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RB: We're almost done. I just had a few kind of general reflection questions. So we've kind of touched on this in a couple different ways around discrimination, but I'm just curious. Like just generally, your entire life, do you feel that you've been treated differently than other people based on your identity as a Japanese American?

MA: I never felt that as I was growing up or in my career. But as I reflect upon it, I know that I tried to subdue any, I guess, reaction that would point me out. And the only reason I'm saying is that as I reflect on my personal military career, I think I was, almost to the extreme, that I was being deferential and not making a point, because I didn't want to stick out. And I think that I tried to listen to what my parents were saying, and that kind of ingrained upon me not to rock the boat. So I think that there were many opportunities that I could have been more vocal, even though I knew that, whether it was my leadership or whoever, that that is not really the course of path. But I was not, I guess, strong enough to make my voice heard. And so that is something that I've looked upon as, I could have been more local in that respect. I don't see that happening with my son and daughter. They are pretty quick to point something out. I mean, much to their chagrin sometimes, because they're not afraid to speak their word. So I'm maybe old school, and thinking that I was kowtowing too much, I think, to the establishment. I know that might sound harsh, but I think that that's what I kind of reflect upon on some things that, in the middle of the night, I wake up and I said, wow, you know what? I just saw this on the news and I sort of did the same thing, or not did anything. So maybe I should have been more vocal.

RB: And this might be related, actually, but do you think that intergenerational trauma is something that sort of exists within your own experience as a descendant of two parents that were in incarceration?

MA: I do think the intergenerational trauma exists. Not so much for me perhaps, because I did not experience the camp life, but clearly, even before PTSD was even kind of a name that we apply to these issues, but I do feel that the Issei and Nisei did have a lot of PTSD that was never shared or understood at that time. And it's a shame because we just never had the ability to understand what was happening, and never appreciated how that transferred over or carried over to other generations. Not so much, again, for me, but I know that I saw it in my father. He was a very stoic man, but I could see a lot of emotions.

RB: If there's maybe one thing that we can take from the Japanese American incarceration experience to bring that experience to future generations, what would those takeaways be from your perspective?

MA: You know, it's a sad statement that occurred to the Japanese Americans. And you hear the various refrains of "never again," "never forget." I hope that's true, but I'm not sure. So it requires the next generation to ensure that the stories are not forgotten, that any similar instances won't happen. Because democracy is very fragile, but it needs strong people to ensure that it does not get fractured. So I'm not sure if there's any particular lesson, but I do feel that what happened to the Japanese Americans during World War II can never be forgotten, and it has to be told, and it has to be in educational systems where people understand what happened. Because if not, I don't feel the local organizations, even the national organizations such as JACL is going to be effective in getting the message out to ensure that it's throughout... it needs to be incorporated curriculum, I guess, is what I'm saying, so people will never forget this.

RB: Yeah, absolutely. I think that's pretty much all the questions that I had. Were there any other things that we didn't discuss that you think we should?

MA: No, I appreciate the opportunity, and I know that this is a joint effort between Densho, which I highly revere, and I hope that the JACS resources and the opportunity that JACL has put this together has allowed this program to capture a lot of the stories from individuals. I myself never was incarcerated, so I'm only giving you a perspective like thirdhand or secondhand. But I would like to hear the testimonies of those that you were able to capture, because those are the real heroes.

RB: Great. Well, thanks again for your time, I really appreciate it.

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