<Begin Segment 10>

SG: And after you joined the military, you said you served some time in Tokyo?

HU: Yes.

SG: How was that going back to Japan for you?

HU: Exciting though, very, very exciting, and I knew that I get to see friends, old classmate and, of course, mother and sister and, of course, my brothers are working for GHQ, so that was, we didn't know for a while that I could get to see family because we couldn't tell our missions or, what do you call it, actions. And somehow much earlier that I have written to them after this training most likely that I be sended to Korea so wait for my communications, but I could not tell anything to anybody. And on the way, we arrived at Yokohama and got on the trains, and I caught conductor, a railroad conductor and gave the carton of cigarettes and some candies and asked him to deliver the message to my brother, just handwritten message, and he did. And I think the second day in camp, Asaka camp near Tokyo, my entire family, my brothers bring my mother from Wakayama. Then the entire family, my mother and sister, all came to see me in the camp. And at that time, I, when you're heading for the war, so your life is no guarantee even for tomorrow, so this, I felt this was my last chance maybe to see the entire family.

SG: So a happy and sad moment.

HU: Oh, yeah. Seeing them was happy, but thinking that this may be the last time. Even my brothers, American brothers, yeah, he gave me this odd encouragement. He said, "You may be killed, but don't get shot from behind, just like a, you are U.S. Army." In other words, don't be coward, fight like a man. I just shake my head, easy for you to say, you know. [Laughs] But it was a happy moment though. Then I didn't get a job in the Tokyo area, so they sent me to Okinawa and got fourteen, fifteen months, rest of my entire, my army life was spent in Okinawa as an interpreter, bodyguard for the commanding officer regiment. I served in the 29th Infantry Regiment.

SG: How was your experience?

HU: Yes. You know, that's, even I could say to anybody this, but that two years of my military life is the most valuable time in my life, two years. You know, when you come from Japan, you already feel little inferior complex in America, look at the Americans. I felt that way when I came from Japan. They are big and smart looking, all that, so I had a feeling too. Most of Japanese or Kibei those days felt just the same way. Even Kibeis told the Nisei, "We felt the same way because we didn't speak English. We are a little behind." So, most of the time, all the Niseis, Kibeis, they group together themselves and kind of disassociate with the Nisei group. And when I came to United States, I was determined to become a member of this Japanese American community, and I have to mingle with Nisei even though I didn't speak English, so I seek the help from Nisei, you know. "I'm here, I don't know what to do. I'd like to mingle with the Nisei people and how to do it." And I remember, probably you don't know, Doctor Marumoto and Shingo Hongo was two persons that I talked to, and they gave me support and advice. So I'm really grateful that I'm accepted by the Nisei group in the Japanese community as a member, and I do serve a lot of community organizations and volunteer works, but I feel this is my repayment to Nisei people, Japanese American communities. Without them, I had a really difficult time. I know the friends, the Kibeis, but they still kind of shy away from Japanese American communities and Nisei groups, and my life is a happy one because I know the Nisei group will still support me and accepted me as a member.

SG: In what ways do they support you?

HU: Mostly for the, take me to the group gatherings and explain to me the American life, how to behave, and all kind of daily things. So then just knowing that, hey, I'm becoming member of this group, one more step, one more step, so I'm happy.

SG: You mentioned that serving in the military for two years was the most valuable experience. Why was it such a valuable experience for you?

HU: I say this because most of Kibeis, they kind of separate from American communities or Nisei groups. The serving with the American young men made me feel that, oh, they're not smarter than I am. I'm just as good as they are, and I find out their thinkings, their behaviors, and all that things. So I start thinking that I'm a little boy from Japan, I'm just as good as they are. And I'm just, member of this group, so that made my life later on, made me just really comfortable, not separating myself from Americans, American society, which most of Kibei don't get. You know, you live twenty-four hours a day, two years with them, you get this feelings. I don't know whether it's only me or what, but it's valuable in life, just thinking that American is no different from me. That's the reason I say that. You cannot buy that type of education.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2003 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.