Sato, Arthur Hitoshi: my Royal Canadian Army Service Corps recollections (May 21, 2008)

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Interviewee: Sato, Arthur Hitoshi, b. 1934

An interview/narrative of Arthur Hitoshi Sato's experience during World War II. Interview took place on May 21, 2008.

Rank: Sergeant.

Interviewer: Pratt, Will

ABSTRACT: Sergeant Arthur Hitoshi Sato Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Sato_A_0595_01.mp3 0:28 Father from Yamakata Japan, Mother from Pittsburgh 1910, her father from Niigata. 1:37 Father Grocery Salesman, came in mid-twenties. 2:20 One Sister. 2:45 Parents divorced. 3:00 He in custody of nuns on Cordova Street 3:40 Strathcona Primary School in Vancouver. 4:35 Japanese Language School after public school. 5:40 Spring 1942 Mounties took his father away. 6:20 Reunited later in the year. 6:50 Spring 1942 he went to Greenwood with the sisters. 7:15 Train to Greenwood an early memory. 7:50 Remember siren at the end of the war (VJ). 8:40 Pub packed with Caucasian celebrators. 10:40 Father first man to secure employment in Lumber camp for Ukrainian. 11:40 Lived in Hotel. Cold in the winter. Floor of 10 families, 1 lavatory. 12:40 Went to Sacred Heart School up to grade 8. Then to public school. 13:00 A different culture with the Caucasians in high school. 13:50 Father Quigley from Vancouver days recollected. 16:00 1947 Father and him opt to go back to Japan. 16:40 Had to go straight from the train to the ship as Vancouver was still off limits. 18:00 Yokohama bombed out when he arrived. 18:30 Good relations with Americans . 19:45 As a foreigner in Japan he was entitled to certain rations. 20:05 Line-ups for everything in those days. 20:22 "One countries prosperity is contingent on another countries war." 22:20 No job or money, it was suggested that he join the army. He did so in Japan. 23:05 2nd Cdn Administrative Unit receives him, and he works for them. 24:10 Enrols in 1953. 25:00 Incident with Marines and Japanese Army Veteran with his friends ashes. 26:50 Canadian troops in Japan. 28:00 August 1954 Landed in Vancouver International coming home, hadn't seen mother in years. 29:00 Camp Borden for training, cold. 30:35 1957 to United Nations in Egypt. (UNEF1) 33:05 Stationed in Gaza. 35:59 Nationalities spread through HQ. 38:30 Only contact with Egyptians who he worked with. 38:45 Went to the pyramids on leave. 39:45 Felt that ?Palestinian? problem couldn't be changed by UN. 40:45 Made good use of the canteen. 41:20 Canadian Donkey drinks beer. 42:05 Theft of Machine Guns by locals. 44:00 Meeting Israeli Paratroopers. 45:15 March 1960 on his way to Germany NATO Brigade (4CIBG). 45:55 1 Transport Coy Soest Germany, Fort Chambly 47:50 Beaver Newspaper 51:50 Met his wife in Germany. 52:00 Administrative duties. 52:45 1968 August Russians invade Czech. 53:50 Wife worked in officer's mess as waitress, he met her at pub downtown. 55:00 Had to get married twice: 1 Burgomaster 2 RC Priest 57:00 American rations better than British 58:15 Wife's impression of size of Canada 58:40 Didn't want to go to his second tour in Germany 58:50 Stayed in mail room for his second tour. 1:00:00 To Esquimalt with the Navy. 1:04:45 Times when he felt that he was held back due to ethnicity. 1:06:00 Father doesn't return to Canada, despite his sons claims that things were different. 1:07:40 Worked at William Head after retirement.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Will Pratt collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 39.76, -98.5
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (WAV) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • SAH_595
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • September 24, 2009
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2009. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI

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