PARTNER

INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-90

NARRATOR

Bill Thompson

INTERVIEW TITLE

Bill Thompson Interview

01:01:59 — 17 segments

DESCRIPTION

Nisei male of Japanese and Scottish descent. Born in Hilo, Hawaii, 1924. Volunteered and served in the all Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Headquarter's Company, Second Battalion's Anti-tank Platoon. Returned to Hawaii following the war where he attended the University of Hawaii, and later worked for the municipal government. Active in the 442nd Veterans Club in Hawaii.

This interview provides an account of the narrator's role in the effort to overturn the WWII military court-martial of Shiro Kashino, a serviceman falsely charged with the assault of an MP officer. Despite the fact that he had never met Mr. Kashino, Bill Thompson joined in the effort to reverse Mr. Kashino's court-martial, performing valuable research in the military archives. Later, Thompson was instrumental in the construction of a memorial to the Varsity Victory Volunteers -- Japanese American ROTC students who were among the first to volunteer for the draft during WWII -- on the campus of the University of Hawaii. Also of note in this interview is Mr. Thompson's unique experience as a biracial soldier serving in the 442nd.

(This interview was conducted at the 1998 Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans National Convention, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Given the full conference schedule, interviews conducted at the reunion were shorter in length than typical Densho interviews and concentrated on a single topic, namely, the individual's military service during World War II.)

PRODUCTION

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Matt Emery, videographer

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS