Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/374/

Conditions aboard U.S. transport ship while being deported from Peru

Once we got on the ship, the women and children were put in a small cabin up on deck and the men were put down below. And like older kids, like myself, we were put down below, too, with the men. And we were only allowed to go on deck twice a day for ten minutes; and during that time the women and children had to stay inside the cabin. And it took us twenty-one days to go from Callao through the Panama Canal to New Orleans. And so during that time we never got to see the family, the rest of the family.

Oh, it was terrible because it was so crowded. There were, there were bunks that you can fold, metal bunks with canvas, and you can fold 'em. And so, so during the day you can fold those bunks and then you have a little room but during the night when you bring the, those bunks down you can barely walk through it. Once we got to New Orleans, the women and children were let off the ship first and they were marching to a warehouse like. And they were, they were told to strip and stand in line naked. And then they were sprayed with insecticide, some kind of insecticide and then they would shower and they were put on the train. And then the men went through the same process. And that's the first time we saw the rest of the family together.


United States Army World War II

Date: October 26, 2003

Location: Washington, US

Interviewer: Alice Ito

Contributed by: Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Interviewee Bio

Nisei male. Born June 6, 1930 in Callao, Peru. Grew up in Peru, raised by both parents and grandparents. During World War II, taken with parents to the United States on a U.S. troop transport ship. Lived in the Crystal City internment camp, Texas, until family moved to work at Seabrook, New Jersey, a produce work company camp. Drafted into the army in the 1950s, even though considered an illegal alien, and served in Germany. Raised a family in Chicago, Illinois, and San Jose, California after military discharge. In recent years, attended several pilgrimages to Tule Lake incarceration camp, California, as well as reunions of Japanese Peruvians. Involved in the Campaign for Justice, an effort to obtain redress for Japanese Latin Americans. He passed away on July 31, 2018 at age 88. (July 2018)

*The full interview is available Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Ito,Susumu “Sus”
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Animosity between the Hawaiians and the mainlanders

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Ito,Susumu “Sus”
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Being scared during combat

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Ito,Susumu “Sus”
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Never feared that he wouldn’t come back home

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Ito,Susumu “Sus”
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

On saving the Lost Battalion

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Ito,Susumu “Sus”
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Coming home to his mother after the war

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Ito,Susumu “Sus”
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Getting a PhD under the G.I. Bill

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Ito,Susumu “Sus”
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Feeling at peace with himself

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Yamashiro,Michelle
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Grandfather loved to tell her stories of her great-grandfather Arakaki

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Yamashiro,Michelle
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Prosecution of Japanese Peruvians during the war

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Sekimachi,Kay
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Sekimachi,Kay

Thriving art culture at camp

(b. 1926) Artist

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Sekimachi,Kay
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Sekimachi,Kay

Leaving everything behind

(b. 1926) Artist

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Fischer,Takayo
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Fischer,Takayo

The Emotional Toll of Being Incarcerated in Camp during World War II

(b. 1932) Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress

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Fischer,Takayo
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Fischer,Takayo

Sister’s Trauma from being Incarcerated during World War II

(b. 1932) Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress

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Yamada,Mitsuye
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Yamada,Mitsuye

FBI agents came to the house while parents were gone

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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Yamada,Mitsuye
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Yamada,Mitsuye

Mother was ordered to speak English during FBI house search

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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