<Begin Segment 21>

SY: And did you have, at the same time, were you involved with other social groups?

MK: Well, at that time the 442 club started I think that was probably the very beginning and then became very involved with G Company of 442 'cause there were a group of us here then at that time. So we met socially quite a bit then.

SY: And how exactly did that start? It was just sort of guys getting together?

MK: Yeah. Well, we had the 442 clubhouse at that time so that's when we used to have these annual meetings and different events there. They were quite active at the very beginning when the children were small. We used to have all kinds of socials at the clubhouse. And then of course each company had their own activities and G Company became very, very active.

SY: And that was in the '60s then?

MK: It would be '60s, right.

SY: And it was mainly social.

MK: At that time, well, yeah.

SY: It was just a way for the guys to kind of get together?

MK: I think so, yes. I'm sure that they tried to keep up the legacy, keep it going and that was the very beginning of it.

SY: And at this time, so during this period then your husband must have been pretty involved?

MK: Yeah, he was involved. In the Scouts he was cubmaster and things like that. So we both got very involved in kids' activities.

SY: It's interesting to me that when the 422nd guys get together they tend to talk more about their experiences, is that true?

MK: At the beginning they did not talk about any of their experiences. It's only recently (it seems) like, I guess they're trying to get these oral histories out... then they're starting to talk. But at the beginning I don't remember any of them ever talking about their experiences. George would tell me some things, but then I don't think they'd ever say it out in the public how they used to go rescue the dead soldiers and things like that.

SY: But he did open up a little bit to you?

MK: Yeah, about some of the things that they did over there.

SY: How did you feel when he would talk about it?

MK: I felt that these stories should get out but they didn't want to talk about it. And I noticed that with all the guys when we used to get together I used to ask questions but nobody would ever really (say anything. There are) many stories now that are untold that should have been told many years ago.

SY: And did you feel that it had an impact on your husband in terms of his... how he dealt with things?

MK: I don't know. With Nisei guys it's really hard to tell. I mean, they still have that attitude, (...) the shikata ga nai attitude always comes out I think and gaman, those things really come out in all of them. But I wish some of those stories could be told.

SY: So he never shared about it with the kids?

MK: No, that's why I'm saying that I think we as Nisei parents I think we failed our kids by not getting them involved. I imagine Sansei kids are probably the most ill-informed about what their dads did. They just need to know the story.

SY: Do you think it had any psychological effect on your husband? Did it change do you think the way he related to other people?

MK: That I don't think so.

SY: You never noticed anything.

MK: I never noticed it. He was easy to get along with.

SY: He was the same, the war didn't change him too much as far as his personality. Since you knew him before and then you knew him after.

MK: Right. Maybe some of the guys that went really deep in battle, I'm sure it had to affect them. But I do know that when he used to say that one of his details was going to pick up the dead, I know that that must have... 'cause some of the guys he knew. But still wouldn't talk too much about it even then.

SY: And he was really someone who saw a lot of action.

MK: He started to and then his brother was killed, his younger brother was killed in the battle over there in France. And so at that time if someone in the family was killed they sent them back, the other siblings back. So he was sent back earlier than he was supposed to have been.

SY: So how many months or years did he serve totally? Do you know?

MK: I think it was a couple years. I don't know. I have to look up the records.

SY: But he felt strong enough about it that this group was important to him?

MK: Yes, I think there's certain camaraderie there whether they think or not. But when they tell them they're going to get together the guys come out.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.