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TI: So let me back up just a little bit, so how did your parents find out? First, your mother. How did your mother find out that you were going to join the military?

EW: I simply just called her on the phone. My parents are divorced, so I talked to them separately.

TI: And at what point in the process did you, did you call your mother? Was it after you had been accepted, or why don't you first tell me where you were in your thinking.

EW: I think it was after I accepted, but before I had signed the papers. And, yeah, it was very difficult, 'cause she, like I said, she was very much against it. And she just implored me to, she was saying, "What are the reasons why?" And I told her, and she said, "You can gain those experiences in other jobs and things like that." And I said, but no, this is something that I wanted to do for a long time. So I think finally she was able to accept that, that it was really my choice, my life. So I think it's the same for any mother.

TI: So now explain your father in terms of what, how you told your father.

EW: I think, like any mother and any father, they're very different. The mother is very protective, and the father is very... he's protective as well, but he was more, very proud of his son as gaining entrance and being an officer in the military as a proud accomplishment. Whereas the mother is very apprehensive. My mother was very apprehensive, especially joining the military during a time of crisis.

EW: How about others, like friends or your brother? Any other... how did they find out, and any comments from them?

EW: They were kind of very, I didn't really get any strong indications one way or another, I think. I had a friend who was in the Air Guard, and he and his wife now, they were very, they told me before I left they were very proud of what I was doing, very happy for me. My brother... my brother and I always talked about joining the military. He was in Navy ROTC for a little while during college. He, he never finished, but... and I think he was happy for me, but he didn't really, he wasn't really that happy, I guess. I don't know. He didn't give me one indication, an indication one way or another. And I think for the most part, the rest of my friends were just sad to see me leaving Hawaii, they didn't want to see me go. But like I said, I think a lot of 'em said, "You know, if that's what you want to do, go ahead, have fun."

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.