (ddr-densho-1000-260-15) - 00:02:42
The Military Intelligence Service Language School (ddr-densho-1000-260-16) - 00:01:28
Participating in angry bull sessions with Nisei soldiers: "why did we volunteer?" (ddr-densho-1000-260-17) - 00:07:26
Being kicked out of the Military Intelligence Service for refusal to serve overseas (ddr-densho-1000-260-18) - 00:02:08
After refusing to serve overseas, demoted in rank and assigned a desk job (ddr-densho-1000-260-19) - 00:05:17
Reputation for outspoken demeanor while serving in the 1800 Engineering Battalion (ddr-densho-1000-260-20) - 00:06:42
Answering the question: "If Japan invaded the U.S., which side will you fight for?" (ddr-densho-1000-260-21) - 00:01:36
Receiving an honorable discharge (ddr-densho-1000-260-22) - 00:02:59
Meeting Mr. Finch: "he tried to convince me to get out of the outfit" (ddr-densho-1000-260-23) - 00:03:39
Looking for work after military discharge (ddr-densho-1000-260-24) - 00:02:44
Communicating with parents who were deported to Japan (ddr-densho-1000-260-25) - 00:01:50
Meeting future wife (ddr-densho-1000-260-26) - 00:04:06
Working for the U.S. division of Honda (ddr-densho-1000-260-27) - 00:08:39
Thoughts on the American public's backlash against Japanese automakers (ddr-densho-1000-260-28) - 00:05:35
Making speeches to groups about the Japan-bashing situation in the U.S. (ddr-densho-1000-260-29) - 00:05:05
Reasons for finally telling story of the 1800 Engineering Battalion (ddr-densho-1000-260-30) - 00:03:57
Working with the Japanese American National Museum to document the story of the 1800 (ddr-densho-1000-260-31) - 00:03:43
Receiving a prestigious award from the Japanese government: the Order of the Rising Sun (ddr-densho-1000-260-32) - 00:02:07
Reflections: "I'm back to my original ambition of trying to be a bridge between Japan and America" (ddr-densho-1000-260-33) - 00:03:38
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Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-260-20 (Legacy UID: denshovh-scedrick-01-0020)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

Reputation for outspoken demeanor while serving in the 1800 Engineering Battalion

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

00:06:42 — Segment 20 of 33

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DATE

September 22, 2009

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

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Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

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Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-260

NARRATOR

Cedrick M. Shimo

INTERVIEW TITLE

Cedrick M. Shimo Interview

02:06:38 — 33 segments

DATE

September 22, 2009

LOCATION

Torrance, California

DESCRIPTION

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 in the 1800 Engineering Battalion, made up of Japanese, German and Italian Americans considered "suspect" by the U.S. government. After World War II, became the vice president of the export division for Honda, dedicating much of his time to promoting better trade relations between the U.S. and Japan.

(This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.)

PRODUCTION

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Martha Nakagawa, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

API