Hiroki Takahashi learned to speak Japanese while attending a vocational high school in Japan.
<br><br>Takahashi's language team, attached to the 81st Division, consisted mainly of Hawaiian Japanese. While most of the members left for various campaigns, Takahashi and two other linguists remained at division headquarters. However, they eventually went overseas to the Peleliu Islands. 
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During the campaign at Palau Atoll, we did exactly [the] same things as other teams did, such as prisoner interrogator's interpretation; sorting, evaluation and translation of enemy documents, diaries, letters, maps, etc.; patrolling with Recon Troop or accompanying naval patrol; entering into caves; psychological warfare; trying to save the civilian's lives [natives].
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<br><br>When the war ended, Takahashi's immediate reaction was, "At last peace." During the Occupation of Japan, Takahashi's team helped disband the remaining Japanese military forces. He also participated in the investigation, inspection, and inventory of weapons, munitions, contrabands, and other items in Aomori Prefecture. Takahashi also acted as a personal interpreter for Col. Short, commander of the 322nd Infantry Regiment.
