<Begin Segment 27>

SF: I wanted to ask you this question about the kind of long term effects. Do you think that the 442, the 522, the 100th, that Japanese America could ever see something like that again? What I'm thinking of is, what if you put a bunch of Sanseis together and say that we still had a segregated Army? In your sort of speculation, do you think that it's possible that they would perform similarly to the 442 or that no way in hell would that ever happen again because of the kind of unique character and historical circumstances of the 442.

SI: I think, in general, I think the Sansei could perform like the Nisei did, but I don't think that the situation is any way comparable in that, not that this could happen, but if it were to happen -- well, the Sansei are so diluted, so intermarried, so Americanized. My youngest son, who is now 35, was born in Wellesley and grew up there. He went to local schools. He would, when he was three or four, would point at the TV and says oh, Japanese. He didn't realize he was Japanese, full-blooded Japanese, and none of our kids accept themselves -- well, they realize they're Japanese. At least some of them like sashimi and tsukemono and rice, but they speak virtually no Japanese. They, except amongst themselves, have no Japanese friends or colleagues, and my grandchildren are even further displaced from being associated with Japanese. I have two grandsons that are half Japanese and the other half is Jewish Swedish. And the other two grandchildren are, I think, Irish English and half Japanese. And I don't see how this generation -- well, I can't envision a situation arising where an equivalent unit might be formed from this ethnic group.

<End Segment 27> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.