<Begin Segment 85>

TI: So who was the first person you recognized when you went to the village?

RM: My mother. It was there, then, oh, everybody was there, but it was a surprise because they knew I was alive in China but didn't expect me to visit because this, was one of the duty and I have to go there. And I didn't know I was able to come to Hiroshima or not but fortunately, the order got twenty days TDY, so give me time enough. Then, after about a week I went back to Tokyo and see where I would be assigned. So that's why I'm stopping there.

TI: But before we go there, so it's been about, you had not seen your mother for about fifteen years? 'Cause you left Japan 1929 and --

RM: Yeah, right.

TI: So even a little bit longer.

RM: No, no... yeah that's right.

TI: '29, so maybe about seventeen years, sixteen or seventeen years.

RM: Something like that. Yes.

TI: And so what was her --

RM: Because, you know, small kids already grown up and a soldier already, see.

TI: Right. So what was the reaction, when you say they were surprised, was it tearful, was it happy, was it, how would you describe it? Or was it --

RM: Well, I know she was happy because she haven't seen me and... what I did was when I was working at the grocery store, I been sending spending money all the time. That's why I wasn't rich because all the money went to help other kids. I don't know whether Mother did it, but Mother the one that pay the way to come back to the States, like I told you before, you asked me who did it. My mother did it so I appreciate, I wanna pay back, not the debts, but I mean, since I was able to spare because I was single and working and I had my own transportation paid for so I was helping, so Mother appreciate what I've done and he's safe, so, my mother one I think the most, but my father is a quiet man and he usually don't talk. But my mother is the one, she cried and happy, so that everybody was survived so she's so happy. Maybe that's why she lived that long and she's happy after that. Anyway, I was a kinda -- but I got a duty to do, I didn't know what gonna happen, and I don't know whether I was able to find a job or not. Because this not assignment, just came on duty, this trip, but I have to go back. That was sad part was I didn't get the job right away go back. Then surprise was they sent me to Beijing but I didn't go. Good thing is I had enough time to be rotated.

<End Segment 85> - Copyright © 2003 Densho. All Rights Reserved.