<Begin Segment 12>

SP: So in this period after the war, you've told us a bit about the jobs that you were doing and helping out your parents. I'm curious to know what was going on with your younger brother Tak.

KA: Oh, Tak?

SP: Tak, the one who wrote the book.

KA: He wanted to attend college, but he couldn't see how my parents could afford it when my father was working, you know, on such low paid jobs and we were helping out. In fact, my sister Amy, too, she helped out, and she came to West Seattle to help in the dining room, too, and attended West Seattle High School as a schoolgirl, and gave her pittance to my parents. And so Takeshi figured, "Well, I guess I'd better do something to find a way to go to college." So he said he applied to many places, especially with no tuition. And he was amazed, he got an offer from... he was selected, I think it was one of the congressmen, Tolletson or somebody like that who nominated him, and he was accepted at Annapolis. And my parents were so happy and proud that he would be serving the country that way. But amazingly, he had a problem of getting seasick in the Navy. [Laughs] And so instead of sailing on the ship, he was able to attend all these prestigious colleges, until I think he has about four or five degrees. That was his career: engineering and MBA, and I don't know what all... but he got a PhD, and he became I think a captain.

TI: So that's a pretty amazing story because he was the first Japanese American...

KA: Yes, first Japanese American to be accepted.

TI: ...to graduate from the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He went to the level of captain, which is one level below admiral, isn't it?

KA: Yes, uh-huh.

TI: So he did quite well, but he didn't, he didn't have sea service. So what kind of things did he do with all his education?

KA: I think he was busy attending school. [Laughs]

TI: Well, he must have done something besides going to school.

KA: Yes, I'm sure he did.

TI: Was he always stationed more back east like D.C. area?

KA: Uh-huh. And he got married right after graduation to Elva Ueno from Hawaii. She was attending Johns Hopkins school, nursing. And so he got married very young, twenty-two.

TI: Well, and just to finish up that story, and then his son later on...

KA: Uh-huh, David.

TI: ...also joined or went through the Naval Academy.

KA: Annapolis, that's right.

TI: So it was a strong tradition in that family.

KA: Yes, uh-huh. And he was stationed here for a while. And he was in charge of some big... Art would know. I'm not too familiar with all these military things, but when they had some kind of a catastrophe or incident, he was in charge of so many ships, David was. And he also was a captain. And then he decided to retire because he had two sons, teenagers, and he figured they needed him at home. And so he retired and he went back to Hawaii and got a job with the government, doing the same type of work as he was in the Navy. So he's still there. I have three siblings in Hawaii: Takeshi and George and my sister Florence. And the others are here.

SP: In the Seattle area?

KA: Uh-huh.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.