<Begin Segment 14>

TI: And do you remember about how long you were with the VVV?

AO: I think it was a little less than a year, about eleven months I think.

TI: Because after about that time, then the government announced that they were going to allow, you know, Americans of Japanese ancestry to join the Army. Do you remember that announcement?

AO: Well, yes, it was very clearly because they got our whole group together at, our triple V group together and made the announcement and then I think at right then and there they asked us if we wanted to volunteer for the new combat organization that was going to be organized. And many of us right then and there signed up as volunteers.

TI: Now did you talk with your mother about his decision?

AO: Oh, no way, we just went and signed up.

TI: And at this point where was your father?

AO: Nobody knew where he was. We knew he was in the custody of the... whether it was the Army, probably actually the Army but they didn't know whether he was at the immigration station in Honolulu or had been sent away. All they knew was that he was in the custody of the American government.

TI: So there was no family visitation?

AO: No, not as far as I know.

TI: Okay, so you didn't even know where your father was when this was happening?

AO: No.

TI: And yet you decided you're going to volunteer?

AO: Correct.

TI: You didn't tell your mother.

AO: No.

TI: When you went home what was her reaction?

AO: Well, very resigned, I think, you know she just said, "Well, if that's the way you feel, it's for your country, you go ahead and do the best you can period." But that somewhere, you know, if you can get to see Dad, to let her know, to let the family know. Where he is and how he is because he was a sick man and they were hoping that he would still be well.

TI: How about your older brother or older sisters, did they say anything to you about your decision?

AO: No, they couldn't have said anything anyway, you know, they couldn't have changed my mind or anything.

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.