<Begin Segment 13>

TI: So, so let's talk about, so you were now, you were drafted. This is 1941, you were drafted by the U.S. army, and you said that solved your, your sort of, your problem, or helped you make a decision.

GH: Yeah.

TI: So what did you do when you were drafted?

GH: Well, when I was drafted, I said to myself, if I'm going to serve, I said, I'd like to learn a trade. So I enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and of course they give you a series of, batteries of tests, and I did qualify for airplane mechanic, so my ambition was to become an airplane mechanic. But when I was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, I was immediately taken into what they call protective custody.

TI: Well, yeah, before we go there, and you, your decision to enlist, how did your parents feel about, about you joining the army?

GH: All I know is when I, my father saw me off at the train station at Kent, and he said, "These are very difficult times." He says, "Take good care and do your best."

TI: Okay. So, but you enlisted before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

GH: That's right.

TI: So this was just like days before, or how...

GH: Three days before Pearl Harbor.

TI: So December 7th, so like December 4th or something, December 3rd or 4th, you entered the army. And where, where was this? Where did you enter?

GH: Fort Lewis.

TI: Okay, so you're at Fort Lewis, and then the first Sunday that you're in the army, you hear about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Where were you when that happened?

GH: Well, December the 7th was the day I was looking forward to because my parents were to visit me. And I think it was on my way back from church when I heard over the loudspeaker that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor, and I said to myself, "Where's Pearl Harbor?" And then I heard that all passes were cancelled and that no visitors were permitted to enter the fort. So I immediately went to the public telephone to advise my parents not to come, and when I picked up the telephone, it was dead. There was no dial tone, the public telephone was disconnected. So I immediately went to the main gate, and I waited for my parents, and we were very fortunate to make eye contact. So we waved and we parted.

TI: Oh, so your parents did come to the fort to see you, they couldn't come in, but you were able to at least see them and wave, and then they left.

GH: Yeah, yes.

TI: While this was happening, how was it for you as a Japanese American at Fort Lewis?

GH: Well, my main concern was about my parents. I said, you know, they're non-citizens, they're "enemy aliens," so to speak, and I just wondered what kind of treatment they would get. That was my major concern, yeah.

TI: Now, were there very many other Japanese American soldiers at Fort Lewis?

GH: I saw several, yes. Because I wasn't there very long, maybe three or four days.

TI: Did you ever talk with the other Japanese Americans about what was happening?

GH: Yes, there was one. I think he lives somewhere (near here), his name's Mike Nagata, yeah.

TI: And what did you think was going to happen to you and other Japanese Americans? Did you think that you would just still be in the U.S. Army and fight like all the other U.S. soldiers, or did you have any thoughts?

GH: Well, of course, when I went to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, I was immediately taken into what they call a protective custody.

<End Segment 13> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.