<Begin Segment 22>

TI: So going back to the 106th, so eventually they were then shipped to Europe in a convoy. I think they first went to --

JY: No, they didn't have a convoy?

TI: Oh, you went on a single...

JY: Yeah, the boats were very fast boats. I think one of the boats was called the Manhattan, and there was two ships that left. But at that time, a lot of the convoys were being hit by the submarines, so they timed it, and it's delayed until, I guess, they felt the coast was fairly clear. But the ship was considered to be fast enough to evade any submarine attack. We only got a escort when we approached Ireland, then we had an escort to take us into England.

TI: So you got a fast transport across, went to England first, and did some training there? Or how long were you there?

JY: We had to unload and to see that everything was okay before we went to France.

TI: And then eventually went to France, La Havre is where you landed?

JY: Yes.

TI: And then marched, or went up to Saint Vith?

JY: Saint Vith. Except meanwhile I was detoured by a sick solider on another ship that was not with our unit, and so I had to meet this ship at sea, and so I was delayed and had to catch up with our outfit later.

TI: So was this just another American soldier but on a different ship?

JY: No, it was a navy ship that didn't have a doctor, so I had to go see the problem.

TI: Was it U.S. Navy?

JY: Yes.

TI: Okay, so U.S. Navy, they didn't have a doctor, so they call around, find you, so you go over there.

JY: Right, middle of the night. Of course I get the royal welcome. And in fact, they asked me, one of the naval officer asked me if there's anyone I could contact in the United States because he's being shipped home. He'd been at sea for over five years, so he was getting sent home. So I gave him Aki's name, and he contacted her.

TI: Oh, because he just wanted someone to be able to know?

JY: No, he... I was taking care of some of the navy men in his, on the ship, so he just asked me when we were having coffee whether he could do this. Didn't you get a call from that guy? Yeah. Yeah, he was a nice fellow.

TI: Well, that's nice. That was generous of you. You weren't worried about having a sailor who's been at sea for five years to meet your new wife?

JY: [Laughs] He looked fine. I just brought this up because you were wondering whether I had any discrimination in the service, so I just telling you the kind of...

<End Segment 22> - Copyright © 2005 Densho. All Rights Reserved.