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gky: So after Kiska, what happened to you?

DO: After Kiska, came back to States for reassignment, and only about -- I don't know how many -- short time later another assignment came and we were sent to Hawai'i.

gky: Where did you go to be reassigned? What part of the United States, West Coast?

DO: Beg pardon?

gky: When you went to be reassigned, where did you go to be reassigned? What base were you at?

DO: At Fort Snelling, after.

gky: Oh. Let's see. You went to Saipan and...

DO: Tinian, uh-huh.

gky: And what did you do on both Saipan and Tinian?

DO: Saipan and Tinian, when they're invading, we got there a little after the thing started, and landed on Tinian, and there I think fighting was still on toward the end and a lot of prisoner, mostly civilians, were coming out. And United States, they had the camp constructed and we were supposed to take care of the prisoners, mostly Japanese, Koreans, and some islanders, but not too many. Our job was under Naval Civil Affairs and we took care of those people.

gky: When you say, "take care of," what do you mean by that?

DO: Our camp commandant was a Marine colonel, and they call us and said, asked me to see that schools built, see the sanitations taught to these people so that nobody get sick, and also started the farmers' cooperative so that they could raise the green vegetable, which totally lacking. And they said that's important for the interned civilians' health.

gky: You said that you consider one of the most important jobs you did in the war working with civilians in this way.

DO: Yes, uh-huh.

gky: Why do you think it was important?

DO: I think I tried to make a good impression of United States, because first the school that the Marine Corps guys got to them. They got these benches and desk from all over the island. Although, they didn't match, but they apologize for not matching. They got it ready and kids were happy, provided with enough material to start. But the biggest part was get a teacher to teach, and they don't know what to teach. Marine colonel told me just use your common sense and tell them to, you know, conduct the classes. And I told them not -- I think if you cut out the military part of the training, you'll be okay, and they agreed and the school went smoothly.

gky: So how did you use your MIS training helping the civilians on Saipan?

DO: Actually, common sense was the thing that I depended on. And language. Not that MIS training didn't help me that much. But one time, there was a trial of one of the civilian working at the infirmary that he stole some soap, or something, and I was called to interpret. I told the navy officer, "I don't know any terms of, you know, trial of defendant, and accused, and not guilty," or -- and he says, "Do the best you can." So I pretend and did the interpreting for the man. He plead guilty to stealing soap, or something, and was given a sentence of -- he didn't have to go through any confinement.

gky: What year was this?

DO: 1943 or '4, maybe. Early 1944.

gky: Did you spend a long time on Saipan?

DO: About six months, I think. A long time.

gky: And then did you go from Saipan to -- where'd you go after Saipan?

DO: Saipan and Tinian. By then it was pretty well occupied and there's no more fighting, just once and a while a straggler comes out and that's it. So we went back to Hawai'i for reassignment.

gky: But when you were on Saipan, you were there for some of the fighting?

DO: Some of the fighting was too long, toward the end.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.