<Begin Segment 18>
LT: So, Sab, how did the wartime experience affect you and your sense of being a Japanese American?
SA: I don't know. Well, actually, it was... well, for the performance of the 442nd and 100th, it's a plus for me, for Japanese Americans. How the unit was the most highly decorated army unit in the history of the U.S. Army. So can't do anything but help, you know.
LT: How did you feel about yourself as a Japanese American?
SA: [Laughs] That's a tough question.
LT: I guess I'm thinking that your thoughts might have changed because you may have had some thoughts when you were a kid growing up, and now you've been in camp, you've served in the military, you returned to a community that was not welcoming. So that all revolved around being a citizen and being a Japanese American. So I'm wondering what your thoughts are now about being a Nisei in America.
SA: I don't know. It's a hard question. What would I be like if I were white? I guess I don't have an answer for that.
LT: Okay, that's okay. Did your wartime experience change you at all, do you think?
SA: It probably has, but I don't know how. I think every experience in a person's mind changes their personality some. Can't help it, but I wouldn't know how to dissect it.
LT: Okay. What can we learn, do you think, from the experience during World War II of Japanese Americans? What would you like other generations and other students in schools to know?
SA: I think the only thing I would say is just be yourself, whatever guides you, that's about all they can do. I don't think the wartime experience instilled any sudden change in my behavior.
LT: Okay. The Japanese Americans received redress, and Japanese American veterans, including you, received the Congressional Gold Medal, and much of that has happened because Nisei and Sansei have spoken out. So what are your feelings about being more outspoken? You said your family was quiet and they didn't really talk out, and they tended to accept things. What is your feeling now about speaking out?
SA: Oh, I think it's good that Sanseis are speaking up for the Niseis. I think Niseis still have that enryo syndrome, you know.
LT: I remember in 2001, there was a Veteran's Day program downtown in Hood River, and they dedicated a brick in honor of all Japanese American veterans. And during the speech, a comment was made, and it was published in the Hood River News. And you wrote a letter to correct that. Do you recall that?
SA: Vaguely. [Laughs] It was about the birthright or something like that? Yeah, I can't exactly remember. Probably wrote.
LT: So that was an example where you were correcting an error that was made by a commander who mentioned Nisei as "fighting for their adopted country," and you were very clear in your letter that this was your country of birth.
SA: Well, what do you mean by "adopted country"?
LT: Right, that was his statement.
SA: Oh.
LT: And you were correcting his statement.
SA: Oh, okay.
LT: So you have demonstrated a willingness to speak out and correct errors in the past.
SA: Yeah, very minute. [Laughs]
LT: A couple more questions. Your thoughts about the Yasui family and their role among Japanese Americans in Hood River?
SA: Did I talk about?
LT: I'm just wondering what you have, any thoughts that you have about the Yasui family and their role in Hood River?
SA: Oh, I thought they had, thinking about Mr. Yasui, I thought they had played a big role in developing the Japanese community, you know. Did I read about this in that book, Broken Twig?
LT: Stubborn Twig?
SA: Yeah. Mr. Yasui did a lot to help these farmers to get started, it sounded like.
LT: Any specific actions that you can think of?
SA: No, not really. But generally speaking, I think he was very helpful as an interpreter even, you know.
LT: Uh-huh, absolutely. So, Sab, what's important in life?
SA: I don't know what's important in life. Just keep going, just let your conscience be your guidance.
LT: Thank you very much.
SA: Thank you.
<End Segment 18> - Copyright © 2013 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.