Though born in Hawaii, Takejiro Higa spent the years from age two to 16 in Okinawa. Following his sister's request, he returned to Hawaii in 1939 to avoid conscription into the Japanese military. In July 1943, Higa and his older brother shared a tent at the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) at Camp Savage, Minnesota. Interestingly, while his brother worked hard to improve his Japanese (due to the fact that he had not spent as many years in Japan), Higa spent many nights concentrating on his English.
<br><br>Higa joined a team of U.S. invasion forces that was led by his brother and served in the Leyte and Okinawan invasions. Higa distinctly remembers one incident in late November 1944, when he was ordered to go to the corps headquarters to assist in interpreting a Japanese map. There on the wall he saw a large map of southern Okinawa--his home for 14 years and where many relatives and friends still lived. The officer who was in charge of translating this map had mistakenly assumed that the dark, concrete structures scattered throughout the land were enemy fortifications. Higa knew better and explained that they were burial tombs and crypts--a significant aspect of the Okinawan culture. Because of his explanation, the Army decided not to destroy the burial sites.
<br><br>Because of their knowledge of Japan and particularly the Okinawan dialect and culture, Takejiro and his brother won the trust of Okinawans who feared being tortured and killed by Americans. In the end, they were credited with saving more than 30,000 Okinawan civilians from death by convincing them to come out of their hiding places in caves and family tombs.
<br><br><BLOCKQUOTE><I>
Although I was involved in the Battle of Okinawa from April 1st through the end of the battle...just with the use of a portable loudspeaker and the dictionary and language, I was able to discharge my obligation as an American GI....That's my utmost satisfaction.
</I></BLOCKQUOTE>
<br><br>In one instance, Higa recognized a refugee suspected of being a Japanese soldier as his middle school teacher. The teacher in turn remained too shocked to say anything, never imagining that he would encounter a former student on the "other side." On another occasion Higa realized that he was interrogating two former classmates. Not recognizing him, the two prisoners spurned questions until they were given something to eat. It was then that Higa revealed his identity.
<br><br><BLOCKQUOTE><I>
They looked up at me in total disbelief and then started crying. They thought that they would be shot when the questioning was over, but they realized that with a classmate as the interrogator, their lives would now be spared. They cried in happiness and relief. That hit me very hard and I, too, could not help but shed some tears.
</I></BLOCKQUOTE>
<br><br>After World War II, Higa continued to serve in the military during the Korean War. After being discharged from the military, he returned to school and eventually finished a degree in accounting. He worked for the Internal Revenue Service until his retirement.
