<Begin Segment 23>

TI: And I just realized, I forgot something, because going back to Aki, she didn't give you an answer in New York, but later on, you contacted her again, I think, by phone.

JY: Yes.

TI: Where were you at that point when you talked to her on the phone?

JY: Well, I was just in the barracks and making acquaintances with our barrack mates, and just chewing the fat, lying on the bunk and finding out about each other. So this guy asked me what was my immediate thing I had on my mind, so I told him about Aki. He said, "What the hell are you doing here? Get out of this sack and get to the phone booth."

TI: Was this when you were in Indiana?

JY: No, this was at Camp...

TI: Carlisle?

JY: Carlisle. So I did.

TI: Well, I mean, if this person didn't tell you to do that, would you not have done it?

JY: Yeah, I guess I was just waiting for her to make the move. And he said this wasn't the way to do this thing. [Laughs]

TI: So you got on the phone and you called her.

JY: Yeah.

TI: And she was in New York because she was going to Columbia University?

JY: Yeah, right.

TI: Okay, so you get in touch with her, and so you probably say, well, you probably had time to think about it.

JY: Right.

TI: And what did she say?

JY: She just said, "Hai."

TI: Hai meaning, hai, yes, in Japanese?

JY: Right.

TI: So what was your reaction at that point?

JY: Well, I went back to the barracks and told this guy, and he sort of gave me that look like, you know, got to do these things right. [Laughs] And after we finished our field service school, we were going to a short honeymoon, and he told us to drop by his house in New Jersey. And apparently he was an Italian guy, there was meat ration there, but he said, "Hey, I'm going to get you a nice piece of steak when you come see me," and he sure did.

TI: That's nice. So after she said yes, what did your parents think? I mean, at this point, they were in Chicago, weren't they?

JY: I don't think we were concerned with letting our parents know so much, at least I can't recall.

TI: So you didn't even tell your parents?

JY: Yeah, well, I guess I did. Yeah, we had to, I guess I did tell my dad and mother, and he arranged to, said he would come to New York to marry us.

TI: Oh, that was special. So he was in Chicago, to come all the way to New York to be part of the ceremony.

JY: Yeah.

TI: Did he have contacts in New York, or how did you choose the church in New York to get married?

JY: I guess it was through the other minister that married us, Dr. Whelan.

TI: And how did you get to know Dr. Whelan?

JY: He was with the Episcopal church, and I think my dad had contact with him, with his work for helping the people who were relocated to Chicago.

TI: So at this point, how much time from the point she said hai to the ceremony? How long did it take to actually get married?

JY: About two, three weeks, I guess.

TI: Wow, so that was really fast.

JY: Well, we had to get a license, right? I mean, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, had to go to New York, get license and all that, arrange a place to get married.

TI: But just two or three weeks later, and your father comes from Chicago, and you get married in New York City.

JY: right.

TI: And where did you get married?

JY: At the Grace Church, Tenth and Broadway.

TI: And do you recall how many people were in attendance?

JY: A few. None of our personal friends. My father's and Aki's sister's friend and family.

TI: Now, what kind of... I'm just curious, when a fellow soldier gets married like this, what did the other guys do? Did they say anything to you, did they know that you're...

JY: No, they didn't know. But the day I was leaving camp was a Saturday, usually we have a formation before everyone takes leave for weekends, the ones that sell out to take weekends. The whole camp doesn't empty out, I guess there's some sort of selection basis. So the unit gets together before they're discharged for the weekend, and there's certain instructions. And so they say, "Lieutenant Yamazaki, front and forward." And as soon as he gives that order, the band starts striking up the wedding march. [Laughs]

TI: That's nice. So the commanding officer knew that you were going to get married?

JY: Yeah. Then when it ends he says, "Dismissed," to everybody, and everybody takes off for the weekend.

TI: And he knew that you were going to get married?

JY: Yeah, right.

TI: So you go up to New York, get married, do you have time for a honeymoon?

JY: No, we're still at the service school under our training. So we went for our honeymoon after we finished that period. There was a short interval that you get time off after service school before you get to the next station. So we planned a honeymoon during that period.

TI: And then after the honeymoon you had to go back?

JY: And we were headed back for Springfield, Missouri, to O'Reilly General.

TI: Okay. And so at that point, did Aki go with you, or did she go back to New York?

JY: Yes, she pulled out of the school again.

TI: That's good.

<End Segment 23> - Copyright © 2005 Densho. All Rights Reserved.