<Begin Segment 11>

gky: The sub-heading of this documentary is Patriotism and Civil Liberties. What do you think the role that you played with the MIS had to do with first, patriotism, and secondly, civil liberties?

SI: Well, that's pretty obvious that we a heck of a lot to do with demonstrating our patriotism. There's no thought in my mind when I put on the uniform, I was an American soldier. I think all of us did, the people I talked with at least. We felt a strong feeling of patriotism to the country. We weren't going out to become saboteurs, there is no case of sabotage with 30,000 Japanese Americans that were put into the army. So our contribution, and I think General Shinseki, as well as Senator Inouye, put it very well. They said, "If it weren't for you guys, we wouldn't be where we are." That's correct. I mean, I'm not boasting. We did it for our children and children's children, posterity. That's why I spend a heck of a lot of time trying to spread the word of what we did. We go on television, we go on -- we write articles and do whatever we can to let the American public know this is what we did. Not only the American public, I think the third or fourth generation, I think they should know. A lot of them are not aware of what we did. As far as civil liberties, I guess the fact that here again, Senator Inouye, at our reunion said that... and he's a member of the 442nd. He was talking to our reunion which we had in 1993. He said, "You fellows who were in the military service are the real heroes because you had to go out there and fight against people of your parents' country, and yet you did it without hesitation." And we did, we didn't hesitate. That's, I think that speaks volumes in itself.

gky: You know, it's kind of hard to imagine being back fifty years ago, thinking like you did fifty years ago, but you're young, you've still got to start on what you think is going to be your life, then you get called to service. You get called to war and your whole life changes.

SI: Yes.

gky: What kinds of thoughts have you had, thinking back on that?

SI: You see, I told you I was in Japan. My grandfather retired from the railroad and so he said, "Well, why don't you come along with me," so I went to Japan with him. This was after one year of college. Then I said, "I want to get into East-West trade, you know. So, I think what I'll do is study economics there." So I got into school. Now that was my purpose. But in '41, early 1941, I got a letter from the American embassy that said, "We'd like to talk to you." So I went there. They said, "Well, the situation between Japan and the United States is very serious, and we advise you to go home." So I said, "Okay, I'll go home." I took the final exam, that's in April, took the first ship out and came back here. So there was no question in my mind I wouldn't want to stay in Japan. So I came here, and then in October of that year I was inducted.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2000 Bridge Media and Densho. All Rights Reserved.