<Begin Segment 34>

TI: Well, later on we're going to talk with him together so we can talk a little bit more about that, but I wanted to sort of end the interview. Something that struck me as you told me about sort of in Europe how you led the boys and then even this whole episode with clearing Shiro's name, what strikes me is that even fifty years later, in some ways, you're still taking care of your men, that you're still looking out for them. And I was going to ask you, do you feel that way? Do you still feel responsibility for your men and to take, take care of them?

SK: It's strange I still have that feeling. So every now and then when we have a convention or get together like this, I make sure that, I want to make sure that everybody is okay. So last -- when was that? Couple years back when we had this reunion here, I called the 2nd Platoon members all together, those who were still alive. We had a great time talking about old times, and I wanted to make sure that everybody was okay up to that point. So I feel that way because they were responsible in saving my life, too. If it weren't for them, I think I would have been dead a long time ago, too. So I feel for them and I think they feel for me, too, so I'm very happy.

TI: Were there some members that after the war had a hard time adjusting sort of psychologically and did you know about that and did you try to help some of them?

SK: Not to that extent, yeah. I guess if there were any reports as such, I guess I would have jumped in and tried to do something, but there is a book published during our training -- at the end of our training. It's called the Album, Story of the 442, something like that. In it Kashino writes, "I'm glad I had an NC, noncom, like you," or something like, "Thanks very much." So we really had a very close tie. We respected each other. So I didn't know what he wrote at that time because the books were, the book was passed around and I sent it home, (thereafter). When I went home and saw this, Kashino's writing, I said, "Son-of-a-gun. I guess we did respect each other."

TI: One other thing, as sort of the leader of this group, for the boys who didn't come back, did you continue, did you go and try and meet with the families of some of the boys and talk with them?

SK: Yes, yes, we met. Especially those on the big island, yeah. And, of course, I don't know where the boys are. They're all scattered now. The last time I was in Seattle I saw one of the Seattle boys' name -- I mean, the grave at the same grave site where Kashino is buried right now. His name is Yukio Sato, yeah, so I paid my respect to him over there. I wanted to speak with anyone of the family, but I didn't have a chance.

TI: Because again, that goes back to the responsibility you feel for all the people, all the men, the ones who lived and died.

SK: Yeah. At least I want to let them know, as far as I know, how they got killed. But I'm really happy that those guys that we worked together are not mentally ill or anything, at least most of them are physically well so I'm really happy.

TI: Okay. Well, thank very much for your time.

SK: Thank you.

TI: This was a very good interview. I really enjoyed it.

<End Segment 34> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.