Apr 6, 2016

Sat, Apr 6, 1946: a fraternization problem

"Never talk about strangers around you--even if the remarks are cloaked in Japanese.  John learned that--the hard way-Friday night.  While waiting for the bus he commented on the large number of captains and commanders standing near us--in Japanese, of course.  Spotting a scrambled-eggs man eyeing him with an amused smile, I said to John, 'Be careful what you say' in Japanese; whereupon the commander responded with a "Hai, ki wo tuske nasai', meaning: 'Yes, be careful'.  He got a big kick out of the incident; then told us that he had taken the course under Naganuma, himself, (author of our textbook) while stationed at the embassy in Tokyo....
"The office was brightened up considerably last Thursday, when the WAC nisei translators moved in.  We've had women around, but they were all women of 30--WAVES who are now being discharged.  Judging from the stir the younger army girls created, Cmdr. Steele may have a fraternization problem on his hands."

-- Letter from my father, Washington, D.C.,  to his family, Bloomington, Kans., Saturday, April 6, 1946.

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