<Begin Segment 15>

[Translated from Japanese]

NM: What did you go through to come to the States? You received an official approval and got married sometime along the process.

TF: We started the official application procedure right after he came back.

NM: Did you report your marriage when you went to Okinoerabu Island?

TF: We started the application but didn't report. We didn't tell them we were married but told them we would like to get married.

NM: I see.

TF: We didn't tell them we were already married, but they found out. That ended up sending him to be court martialed. He was brought to the harbor. He thought he was in trouble and contacted his family. I don't know the details. A phone call was made once again through the same network.

NM: Just like the letter. [Laughs]

TF: An order came from a high official and claimed they had no right [to stop our marriage].

NM: It was so close.

TF: It was so close. They were waiting for a helicopter to transfer him.

NM: Good thing.

TF: He got out of trouble once again and filed an application. It was accepted, but it took a long time. They checked our families, and we had to go through physical exam. We finally got married at church. No, church was later. We went to a consulate, and that sealed it.

NM: Your marriage was finally official.

TF: It was official, and I got to receive financial support as a dependent.

NM: Did you receive a spouse visa? Is that what you received?

TF: I received it. Green pass, I think.

NM: Green card. You were granted permanent resident status then. You were ready to move to the U.S.

TF: I was theoretically ready.

NM: You had another wedding? [Laughs]

TF: We did. Mike wanted to have his religious ceremony. It was not official in his mind without it, and he was feeling guilty. We had classes and finished the course. Church recognized our marriage with the military permission.

NM: I see.

TF: That's when we had the third wedding ceremony.

NM: [Laughs] You had three wedding ceremonies. You were finally ready to move to the States.

TF: Everything was done. Mike was a low ranking soldier, and the military didn't provide travel expenses for his family member. We were slow finding out what it would take and realized we had to save money. We were really worried about details when we found out I could go with him. A lot of people went over, and we thought it would be simple. We started doing some research and found out the military only provides travel support to sergeants. It was an issue. We had to save money for our travel expenses. In the middle of that, the news came that his father passed away.

NM: Did Michael have to go back right away?

TF: We lived in Okinoerabu Island, and I was going to go back for my personal belongings. He told me he would have everything packed away and sent over. I left everything behind, and I ended up losing the entire thing.

NM: Did you go back to Fukuoka first?

TF: I went back and spent some time with my family. To make things complicated, Mike didn't want to spend another day with the military. His plan was to be discharged in California. I was not allowed to travel with him and was with my family to save money. Mike was to fly to California, to be discharged there and let me know. The plan was I was going to California, and we were flying to New York together. We went back to my village together and spent some time. The news came in, and he was told to report right away. They didn't give us any details but took him away. They worked on the paperwork to send him back right away, and we didn't see each other. I received a notice form the Red Cross. They told me that his father passed away and he was going back soon. They said they were responsible to send me over there.

NM: They were sending you to New York.

TF: Yes. We worked on the paperwork, and I ended up hastily leaving.

NM: It happened quickly.

TF: Quickly. They told me I was to attend the memorial service.

NM: Did you attend the service?

TF: I did.

NM: That was the first time you met Michael's family.

TF: That's right.

NM: You mentioned Michael's family was initially against the marriage. How did it go when you first met them?

TF: It was at the memorial service. No one had any complaints or opinions. There was no welcome either.

NM: Everyone is busy at a memorial service.

TF: Nothing happened. I just jumped in and met them for the first time.

<End Segment 15> - Copyright © 2016 Densho. All Rights Reserved.