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TI: Going back to volunteering, as gung-ho as you were to volunteer, in your autobiography as I read it, there was a case where you almost didn't get into the 442. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

DI: Well, I was in pre-med and that put me in a different category because our nation was at that moment looking for doctors because they knew that the casualties would be high. And secondly and most importantly, I was then employed in a job that was considered essential: the aid station. And when the draft board advised me that that was the reason for being turned down, I immediately, without hesitation, quit school and quit my job. That afternoon I resigned and I reported back to the draft board and said, "I'm ready now." So officially I was second to the last as far as the regiment is concerned. My serial number is 30106416. The last serial number for the men who left Hawaii on the first batch is 30106417. [Laughs]

TI: That's a good story. I liked that when I read it.

DI: In fact, when they had the big parade to say good-bye to the men and they all assembled in front of the palace, I was in the crowd saying good-bye to them.

TI: Because at that point you didn't know yet.

DI: I got in about three days before we left.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.