<Begin Segment 33>

TI: Oh, just, one of the turning points of overturning the court-martial for Shiro Kashino was that they finally got Matsuda to admit that he was the one who punched the MP officer. And we talked to Kubota earlier about that. And initially, Matsuda didn't want to say anything. But after repeatedly -- Kubota going there and trying to talk to him -- finally he agreed to tell the story, the truth. And I guess what was interesting was that finally after Matsuda told the story, Kubota said that it was like a huge weight being lifted off. And I guess I don't really have a question, it's just sort of an observation that, it's unfortunate that he wasn't able to do this fifty-five years ago. It caused a lot of pain and grief to you and Kash and Hayashi and his family. But when I mention that, I mean, do you have any thoughts, because Matsuda has died, so he's gone. But what are your thoughts about the whole thing right now?

FM: Well, I'm glad Kash got his, what do you call, stripes back, and his records are clear. I hope they can clear my record also, but without my records, I don't know.

BK: Did...

FM: But Bill Thompson and Kubota, they're really working hard on it. I told 'em, "Forget about it, don't worry about it," but they insist on doing it.

TI: Why do you think the two of them have been working so hard? On, first Kash's case and now yours? What is it that keeps them going?

FM: I don't really know. Maybe Kubota feel that he could have done something earlier, maybe. But like I say, he was a junior lieutenant at that time, so he couldn't speak up too much. But maybe he wished that he did say something. So now, maybe he's trying to make up for that.

TI: And how do you feel? Do you sometimes think that maybe Kubota could have done something? That perhaps he could have spoken up, or done something that may have changed things?

FM: Myself, no. I don't think he could have done too much, even though he wanted to do it. I'm sure he wanted to do it, but -- his hands are tied also, I think. But we had Lieutenant Whitley, and he was a senior... in fact, he was acting CO when he got killed. People like that, who could have helped but, too bad they got killed.

TI: Have you been able to talk to, to -- but you have a son, one son, or...? Have you ever talked to him about this?

FM: Not too much, no.

BK: I bet you he would be interested in it, though.

FM: Yeah, he's kinda' interested in it. I thought, "Well, forget about it. It's been long gone anyway, so it's not going to change my life anyway." He said, "No," he said, "you better go and get your thing cleared away."

BK: He'll be interested in seeing this video, though, I'm sure, because growing up, we went to all these reunions. And so I think it means a lot to him, also.

<End Segment 33> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.