<Begin Segment 19>

TI: But let's, let's now continue and let's talk about -- let's pick it up where from Shelby, United States. You took a ship to Europe and it took a while going across the Atlantic. But as you got closer and closer to Europe, what kind of thoughts did you have about, about landing at Europe and what were you expecting?

SK: Well, at that time I guess... well, I guess, here comes war. I may die. I may live, I don't know. So that was my primary thought, and, of course, everybody going into war is afraid of what's going to happen. So I felt a little afraid, but yet, what the heck, it's going to be a shooting war. I might come back dead so it didn't bother me too much although I was afraid. But when you are faced with the enemy, that becomes a little different story, too.

TI: How about your men, did you say anything to your men as you got closer to Europe about what they should do?

SK: Yeah. Well, the same old story: we are a team so let's work together. The thing with us Niseis is that we looked after each other. We were very, very close so whatever that fellow did, we watched over, and if you got hurt, we made sure that he's evacuated or stuff like that. So as far as talking to the men, that's what -- well, I was a squad leader at that time so I believe I got them together and said, "Let's work together, look out for each other," so I think this is about it.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.