<Begin Segment 51>

TI: So, so where were you inducted?

RM: Jerome, Arkansas, they come around and took name and brief physical so that we'll fit it or not. Then actually, then we were put 'em on a train and, early in the morning so that other people still sleeping because some people might do something to prevent that, people leaving there. So, we were sent to Fort Snelling first.

TI: And Roy, how many people were on that train with you?

RM: From, well, I, I didn't count but around, excuse me, I have this somewhere, all the names who... well, what happened was, not supposed to have the copy of the orders, restricted, but for my information they put the, this order in my personal file, then I delete it from there then I got the information. So all the names, I didn't exactly count so many, but the one we went were people from Rohwer, Arkansas camp, too. So...

TI: But roughly...

RM: Roughly, fifty-fifty and about twenty something.

TI: Okay.

RM: If you want an exact figure, check --

TI: No, that's okay. So when you arrived at Fort Snelling...

RM: Fort Snelling and they had a physical and then the size of it, they issued clothes, shoes, and jacket and coat, overcoat and so forth. Then it would be sent to Camp Savage by bus.

TI: And what was it, what was your first impression of Camp Savage when you got there?

RM: Well, that's a dilapidated old, old soldier's home or something and, but they had to clean the thing and they had pot belly stove for the heat. And this being November 12th, so it's pretty cool, cold in Minnesota. And so I never experienced this because I was born in California and grew up, so pretty warm, but anyway, they issue heavy clothing, winter clothing.

TI: And you were one of the first MIS classes to be at Camp Savage, weren't you?

RM: Yes, the camp, but, well, part of student were from California and just prior to war break out they recruited soldiers from the unit to be trained as language -- this happened to be Building 640 at Crissy Field in the Presidio San Francisco. And school started and some of 'em didn't graduate but they were sent to front line and rest of 'em were sent to Savage, Camp Savage, so they, they didn't finish class, I suppose, so they're being disbursed and sent to overseas or other places. Some became instructors, stay there. So we're the one the first class started from Savage.

TI: Okay, so technically you were probably the --

RM: First.

TI: -- the second MIS class. The first one started at the Presidio.

RM: First start at the Presidio San Francisco.

TI: And then some of them moved to Savage.

RM: And then moved to, yeah, Savage.

TI: And then you were the first class at Savage.

RM: Yeah.

TI: And then after you there were about twenty other classes --

RM: That's right.

TI: -- following you.

RM: Yes.

TI: So you were one of the pioneers of the MIS.

RM: That's right.

AI: I just wanted to clarify that at the end of 1942, when you were first there, you were then twenty-nine years old already.

RM: Yes.

TI: So, also one of the older ones there.

RM: Yeah. Well, one of the, see, some, a few other people older than me. Of course, those people all Kibeis, the one older one. Even though they're older but know quite a bit of Japanese that's why they being inducted. But young people, well, if they're old if you didn't know, never been to Japan, never would be accepted. But I think they made exception age just, they just waive the age limit, so some people elder, older than me.

<End Segment 51> - Copyright © 2003 Densho. All Rights Reserved.