Ben Nakamoto's childhood days growing up in his hometown of Sanger, California, were filled with memories of "all work, no play." He helped out on his family farm, tending the citrus orchards and driving the tractor. Though he had to work on the weekends, Nakamoto was able to attend Japanese school in addition to his regular English school. He and his older sister also studied in Japan. Nakamoto returned to the United States when he was 15 years old. Upon his return, Nakamoto remembers the difficulty he faced with English: "Being educated in Japan, I could barely carry out normal conversations." When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Nakamoto felt astonished that Japan had initiated the war.
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I was surprised and couldn't believe it had happened. The people of Japan had been in wars for many years and to have another wasn't what the Japanese people wanted. I knew at that time that Japan couldn't afford to start a long-term war because of lack of war materiel....I felt sorry for the people, that they had to obey whatever the government dictates, and the hardships that lay ahead.
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<br><br>Soon after being drafted into the military, Nakamoto joined the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and graduated from the language school at Camp Savage in April 1943. Upon graduation, he joined the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) and headed for Brisbane, Australia. Later, he served in Goodenough Island, Hollandia, and New Britain, where he conducted translation and interpretation work. On New Britain, he and other 112th team members faced numerous night attacks and encountered many Japanese soldiers in combat. In one such attack, while securing himself in a foxhole, Nakamoto noticed a medic coming over a hill looking for cover. Nakamoto reacted quickly and risked his own life to jump out of the foxhole and bring the fellow soldier into hiding.
<br><br>During his time on Lingayen Bay in the Philippines, Nakamoto and his partner Toshi Ogawa engaged in a battle deep in the hills of Oubucles. For this combat work, they were awarded the Bronze Star. Nakamoto was still in the Philippines when Japan surrendered in August 1945.
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I was glad that the war had ended for all the people involved. Like what I noticed most [the] difference between United States and Japan was that Americans, they would say, "Let's all go home. We're able to go home." And there was no celebration or victory. That's just the opposite of what Japan would do. We didn't celebrate for victory--[we] just wanted to go home.
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<br><br>Occupation years found Nakamoto doing liaison work with the Japanese government. Later, he assisted with the repatriation of Koreans back to their homeland. With the option of staying in Japan to continue service, Nakamoto decided to return to the United States to start life anew.
