Lawson I. Sakai Segment 1

Parents' family backgrounds, immigration to California (ddr-densho-1000-472-1) - 0:07:37
Growing up on family's farm (ddr-densho-1000-472-2) - 0:04:29
Origins of name, attending church (ddr-densho-1000-472-3) - 0:08:15
Attending school, description of students (ddr-densho-1000-472-4) - 0:09:57
Rejected from enlisting in the navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1000-472-5) - 0:07:02
Family voluntarily moves to Colorado, visits Manzanar on the way (ddr-densho-1000-472-6) - 0:04:42
Living and working in Colorado (ddr-densho-1000-472-7) - 0:04:36
Volunteering for the army and going through basic training (ddr-densho-1000-472-8) - 0:07:15
Experiencing first campaigns with active combat (ddr-densho-1000-472-9) - 0:16:10
Injured in battle, being shot point blank (ddr-densho-1000-472-10) - 0:11:36
The campaign to take the Gothic Line (ddr-densho-1000-472-11) - 0:11:12
Meeting future wife before enlisting in the army (ddr-densho-1000-472-12) - 0:07:48
Returning home to wife's family's neighborhood after the war, experiencing discrimination (ddr-densho-1000-472-13) - 0:07:23
Moving to Gilroy, California, to work with wife's family (ddr-densho-1000-472-14) - 0:15:46
Working for Driscoll Farms (ddr-densho-1000-472-15) - 0:07:36
Starting a travel agency, organizing veterans reunions (ddr-densho-1000-472-16) - 0:09:43
Organizing an annual reunion of veterans (ddr-densho-1000-472-17) - 0:07:36
Involvement in the campaign for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team to receive the Congressional Gold Medal (ddr-densho-1000-472-18) - 0:05:13
Explanation of medals on hat (ddr-densho-1000-472-19) - 0:05:16
Free to use This object is offered under a Creative Commons license. You are free to use it for any non-commercial purpose as long as you properly cite it, and if you share what you have created.

Learn more...

ddr-densho-1000-472-1 ()

Parents' family backgrounds, immigration to California

0:07:37 — Segment 1 of 19

Previous segment Next segment

March 13, 2019

Densho Visual History Collection

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

ddr-densho-1000-472

Lawson I. Sakai

Lawson I. Sakai Interview

2:40:17 — 19 segments

13-Mar-19

Emeryville, California

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. After completing military service, married and went to work with wife's family in Gilroy, California. Integral in organizing ongoing reunions of 442nd veterans, and was involved in the campaign for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

Patricia Wakida, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

API