<Begin Segment 13>

PM: So, things go on. The people are put in the camp in 1941. You did not go into the stockade in Fort McClellan until 1944, right?

TN: That's right.

PM: That's three years later.

TN: Yes.

PM: So what is going on in your mind for three years?

TN: Three years, I wanted to prove my feeling. And within the limit I have, to loyalty on the United States.

PM: United States was your country.

TN: Yes, my country. And I have a, I have, gonna give all my life, if it's, give me everything to whatever you're entitled. But they don't give to us.

PM: To who? Give to who?

TN: To Japanese people.

PM: Okay. So let's assume for just one moment, okay? Let's assume that some other country had attacked the United States, Germany or Italy or some other country, and that the relocation of the Japanese people never happened, it was someone else who the United States was fighting with, you know, not Japan but some other country. Your mind probably would have felt differently, or would it not? What would your feelings be?

TN: My feeling is, I gotta do much as I can to the limit. That limit is my life, see. But come to McClellan, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna give my life to this country. That's why I waited so long to do what I can do until, limited.

PM: When you went to Fort McClellan, you were probably going to be trained for combat to replace people in the 442nd and to go to Europe.

TN: That's right, yes.

PM: Okay. So at that point, you felt, "Well, I better say something now or never"? Or may never have a chance?

TN: Yes, that's right.

PM: All right. But what I'm concerned about and what I'm asking you about is, how much was it of concern to you that it was your family and your Japanese people that had been put into the camps, as opposed to just the general injustice that minority people have been feeling for many, many years? See? You understand what I'm asking? Black people were slaves in the, you know, since the country started. Chinese people and Japanese people had discrimination against them in our country for a long time.

TN: Long time.

PM: Okay. But how important was just the general feeling of discrimination versus specifically what was happening with the relocation camps? How much did that play in your mind?

TN: Japanese people, black people, Chinese people, it's connected, Paul. Look at the black people, how they treat? Like animal. Don't you think so?

PM: Yes, there's been problems, absolutely.

TN: You think that's fair? No. Is that, all that rule and law, they give anti-Japanese law they made in California. You think it's fair? It's not just the wartime discrimination. I'm thinking about history, what they did. That's what it is.

PM: When you went to your commanding officer, then, to complain about this, what made you think that you could do that at that time?

TN: I don't know. I don't know, but last chance I have, thing to talk. That's why I waited so long, and last minute.

<End Segment 13> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.