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TI: So coming back to you, there was one story you told me a while back that I want to ask you about, and it has to do with my uncle Chuck. Because you were, the Kinoshita family was also, my mom's side was also Kagoshima, and you mentioned you were Kagoshima. And so one of your friends growing up was Uncle Chuck, Chuck Kinoshita. And Chuck's oldest brother, older brother, was also with the 442, was actually in the 100th, and was killed in action in Italy. The story you told me was I think you were with Chuck or heard about Chuck when he heard about his brother's death. Can you share that story?

FS: Yes. In fact, you know, I was on leave from Minidoka with Chuck and five other young guys, working on a farm in Idaho. And this particular day, the farmer came over and delivered the message that Bako had been killed in action. You know, I will never, ever forget that day. [Pauses] Pardon me. Anyway, I looked around, next thing I know, Chuck was gone. So I went to find him, and he was in the outhouse crying. And I sat there and cried. Tom, I'll never forget that day. So anyway, I told you that that experience kind of drove me in my career in Washington, D.C. and at VA when I was inspector general for the VA. As you go in the main VA building, if you're ever in Washington, in the main building there's a stone monument carved right next to the main entrance, and there's a quote from President Lincoln, which is a charge to everyone in the VA, "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his (orphan)." I would enter that building many a time, and I'd stop and say thanks to Bako, and say a prayer. But I'll tell you, that just drove me in things that I did in my life. And I think we owe thanks to people like Bako, and all those guys that gave their life. You know, that day on the farm, when I found Chuck crying in that stinky outhouse, it just struck me in such a way that every time I came across a tough decision, I'd think about that. Everything else was inconsequential. But I'll never forget that day. And I have to tell you honestly, as I've worked in JACL for redress, I thought about that thing many a time. That's what kind of drove me to things that I've wanted to do.

TI: Thank you so much for telling this. My uncle Chuck and my mom still don't talk about it, because I know it was really, really hard.

FS: Well, as you know, it's very hard for me to talk about that, too. And every time I talk about this, I go through the same thing, and I shouldn't. But you know I feel very strongly about it, and if I've done anything during my career, it was thanks to that man. I think he inspired me to do things that might not have happened otherwise. There's a lot of things that I've experienced in my lifetime. But you know, I've thought about that particular day on the farm so many times, it's even amazing to me that as a young fifteen year old kid, the profound effect it's had on my life and my service also. And I think it's just something I had to do.

TI: Thank you so much for that story. At this point I think we're going to end part one, this is probably a good place to break.

FS: Okay.

<End Segment 20> - Copyright © 2017 Densho. All Rights Reserved.