<Begin Segment 7>

gky: There's one instance where you got a Japanese admiral to surrender. Can you describe that story to me?

DO: Yeah, that was -- by the time I reach this island, he was posted on some other really late that night. But I know I cannot go back to the ship until I complete my mission. And, actually, I was more afraid to land on the island at night, because they cannot see me too well. Daytime I can expose myself so they see me, I'm not armed, and I'm not white collar, so at least they know who I am. But at night, when I get on the shore, they don't know who's walking. They cannot see too well until I get very close to them. So, actually, I was kind of scared to go on the island. But it's my job to do it so... and then when sentry stop me, then I felt much better because I know now that he's not gonna, had intention of shooting or anything like that. So he asked me what I'm here for. So I came down to deliver the message from the commanding officer that, let your commandant know that Japan has surrendered, and I came to get his word that he would stop all the, all the units on the island to stop and accept for surrender.

gky: What was this admiral's name?

DO: This admiral was [Vice-Admiral Michiaki] Kamada. He was a very elderly man and very gentle and very understanding. And he asked me where I'm from, and I said I'm American, but I still have Japanese blood in my body. My parents from Hiroshima and education in Japanese, so he felt a little more comfortable. I think one of the best thing America did, as far as I can see, is the American government stressed teaching us Japanese. Even though we had Japanese background, but I've never studied so hard in six months, at Camp Savage, the Japanese language. I learned from a Caucasian the Japanese language, because the parents were in Japan as missionary, and they live in Japan for twenty-five years, or whatever, so they're fluent in Japanese, and I learn Japanese from them. And I'm glad. And this is one of the smartest thing America did compared to Japan. Japan did abolish all English, teaching and everything. It's the most stupid thing they did. But where America was strong was the use of the service, and that's why we were called "silent warriors."

gky: What island were you on when the, when you got the Japanese admiral to surrender?

DO: That was a conflict. I thought I was in Mille. Sometime, whoever who writes the article was mixed up there.

gky: Will you spell that island's name?

DO: M-I-L-L-E.

gky: M-I-L-L-E.

DO: But some say Taroa, so I don't know.

gky: Were you by yourself?

DO: Yes. See, the boatsman, he stays on the boat and he insisted me to take his revolver with me, but I refused to carry any weapon with me.

gky: That's pretty scary, so...

DO: Because there's nothing I can do, even I have a weapon, that's not gonna to help me. Only myself against so many people on the -- soldiers on the island, so what good that's going to do?

gky: Well, you also must have really felt that your weapon really was language, then.

DO: That's right. That's right. And I didn't go and land on the island to fight the men and get the

surrender, no. My mission was carry the word and let them know that we're here to let them know that Japan had surrendered and we're able to help them and get them home. My mission was to take them out and take them home, get them home, and that's what I did.

gky: So, what did you -- did it ever occur to you to say, "I don't want to do this; I can't do this?"

DO: You mean they say that?

gky: No, did you feel that way?

DO: No. Because the only thing I had to do is to change their thinking that they want to

die instead of going home. And they're willing to die. They thought, they want to die, they want to surrender.

gky: Well, that's kind of a lot to do, have them change their way of thinking.

DO: Yeah. So it took me about an hour and a half to two hours talk about a lot of other things, and then get to really make them a little more comfortable, and really understand what my mission was.

gky: So how did you feel when the Japanese admiral surrendered?

DO: Well, I felt relief because at least I did my, accomplish whatever I went there for. Otherwise I now would have to back to the ship, yeah, to the -- if they were willing to listen to us.

gky: What kind of a, what did your commander say when you brought in this admiral, this Japanese admiral? Did your commanding officer say anything to you, you know, like "Good job"?

DO: Yeah, well, I went back to the ship alone. I didn't bring the admiral with me to the ship. I just got his okay that he was going to let all his subordinates, all the units, to get ready to surrender. He promised me that he would do whatever we tell him to do. And that's the message I bring back to our commanding officer on the ship.

gky: And what did your commanding officer do?

DO: Oh, he just tell me, "You did a good job."

gky: And how did you feel?

DO: Well, I'm proud of myself. I took a risk and at least accomplished something that, you know. Of course, not only me, anybody would have done that if they were in the position, because there's nobody else can do it. So whether you like it or not, you do it. But it's not that -- it's my duty to do it.

gky: Well, you know, in certain situations, people probably wouldn't have done that.

DO: Oh, yeah. I'm sure any of my buddies that I was with, they would have done the same thing as I did. Nothing heroic or anything; it's just a job you have to do. That's the way I felt.

gky: Can you just talk a little bit about how your knowledge of Japan and Japanese helped you in talking with them and getting them to surrender?

DO: Yeah, well, when you talk, when I tell them I'm Japanese, you know, they feel a little more at ease, and they ask, and I ask them about their family. I take interest in their affair. I say how many children you have, and how long, and how long away, and then I tell them I'm Japanese and my parents is from Hiroshima, and get some ideas about -- primarily I talk about my parents then, because then they feel so much more at ease.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright &copy; 2001 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.