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gky: You were with, you were first assigned to JICPOA here in Hawai'i. What did you do with JICPOA?

DO: Well, we had a job to do, translate a lot of information coming in from the front, the diaries, you know, the prisoners' diaries and some technical documents, books, and whatnot. Whatever they can pick up from the front, they'd send it to us and we would translate it. And that's why we got a lot of information that the military can use which helped a lot in occupation, in operation.

gky: When you were at Camp Savage, and then later when you were with Admiral [Chester W.] Nimitz's headquarters, you worked with mainland Nisei as well as Hawai'i Nisei. Were there any differences between the two of them?

DO: No. Of course, we got along very well, and it's the first time we work with Nisei boys here. Mostly they were from -- they're Kibeis and they were in Japan before, too.

gky: Was there a difference with the Kibei?

DO: Well, they were -- not too much difference, but I can understand their parents were interned and not like us. Their parents were interned like a prisoner in the United States and they still have to fight for the country. So I really have respect for them.

gky: Sometimes when you worked with people, you worked with people, sometimes you worked alone. What was it like to have to work alone as the only language specialist?

DO: Well, was nothing like -- I just have to do the job. That's all, you know.

gky: How were you treated when you went to the marines? You went from Admiral Nimitz's headquarters, you were assigned to the marines?

DO: Yeah. Then, well, since I was the only language specialist on the ship, I was treated very royally. In fact, I was so -- I was treated like a petty officer, so I'm enlisted man in the army.

gky: You went from JICPOA to what islands overseas?

DO: Well, from JICPOA the first time I went is with the 1st Marine Division and, actually, because I was attached to the unit and I went to Guadalcanal and Bougainville.

gky: But what did you do?

DO: Well, at that time, I went to the, I went and stayed at the [inaudible]. 1st Marine Division was getting ready to, for the next assignment which, as far as we're concerned, we were just standing by until the marines were ready to go.

gky: Were you the only language specialist with them?

DO: No, we had a few others too, four or five of us.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright &copy; 2001 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.