Densho Digital Archive - Susumu Iwasaki Interview (denshovh-isusumu

<Begin Segment 22>

RP: So, you took the MIS school at Fort Snelling?

SI: No, we were the first class in Monterey. Presidio Monterey.

RP: Language Institute.

SI: Yeah. There was the remainder of the Fort, Fort Snelling group six month class was, they came with us, same timing. They finished the school in a couple months and they went overseas. And we were actually the first group to start Presidio Monterey. And then the second group came after we did which was about a couple weeks later. So the, when we first went over there, there was a headquarter company and ourselves, our group. So, and there was a group from Hawaii and we merged together and then we, we started the first class. That was in 1946. So...

RP: And, you went, then you were sent to Japan?

SI: Yeah.

RP: What was that like?

SI: Well, it was okay. I mean, you know, the thing was, you didn't encounter any... well, you know being a Japanese, and the feeling for me was, you know, it's sure nice to see all same faces, right? All Japanese. And that's how I felt. Not that I came back home, not that kind of feeling, but it was nice to be among all your Oriental face. But that was the first thing, impression I got when I went over there. So...

RP: Did you get a, a chance to visit with any of your mother's or father's family when you were there?

SI: Oh yeah. Not the first couple years. Well, let's see. I was there second year because I remember while up in, I was up in, stationed in Ibaragi, I took a leave and to see my uncle in Wakayama. And then since that, every year I used to go down there. And it was nice. 'Cause we get a couple weeks off anyways, so that's how... the only bad thing about it was it was stupid of me for not going to see other part of Japan. The only place I saw was there. I saw Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, but then again, now coming back, I told myself, oh gee, I should have gone down to Hiroshima, Shikoku, Kyushu, Hokkaido, which I have never been. Which I would have liked to. But in those days, the only, only thing I told myself was I'm gonna go see my uncle because it's...

RP: Many, many Japanese were finding, finding it difficult to find enough food to, to just stay alive.

SI: Very much so, especially in Tokyo. 'Cause when I went over there, Tokyo was completely bombed except that palace ground area, and in front of that there was a fuel building there. That was the only part that was... well, there was couple more places where it was spared, but mostly, you know, rest of the places were all bombed out. It was amazing how they came back, but I tell you that food was one thing that was so hard to find in Tokyo. And I met this girl and her family was in, near Shinjuku, but they were eating like peanuts for dinner and I tell you, that's how bad it was. So I used to go to the commissary and buy stuff for them. Which wasn't much because the... see, we couldn't go to the commissary, we had to go to a PX, unless you have a family, you get to go to the commissary. But, it was pretty bad. And I thought my uncle's place would be bad, too, but, so I used to take all these K-rations, C-rations. I used to take two duffle bag full, used to take it down there for them. But they were doing well because my uncle was pretty well-to-do. He had his own rice paddy and he was in construction over there. So he was doing okay for himself. So, but I used to take them all the K-rations, C-rations, I used to take it over to them. Yeah...