<Begin Segment 1>

gky: The date is December 14th, the year 2000. We're in L.A. with Don Oka, O-K-A. Don, what year were you born in?

DO: 1920, January 5th.

gky: Oh, birthday coming up.

DO: Yeah.

gky: And how long were you with the MIS [Military Intelligence Service]?

DO: I went there around 194 -- end of 1942 to December 1945.

gky: So, three years.

DO: Uh-huh.

gky: And, when you were discharged, what rank were you?

DO: Discharged at Fort Lawton, Colorado.

gky: And what rank were you?

DO: Tech sergeant.

gky: Tech sergeant?

DO: Uh-huh.

gky: Alaska was one of the first combat zones that MIS people were sent to, and you were sent to Alaska, right?

DO: Yes. I was, I was the second group to go to Alaska. First group went there for Attu Campaign, and after that they needed more interpreter quickly, and I was at Savage, Camp Savage, studying, and they said, although we were in the middle of the class, after only three months, they asked our class, about thirty of them, to go to Alaska.

gky: But you were all Kibei. You must have been, since you spent twelve years in Japan, from the time you were five to the time you were seventeen, you must have been pretty well versed in Japanese.

DO: Yes, I was stronger in Japanese than English. As a matter of fact, even today, I think I speak better Japanese than English.

gky: And you must have been in the top class in Camp Savage.

DO: Yes, Class 4 and most the students in there were, if I'm not mistaken, say 60 or 70 percent Kibei.

gky: Okay. What was Alaska like?

DO: Alaska, just cold. [Laughs] But it was good experience to get to know the people and I with the Alaskan Scouts because I was assigned to them, and I did enjoy it.

gky: Did you interrogate people, or were you supposed to interrogate people, or translate documents? What were your duties?

DO: My job with the Alaskan Scout was to land fairly early, and then to advance with the patrol, close to the front and wherever we face resistance from the enemy, we pinpoint where they are, and that information supposed to go back to headquarter and somehow we supposed to take them out.

gky: How much did you wind up doing on Alaska? You went to Kiska, right?

DO: Yes.

gky: Not Attu?

DO: No. Attu veteran met us in Anchorage, Alaska, and they more or less trained us for coming campaign. And they told us how tough Attu was, and Kiska would be much tougher. So they prepared us for that. But fortunately no one was there.

gky: So what do you mean, "No one was there"?

DO: That air force insisted that there's nobody on the islands anymore, the last two, three weeks before the invasion. But the navy demanded that somebody had to be there because we had surrounded the islands all these month. There's no way of escaping. They've got to be there. So the invasion took place and when we landed, Canadian troops and U.S. landed from opposite direction and found nobody. And it was early and foggy, and Canadian and U.S. mistook each other for Japanese and start shooting and there was some casualties.

gky: Gee, so they snuck out of the harbor.

DO: Yes, uh-huh. I don't know when. But after the incident, when the whole thing was over, I heard from Japanese friend that said that they used a ship during foggy day and snuck in there and took them out, evacuated.

gky: So Alaska wound up kind of being a bust for you, I mean, in terms of a combat zone.

DO: Yes, but I was kind of happy to see nobody there, because before the landing, everybody said this was going to be the toughest. I even saw Signal Corps had motion picture group there taking pictures. These are the guys that took picture of Africa desert victory and same group said this is going to be even better pictures, you know. And they were aboard the ship. They stopped to interview us, and for an instant there was -- after four or five minutes, our captain rushed over and said, "Hey, hey, these boys are off limit to the press and any kind of information given out, so cut this out." And we were cut out from the interview.

gky: But it was just you Nisei, you Nisei soldiers?

DO: Yes, uh-huh. They thought we were Indians at first, and they asked us what we were doing, and we told them what we think, and what do you think of the coming invasion, and we're just kidding. And these officers, Signal Corps officers, said, "This is going to be a very good movie," so, you know. Then we're cut off.

gky: Were you cut off because you were Nisei soldiers and this was the first time you actually had been in a combat zone?

DO: No, because all the Niseis, the interpreters, were off limit to any press people. No information given out, supposed to be secret.

gky: So in terms of what you were supposed to do, did you then say, "Oh yeah, we're going to interpret documents or we're going to interrogate prisoners," or what you really were -- your assignment really was? Did you let the Signal Corps people know, or did...

DO: No, we didn't. We didn't talk about our work. They thought we were one of the troops and we let it go at that.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.

<Begin Segment 2>

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.

<Begin Segment 3>

gky: Because you had a brother, you had two brothers in the Japanese military. Can you tell me what happened when your brother got killed?

DO: I was still in Saipan and Tinian, but I didn't know they were in Japanese army. I knew they were about the age to be drafted, but I didn't know anything about it. But after the war, I found out that he was killed on Saipan, back in -- one of those kamikaze pilot, and that's my younger brother. He was a schoolteacher in Japan. And he was very dedicated. He was a very nice young man and I'm sure he did what he had to do as a Japanese.

gky: You said that sometimes you'd look up at those planes and you'd wonder if your brother was in one of them.

DO: But I didn't know he was a flier, you know. I didn't know he was a pilot then. But after the war, after it was all over, found out. I still remember those nights, air raid. We have to get up and hustle and it happened often, and I wondered if one of them was my brother.

gky: Did you go and visit a shrine? Didn't you go back to the shrine of your family?

DO: Yes. The first time I went back to Japan after the war, I visited Yasukuni Shrine. That's where the Japanese war deads are. The place, I pay respect to [inaudible] for the sacrifices because, even in this case, I think most of the Japanese, including my brother, he didn't hate me. They did their job for their country, Japan. And I merely did my job as a citizen of the United States, and did my part, and I'm proud of mine. I'm sure he was proud of his. But he didn't hate me. But I surely didn't want him to die.

gky: Was your brother a Japanese citizen or an American citizen?

DO: I think a dual citizen.

gky: When you, let's see. You not only had one brother in, or two brothers in the Japanese army, you had two brothers who also fought for the MIS in World War II.

DO: Uh-huh.

gky: How did it feel to have, you know, three of you were in the United States; two of you, as you later discovered, were in Japan. You really had a family that -- not a military family, but you all happened to be in the same war.

DO: Right. That's a funny thing, but during the war I always felt that someday, sometime, that I might face my younger brother because he was there. But I held that back. I didn't say anything to anybody. I just said -- I kept it to myself and I did my best the whole time. Maybe then after discharge when I got sick, the doctor at the hospital in Arizona told me that, "You should have let those things out, it would have been better for you and that brought you down to where you were physically and mentally, had a breakdown.' And he said if you only let it out, it would be much, much better. But I didn't know that.

gky: There were a lot of guys who had brothers or cousins, or some sort of relative, on the Japanese side even though they were fighting for the United States' side. How did you feel, in terms of serving your country? I mean, you were drafted. You didn't enlist. And so, in a way, you had to serve your country.

DO: You know, I, myself, got drafted and served and kept everything to myself and I did my best even though soldiering is not one of my favorite pastimes. I did my best at all times, and I'm proud of that. And, as I said before, as you get older, you get more prouder than ever because this is one great country we serve, you know. And no doubt about that one, because even after I got out of the hospital, they took excellent care of me and still here.

<End Segment 3> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.

<Begin Segment 4>

gky: What kind of documents did you translate?

DO: Mostly diaries and company order, or something like that. But one important one was Japan's directory of heavy industry where the war-making part is, and this was in Hawai'i. It was assigned to about half dozen of us, and about half a dozen officers. We're supposed to translate these document as quickly as we can, so we worked long hours and whenever we find factory's location, we dot it on the map and it went to army command, I'm sure. But I don't know if they use it or not. But after the war, when we landed in Japan, they were flattened. The city was bombed with a fire bomb and all that. I don't know if they used the hard work of meticulous translating and indicating where the factories are.

gky: Well, because you're Kibei, you probably could read sosho pretty easily.

DO: Yes, uh-huh.

gky: Were there any diaries that you remember translating, any passages that were poignant to you or that you identified with, or that you saw, I guess, how human the Japanese were?

DO: No, I haven't had that much chance of doing diary because this heavy industry directory was two volume and it took, I don't how long. More than ten months straight, and about six or seven of us and another half a dozen officers. It was a big assignment, and I thought we were doing a good job.

gky: That's huge. Ten months. That's a lot. What do you think your greatest contribution was in the MIS in terms of all your translating? You didn't interrogate prisoners, did you?

DO: No.

gky: And, other than what you did with the civilians on Saipan, what do you think your greatest contribution was?

DO: I think to both sides, by serving loyally and doing our best, all the Nisei have done is one great thing of letting people in the United States know that we're Americans. And I'm so proud of these young guy that came out from camp, relocation center, concentration camp, to volunteer. And to even this day, I know my friend Harry [Akune] and Ken [Akune] and Chris Ishi, and many others that came, I saw them the first day they came into Camp Savage to our barrack. I still can't believe they have done it, because I think that's the most beautiful, noble act I have ever seen of any American. If I were in their shoe, I very much doubt I would have done it. I might have, but I doubt it.

gky: Yeah, that was pretty tough when you think that their parents were behind barbed wire and that they would volunteer.

DO: Yes. Even today, I think of these boys in the Fairfax Avenue where a lot of Jewish people are, just in case we went to war against Israel, how many would take up their guns to fight. Or my neighbors, many Mexicans American; what if we went to war with Mexico? I wonder if my neighbor would take up arms? I doubt it.

gky: Yeah, I hadn't really thought of it in those terms.

DO: So, this -- I think what we did at that time we may not feel like this much, but as I get older, I do realize it, because even when I got out of the hospital and went to art school and was working, there was a client came into our office and they were in the conference room, and after it was all over, they left and one of the guy that was in there, account executive, he said to me, "You know what happened in there?" I says, "No." The owner of the studio was asked if that man in front, meaning me, can be trusted. And this owner said to the client, "That little guy is more American than all of us in this room put together, and if you don't believe that, he doesn't want the job." And we got the job. And we did a good job for the company.

gky: How long after the war was that? What year was it after the war?

DO: Probably -- I was in the hospital for seven, so after that five more years.

gky: Twelve years?

DO: Probably twelve years after the war.

gky: Gee, doesn't that surprise you that twelve years after the war that attitude still existed?

DO: Yeah. And this company was a big company in Southern California, still there.

gky: Gee. Will you talk a little bit about being in the hospital, and the tuberculosis and how long you were laid up?

DO: I was -- after the, anyway, after I was discharges, I didn't know what to do and decided to go to art school and I wasn't feeling that healthy, sick most of the time and going to school, then I got kind of sick. So, I -- Japanese doctor checked me out and he says, "I think you got chest problem," you know. So in order to get well, since you are a veteran, the hospital should take care of it. And they took me to Long Beach Hospital, Naval Hospital. And, from there, they sent me to Arizona. And I stayed there for about seven years. But at that time I had surgery on my chest and my right side lung collapsed to get me well.

gky: Where did you get tuberculosis? Somewhere overseas?

DO: My service record claimed that I must have contacted overseas, because my case was far advanced, and must have happened in service because my disabilities are considered service connected.

[Interruption]

gky: This is tape two with Don Oka, O-K-A, in Los Angeles on the 14th of December, year 2000. You were talking about being in the hospital. Can you just -- what else was it like? You were flat on your back for seven years? That's so hard to believe.

DO: I went to veteran's hospital in Whipple, Arizona, and just laying on back. And I looked around; there were whole bunch of sick people there, and I couldn't believe some from World War II and all these people, and they are just getting care by the veterans. I was amazed how well they were treated. But being on the back that long, it was a learning period for me. Because when I was in the service, I was so naive. And if somebody asked me to stand, you know, at some islands, if they told us, I'd still be there. I mean, I didn't know what to do by myself, you know. The hospital was something else. They took care of me.

gky: You know, that gives you a lot of time to think...

DO: Yes.

gky: ...and think about the last few years, about being in the war, about -- what kinds of things did you think about?

DO: I thought about my younger brother. I thought about father, mom, and all the other brothers and what I could have done. But most of all, I didn't think I was going to come out. I was that sick. I think I was a hundred pounds. So had to start taking new medication. Streptomycin was just discovered and I was one of the guinea pig to take it, and I think it did help me. But later, doctor said I need surgery, so I had it. And that was a very tough thing for me because being only hundred pound. I remember after the surgery, the doctor came up and said -- usually doctor, you think of having fine hand and everything, this doctor was huge. He said, he stuck out two finger and said, "Let me see you grab my finger and squeeze." So I squeezed, and this side the rib was gone, so he want to make sure I have enough power on that. And I squeeze. "You're fine," he said to me. "I've done all I can for you. Now it's up to you and the man upstairs." That night, the next morning, the nurse came to me and said that, "We thought we lost you last night." You know, I was that sick. But, there's two of us in the room. There's another man from L.A., African American, and he had the same kind of surgery. But I was getting better faster, and one day the nurse said, "Would you mind holding his hand?" because they were giving him intravenous feeding, so I was holding his hand. She said she would be back in a minute. I was hold his hand and all of a sudden he held my hand real tight, and I didn't understand what for. And then he let go, and the nurse came back and I said, "Something wrong here." And the nurse checked him. This man died. Right there. I couldn't believe it. He's a young guy, healthy-looking guy, and here I'm a hundred pound weakling and survived.

gky: But I guess it must have been more poignant than some of the combat zones you were in.

DO: True, because he's also veteran, you know, and right there it happened. I couldn't believe it.

<End Segment 4> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.

<Begin Segment 5>

gky: When you were in combat, can you describe that to me? I've never been in combat and I probably never will be. All I can see are movies about it. What does it feel like?

DO: You see a lot of dead body and you don't know which way the bullet's coming from. It's a weird feeling. But the only thing you think of is survival, and lucky for us we had a bodyguard most of the time with us and they were very good men. Without them, I don't think, we have a difficulty surviving.

gky: Would you explain to me what the whole bodyguard system was?

DO: They're supposed to stay with us 24 hours a day. If I had to go at night, they're supposed to come with us. But, fortunately I didn't go at night too often. [Laughs]

gky: And, what would they do? Was their only duty to make sure that other Americans didn't kill you?

DO: Yeah. Supposed to make sure that everybody realized we're on the same side. Because I remember one time in Alaska, that Alaskan Scout was briefed by a captain. I overheard. He said that to make sure when the assignment's over, he come back with you.

gky: On, up in Alaska, did you actually, were you actually in combat ever? It wasn't a combat zone for you.

DO: No. Nobody was there.

gky: So, it was really Saipan that you first came -- was there... a lot of times, I know the Kibei did a lot of translation to the documents since their written Japanese was better than the Nisei, whereas the Nisei might be able to speak. Was that the case with you?

DO: No. I was mostly with the headquarter. They never let me go that far out, so all the information coming in and we're supposed to put it together and work.

gky: You spent pretty much your formative years in Japan. Do you think that helped you understand the Japanese mentality -- their feeling towards war, their feeling towards doing their duty for their country?

DO: Huh?

gky: You spent your twelve formative years in Japan. Do you think it helped you understand -- or how did it help you understand the Japanese mentality?

DO: You know, when I was on Tinian and taking care of civilians, I was working with a Japanese doctor, and went around and did many things. He pulled me aside and he said to me, "You know something, Mr. Oka?" I said, "What?" He said, "Even the real Japanese couldn't have done better than you, the thing you're doing." And I was so proud of that.

gky: How do you think the Japanese mentality differed from the American mentality, you know, in facing the war or in serving their country?

DO: From my standpoint, viewpoint, there is no difference. I mean, one's just doing their job for their country, either side.

gky: Did you have very much contact with your other two brothers who were in the American army?

DO: Yes, uh-huh.

gky: So, you could communicate with each other?

DO: Not too often.

gky: Where were your brothers stationed?

DO: My older brother was in Wyoming and I was in most of the time Savage or overseas or someplace. And other one, he got in late, like 1945, so I don't know where he was stationed.

gky: All of you were in the MIS?

DO: Yes, uh-huh. I was switched, I think they went into MIS direct, but Isao, he was in the Quartermaster Corps for a long time, and then went to MIS later. I was in the infantry, then they asked me to go to MIS.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.

<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.

<Begin Segment 7>

gky: After the war and after the hospital, what did you go on to do? What career did you follow?

DO: After I got out of the hospital, I -- they said that I could go to school half a day. So I went to Art Center College and they asked me if I'd go up into school half a day. Said no. So I went to Chouinard Art Institute, and they said sure. So I start half a day for maybe like a year, half a day school. Then, after that, full time. In three or four years I graduated. And funny thing was, graduation was -- I graduated at summer school, and this one other teacher was there, said, "See you next semester." I said "No you won't because I'm graduating." He said, "You got a job?" I said, No." Okay, here. Go see such and such, this guy at a company. So I went there. I got a job, and it was, Thursday was graduation. And he said, "When do you want to start?" So I said, "Next Monday is fine." And I got one interview and I got a job, and never gone to an interview after that.

gky: And that was with what company?

DO: Advertising Designers. And they're one of the best company designing local [inaudible]. They won many awards.

gky: Do you think very much about -- you said both of your brothers went in the army and then got out of the army, so no one in your family has made the military a career.

DO: No.

gky: And your younger brother you said was injured?

DO: Yes, uh-huh.

gky: And can you tell me about that?

DO: The one in Okinawa? Yes. He was going to Okinawa campaign aboard ship, troop ship. I don't know from where, Kyushu probably. On the way he was bombed and the ship sank, and he was, somehow grabbed some floating debris and many of them were hanging on there. Then a U.S. strafed the plane. The survivors, and many got killed, but somehow my brother survived and went back to Japan and he didn't do too much after that. He just learned how to carve these bowl and some trays, and he did some beautiful job. And he was working for one of Japan's famous potter and made a container for him to put his ware in. And later that man became Japan's national living treasure.

gky: Anything else you can think of that you want to add about your MIS experiences?

DO: I met lot of friends and, even today, I go to the MIS meeting and I have fun. I mean, I did my part and they're really nice people, and I enjoy going to the meeting.

gky: When you and your brothers and... brothers get together, do you talk very often about the war?

DO: No, hardly...

gky: What about you...

DO: We talk about what's going on and our friends. Sometime war buddies died, or something, and we discuss it. But other than that, we talk about what's going on and some fancy or funny incident, we discuss. Try to laugh more than get real serious with it.

gky: How do you think the MIS influenced redress?

DO: With what?

gky: How do you think what the MIS, and the 442nd, and 100th did influenced redress?

DO: Redress?

gky: Yeah, influenced the apology the government gave to Japanese Americans and the compensation they gave them for sending them to camp.

DO: I think a whole lot, because if it weren't for the veterans, I don't think Senator Inouye would be there, or Senator Matsunaga. Those were two war heroes in Hawai'i. And I think those two senators done more for redress than anybody. Maybe Senator, I mean, [California] Representative Matsui and who's the other guy?

gky: Mineta.

DO: Yeah, Mineta. Those four. Because they had a friend in the right place. I mean, wasn't there a Texas representative that head the Democratic party and he was in charge of those things, and he said he lend them a hand. I think those four would not have been there if it weren't for Niseis, because -- especially in Hawaii. Those two senators, they did a great, great job and still doing it.

gky: Anything else that you can think of?

DO: What?

gky: Anything else that you want to add?

DO: No, nothing. Just thank you for interviewing me.

gky: Oh, thank you for telling us your story.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.