Generosity of the Italians

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

Transcripts available in the following languages:

The Italians, they were very, very, vociferous. You didn’t have to learn many words before you completely understood what they were saying. They were generous with what wine they had, with what food that they could spare us, and it was quite heartwarming. I remember marching up in Italy in the hot summer, and some of the farmers or people along the trail would be passing these jugs of wine down the road, we’re all taking a swig of it. So, that was quite heartwarming to see the local population was for you. They’d always complain that “Tedeschi portate via.” The Germans took it away – which probably they did, but in war…it’s there for the taking.

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

442nd army Germans Italians military veteran wine World War II