<Begin Segment 12>

ME: I forgot to ask about your reaction to Pearl Harbor. Because you were actually working at Pearl Harbor, weren't you?

BY: Right.

ME: When Japan attacked?

BY: Yeah.

ME: So where were you on that Sunday?

BY: I was home that day.

ME: Okay.

BY: Somehow we were, we were told not to report to work on that Sunday. Then I heard all kinda commotions that morning. When I looked out from our porch, I could see all these planes with the red insignia. And then, turn on the radio and announced that we were at war. I thought, gee, it was a shock. And, we hope -- when I went, when I went to the, to Pearl Harbor they were, we were told not to leave the bus. To go out -- the marines, security guards, told us that because of our Japanese ancestry we were not allowed on the post.

ME: Did they say it that nicely, though?

BY: Huh?

ME: Did they say, because --

BY: No, no.

ME: -- of your Japanese ancestry you can't --

BY: No.

ME: What did they say?

BY: They say, they say, Japs gotta get out. So... but the next day we went back, and they let us in. Not the same guard, but some other guard.

ME: So eventually you were able to return to work?

BY: Yeah.

ME: Okay. How, how were you feeling with this? This was racial discrimination. How did you feel when they didn't let you in?

BY: For one thing, we were, we were Japanese so we had to take, I guess, some crap. And, and -- but sometimes they got a little out of their hands. And some of the guys would get mad at them. But to me, I figure, well, let it go.

ME: Well, thanks, Bruno, was there anything else that you wanted to say before we wrap up?

BY: No.

ME: Okay.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 1997 Densho. All Rights Reserved.