THE HAWAI'I NISEI STORY
Americans of Japanese Ancestry During WWII

Ronald Oba
F Company, 442nd RCT

On Sunday, the Oba family is having hotcakes for breakfast. They hear noises but attribute it to fireworks or military exercises. Their house shakes, sending Ronald out the door to investigate.

He heads towards billowing black smoke. From the water’s edge, he witnesses the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

At first he is angry, then ashamed. As the authorities begin taking away Japanese community members, he is apprehensive.