<Begin Segment 8>

TI: So how long were you at Collingwood?

HH: Well, as I mentioned, I think I remember that I think we left around September, and by December, early December, when I was drafted, inducted, that's only three months. So it wasn't that long, and after that, we were preparing ourselves to get further training on the West Coast in Catalina Island off Long Beach in California, and our headquarters was in Los Angeles. And that's going ahead, but that's where we took our training before going overseas.

TI: So let's go to the West Coast, and before we get to the West Coast, were you able to visit your family before your...

HH: Yes. Whenever I had a chance to, for the group, the one that was picked, not everybody was picked. The ones that were not picked to go overseas with the team, I think the team only was about, I would say, eight or so. And there was another fellow that was in the military that joined us, former 442, it was in Shelby, and I think he was recruited. But he was from Texas, and his Japanese wasn't that good. I mean, I don't think, I was wondering why he was selected, because he had a Japanese name, I guess, that they recruited him, but he and I were the only two that eventually was picked to go overseas for training at Catalina Island.

TI: Okay, so this team was picked to go to Catalina Island for more training. But let's go back, so you were able to visit your --

HH: On those times that we went, I think we went two times, I think. Once to go for training, and then we went back to Washington, D.C., and then finally, final time was that we were to go back to Catalina Island and then we stayed there until we had to go down to Riverside, which was the port of embarkation for that area. And they had a camp there, and we boarded a ship.

TI: So that's where you were shipped overseas.

HH: Yes.

TI: But before we go there, I wanted to talk about visiting your family at Minidoka, and when you went to Minidoka, how much could you tell them about what you were doing? They were probably asking you what type of work, or what's your mission.

HH: Well, the only thing I could tell them, really, was I was in Washington, D.C., and I was working for the War Department. I didn't even say anything about, they wouldn't know anything about the Office of Strategic Services, so I just... and my family knew where I was working because my wife was receiving the letters, censored letters.

TI: But did they, did you tell them that you were going to be shipped into the Pacific?

HH: No, no.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.