<Begin Segment 32>

AI: Well, kind of looking back on that whole portion of your life -- and especially the incarceration -- I was wondering, what do you think were some of the worst of the long-term effects?

KO: Well, I don't know. There were a lot a families being broken up because of the evacuation, and I think there were cases where friends became enemies, having to make different choices. Perhaps that and the disruption of the lives of many, many people is certainly, was a problem. But, I think it's surprising how well the people coming back adjusted to the situation and went on with their lives, and have made successes of themselves.

AI: For you, anything in particularly negative?

KO: Not particularly negative, but I wished that I had been a little more capable of handling some of the situations as they came up, like coming to a big city, and being able to cope with it a little better than I did. But, we all have our shortcomings, and I think that's one of mine; that I wasn't able to make some adjustments that would have made life a little different.

AI: Any, again, thinking back, any positive outcomes from the incarceration and the war years?

KO: Well, I think having made the friends during those times, and having to make a stand as to whether you're loyal or disloyal or whatever to the United States, I think in the end that made a lot of difference to not only myself, but to the Nisei people in particular, I think. Helped 'em certainly when they came back that... I didn't see combat, but certainly the people that saw combat had made it easier for themselves, and other people too. No matter what you say, I think that Niseis owe a debt of gratitude to those... people who served their country during a pretty tough time.

<End Segment 32> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.