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TI: Right, yeah, we'll get to that later but, but at some point at the MIS, they came in there and they talked about a sort of a secret dangerous mission. And they were looking for volunteers for this mission. And in fact, they said that casualties could be up to eighty five percent and, again, they asked for volunteers. What did you do?

RM: Well, the reason they volunteer is the deal was good. See, they said, "This is a dangerous mission. However, if you survive, you'll be sent back to stateside and serve in the stateside duration of the war." So that was a good deal.

TI: So they said if you survive this secret mission --

RM: So that's why --

TI: -- that was supposed to be what, three, four months --

RM: That was, that was, in the three months' mission, but didn't turn out that way so we double-crossed, more or less.

TI: But they said, so if you, if you survive this dangerous secret mission --

RM: Yes.

TI: -- three months, that you would return stateside. So at that point, did very many men volunteer?

RM: Pardon?

TI: Did very many of the men volunteer?

RM: Oh yeah, all of 'em volunteer, almost all of 'em. May have a few exceptions but as far as I know they talk about everybody go. But most were not qualified, see, because they wanted only fourteen men and so they, the way they choose is man and strong in English, then a man strong in Japanese, so then team up and so that make a good report and also able to conduct the assignment.

TI: So, roughly about two hundred men volunteered.

RM: Yes.

TI: They chose fourteen.

RM: Fourteen.

TI: One of which, you were one of the fourteen. So were these fourteen, would you say, are sort of the cream of the crop of the MIS in terms of who they selected?

RM: Well, some were picked up and made instructor out of 'em. But as far, yes, the one that chosen probably is the cream of the crop, I suppose.

TI: Okay, so the fourteen of you were selected.

<End Segment 57> - Copyright © 2003 Densho. All Rights Reserved.