<Begin Segment 6>

gky: When you think back on your service, how do you feel about having served with the MIS?

DO: I think when they came to interview us for a possible transfer to MIS, my two other buddy that took basic training with me, they didn't understand much Japanese so they did go to 442nd. And if I were in their shoes, went to the 442nd, I don't think I'd be here talking to you. I'd be dead. So in that sense, I was fortunate. Even in MIS, no one, no one asked me to do any dangerous assignment -- not that I didn't ask, but most the time I was with the headquarter group or some big officers, colonel, or -- okay, sometime there's some dangerous spot, but then if you're in the war, no place is safe. I was in fairly safe place. I don't know why. I still don't know why they didn't ask me to do more, you know, dangerous thing. Because some JICPOA guy, they went up there close to combat many times. Not me.

gky: Did you want to?

DO: Not particularly. But if they asked me I would have done it.

gky: Any -- do you have any other stories you remember? Do you remember any stories in particular about maybe translating that book that you were translating, the orders, or of different people you served with?

DO: One time we were all set to send a man to Iwo Jima, and most -- because only five of us left in office, and they got assignment to go aboard ship with a group of Marine. But there's a couple days in between. So they got two days' leave, or something, came home. So we working away in the office and they came back, says, "Hey that was a short campaign." They said "No, we got two days off." Okay. And after that day, they said goodbye and they're supposed to go aboard ship. And a few hours later they came back and said, "Hey Iwo Jima was short." Said, "No, they won't let him back in." How come? Marine guard at the gate, Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans not allowed. So, some of them, Hawaiian Nisei, they're a little short-tempered and they said, "We're not going back there." Said no. Then I called the officer, commanding officer, said, "What is this? They can't get aboard ship." And this Marine officer was a little upset and they asked other young officer to escort him back aboard ship, and we had to talk real fast because some guys really mad. I would be too if I were there. But anyway, somehow it worked out that they went back aboard ship. But I said, "You know, the Marine sergeant at the front gate, it's not his fault. He's just carrying out order. But up there, you know, higher up, that's what's wrong." But he was, I think that's one instant that I just can't see unless somebody explain it to me more.

gky: How were the Hawaiian Nisei different from the mainland Nisei? You served in Hawai'i a long time, so you served with some Hawaiians.

DO: Uh-huh. They're more short-tempered. I mean, they don't put up with any of the BS. I think mainland, they are more laid back, or like me, so naave that you don't know better. But those guys, there are so many minority there that they think they own the place. [Laughs]

gky: Was there any conflict between the Hawaiian guys and the mainland guys?

DO: Not in our outfit. Ours was just fine. Everybody got along superbly, not only the guys, but families. Hawaiian family invited us for parties and get together and treated us so nice. I felt that one thing that staying there, you know, convince me, what a great bunch of people.

<End Segment 6> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.