<Begin Segment 24>

AI: Now, let's see, you were drafted in September of 1944?

KO: Yes.

AI: Yes, because that was what was on your...

KO: Right.

AI: And I was wondering what you felt, when you found out you were drafted?

KO: Well, I felt kinda' lost, and wondering how I was gonna' handle it or be able to handle it. Although, there were other people going in with me at the same time. It was kinda' scary experience, I felt, because first of all, you didn't know how you as a group, as a race, would be greeted by the soldiers who were processing you in these camps -- I mean, in the forts that you went to to get inducted. But I must say, the army handled the situation pretty well, no matter where we went. So it was not much of a problem. But I was more concerned about my size being a handicap to [Laughs] being able to handle the things that had to be done.

AI: Well now, when you got into basic training, what did you find out about that, as far as your size? Was it a big handicap?

KO: It was to a degree, because you had to carry all this heavy equipment. But, it created a problem for the army because we were in, taking basic with other groups.

AI: It wasn't segregated?

KO: It was not segregated totally, although we went in as a kind of a segregated unit. But we took basic with other people, and Cauca -- well I don't know if you'd say "other Caucasians" or what, but -- when you're marching, you got me on one end, and maybe a 6' 6" guy on the other end, and we're marching at the same cadence, [Laughs] and so no matter how you do it, the steps are not gonna' come out right. So, I think it must have been quite a sight to see this going on. But outside of that, I can't see where it created too much of a problem. I must say the army did a good job of handling the situation and making it as easy as possible for everybody.

AI: Now let's see, you were, you had your basic training in Texas...

KO: Yeah, Fort Logan.

AI: Anything that stands out about that experience, or being there in Texas?

KO: Not really. You were so busy day and night, that you didn't have much time to think. And the only thing I remember about it is it was in, during some part of the basic training, it was hot and humid and I wasn't used to that kind of weather. And I think that wore on me more than anything.

<End Segment 24> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.