<Begin Segment 8>

FK: Now, what did you feel when Art volunteered for the service from camp?

NK: Oh, what do you mean, what did I feel?

FK: Was there any mixed feelings about him joining, or did you feel it was a good thing, or how did your parents feel about it?

NK: It was up to him, I guess. There was not much I could do. I thought it was a good thing. And eventually I got in. It was after we moved to Idaho.

FK: Now, did you volunteer or were you drafted?

NK: Well, I guess, I think I made myself available for the draft.

FK: So tell me about the service.

NK: Oh, they shipped me off to Italy.

FK: Where did you go for basic training then?

NK: Where?

FK: Yeah.

NK: Let's see. From Idaho I went to California for a while and took basic training there, I think. Then went to, went overseas to Europe from New York.

FK: Did you take a direct route from New York to Italy then, or to Europe?

NK: Yeah, went on a boat from New York to Italy. Yeah, it was a boat.

FK: How long did that take you?

NK: Oh, I forget. I think it took a week or so.

FK: So was the war still going on when you got to Europe?

NK: No, I think it was the occupation force I was with. I forget now what the unit was called or anything. All I know is I was stationed in Italy, and I did some office work there. I was working in the office...

FK: What was your reaction when you found out that Art was wounded?

NK: When what?

FK: When Art was wounded in the war, what was your reaction at that time?

NK: Well, I forget. I was just hoping he'd survive, and he did.

FK: Now, how long were you in the service then?

NK: I think two years. I forget now, it's so long ago. But I didn't see any action. I just went overseas and worked in an office.

FK: So had you met Mary before, then? Your wife, Mary, before then?

NK: Oh, yeah. The family, our families were friends from years before. The folks knew them for a long time.

FK: So they lived in Mount Vernon and you lived down here?

NK: They'd come and visit us once in a while, we'd go up there and visit.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.