<Begin Segment 17>

BH: Now after you... now the war was over, you've, kids are born, did you get involved in any Japanese Americans organizations?

DH: When I first came to Portland, my brother got me into Oregon Nisei Veterans. So I got in, I designed their logos and did all their annual cards, you know, for our banquet and so on. And I joined the JACL. And later on I joined the Nikkeijinkai.

BH: Now why was it that your brother and you were in Oregon Nisei Vets instead of the regular veterans association?

DH: Well, I'm in DVA for a long time, which I was life member. But I didn't want to join the Foreign Wars or American Veterans. Because I thought I might as well just back one organization. I enjoyed helping them out.

BH: Probably knew more of the people.

DH: Yeah, met more young guys. They had their own parties and so on, so it was okay.

BH: Tell us about Nikkeijinkai. What's that about?

DH: Well, I've been a member for a long time. I helped out, and I think they do a good job watching over different projects and different, like cemetery, they take over, help take over and they hired gardeners and did everything to improve more areas. Nisei Vets had different program on Veterans Day and Labor Day and had different group where we met all different cemetery and laid flowers. JACL, they had parties. [Laughs] Because I just was on, mostly I was on scholarship committee, and try not to get on the other thing. I had too much to do myself, so I didn't want to join too many clubs.

BH: Now the scholarship committee you're referring to, is that the Japanese American community scholarship for...

DH: Well, that's where we end up. Before we, GT JACL, they had their own. But somehow I got involved to get it into a community scholarship, and I gave scholarship to non-Gresham parents, and then I got the holy... he said, "You're supposed to pick them." I said, "No, we're picking the best scholar for GT, you know. We got the best scholar." But they didn't like it, because they had to pay more than they thought they were going to pay.

BH: And the cemetery that you're referring to that's the Japanese section, near Rose City Cemetery?

DH: Yes. They worked on it trying to make it better because they have only certain, so many plots. But now the lawyers and so on, they got together and they figured they'd move the fence so they can get another row of plots in there. So it's still open.

BH: And what about your church involvement?

DH: Oh, yes. Massie took the kids in when they were young, barely walking, and because she's, the whole family's in Epworth. And eventually George Azumano's wife, first wife, Ise, she kept bugging me and bugging me and finally got me to go to church, so that's how I started. [Laughs] Then I think Reverend Chet got me my Baptism.

BH: Chet Edwards?

DH: Uh-huh. So I'm there.

<End Segment 17> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.