Coming home to his mother after the war

Growing up in segregated schools Feeling prejudice while looking for jobs Joining the army Generosity of the Italians Animosity between the Hawaiians and the mainlanders Being scared during combat Never feared that he wouldn’t come back home On saving the Lost Battalion Coming home to his mother after the war Getting a PhD under the G.I. Bill Invited to teach at Harvard by his boss Feeling at peace with himself

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We were there over a year — I was so happy to get back. I still had not told my mother what I had gone through, I just said everything was fine. Here I am intact and in one piece. By that time she was so glad to see me that she completely accepted me back and I don’t think she even listened to what I told her.

Date: January 3, 2015
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Lily Anne Y. Welty Tamai
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

442nd family military post-war veteran World War II