Densho Digital Archive - Mits Takahashi Interview (denshovh-tmits-01-0028)

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TI: So you, you finished your convalescence after several weeks. And then what happened next?

MT: Then I went back and joined the company back up in this northern Italy area there. And how long we spent there, I don't remember, but from there, we were moved back down into Leghorn, or better known as the Pisa area, where the leaning tower is. So it was kind of a, oh, fun period. We were guarding prisoners, and really didn't have too much to do. So that was the time we were able to get little furloughs and things to go to Switzerland or visit Rome or whatever was available for us. So it was a nice period where, relaxing.

TI: While you were traveling during this period after the war is done, did people recognize you as a member of the 442?

MT: Very much so, yeah.

TI: And what, how did people react to you? What did they know about the 442?

MT: Well, the 34th Division, which the 442 was attached earlier, that whole division was there, and they had a lot of respect for the 442, and we had a lot of respect for them. And several occasions when we went somewhere, we would bump into fellows from the 34th Division, and we would team up and go have a drink or whatever you do. We were, the 442 was very, very respected in, I'm sure, in France and in Italy. And the people there were, well, they appreciated the American forces, regardless of what unit we were with.

TI: Did you ever come across people who were kind of surprised when they look at you because of your Japanese face with an American uniform and were kind of confused as to who you were?

MT: Never had that. However, one time in, I forgot which town I was in, but I bumped into a fellow from Seattle who was a Chinese fellow that I went to school with. And he's here in Seattle, and he's very active with the... what is it, the American Legion Post. And kind of talked with him, I remember talking with him. But it was, it was a very fun period, and we certainly had a lot of passes, and we were kept busy, too, things were due.