Tokiko recalled a friend who had fell crazy about a keen Western Sky Force manager
The marriage exclude represented the fresh new Military Government’s unrelenting disapproval out of erican soldiers and you can Okinawan women. Even after the newest ban are raised and they elizabeth courtroom, the army constantly pressured troops to not ever be too friendly that have regional feminine. Which coverage is actually demonstrated by some of the women I interviewed.
Residing New york, Okushima Tokiko got has worked out of 1951 so you’re able to 1964 on Army Corps of Designers during the Camp Kuwae in Chatan. Their particular employment cared for compensation when homes is actually confiscated to possess ft structure.
The firm commander told all of them it was all right to play around towards the girls in town, but do not to get significant. Besides performed they listen up inside their 1st “direction,” but it has also been printed in its “guidance brochure.” erican military got so it emotions as the our very own country missing the battle, nonetheless it did actually me such as for example racial prejudice and you will totally degrading of Okinawan individuals.
The couple is living together, but once his commanding administrator found out, he had been endangered that have Frauen Guatemala forcible come back to brand new U.S., in addition they broke up. Tokiko herself got erican, but his commanding officer had attempted difficult to cam him out from it.
When i found its way to 1977, I experienced zero special culture shock, although the coming year we flew off Ca to help you Florida by vehicles, while the nation searched extremely wider
“I imagined this new trip couldn’t avoid,” appreciated Sachie (created 1931 for the Naha, now surviving in New york). She’d reach the united states once their matrimony during the 1954 whenever she try twenty along with her husband, after that on Military, try nineteen. Their own journey began of Light Seashore Naval Feet within the northeastern Okinawa at suggestion off Katsuren Peninsula. New ship likely to possess San francisco bay area transmitted regarding two thousand passengers. Up to speed motorboat were films and you can dance events, therefore every guests and you may team liked the newest travels. However, Sachie, enduring big water-illness, skipped out on all the enjoyable. “I would not consume getting ten days, and put upwards every my food. The only things I will keep down was basically sips from Coca-Soda and apple slices. I was thinking I was gonna perish once we got to Bay area.” Sachie rode the fresh coach for another five months, entirely across the country into the eastern shore. “The newest travels from Okinawa ended up being intense, however when my personal partner’s household members invited myself passionately, I was happy.” Travel 2 weeks on the a watercraft and five months crossing new country made their own incredibly alert to how long she are off home.
Lots of women told you they had known The united states try a large country, however, remained surprised when they spotted it along with their own eyes. Yukiko (Las vegas, years 62) said,
Just before marrying, I might did when you look at the Okinawa from the to another country twigs regarding a lender and you can a trading and investing company. I additionally had enough experience of Us citizens by way of my partner’s mothers exactly who resided with us, thus i are some accustomed American life. During the Okinawa you happen to be never more than one otherwise a couple of hours push from the water, but in America i drove more ten instances and spotted simply home. It forced me to realize just what a little area I might come from.
Reiko (Georgia, many years 70) is also happy by the “the new wider street that did actually embark on forever. Operating thereon wonderful road, I believed the nation’s power.”
Of several was in fact also astonished that the America they came to is thus unlike the newest The united states they had observed in the movies. “I thought The united states was a place where many individuals used cowboy caps and footwear. We very first stayed in my husband’s home town in New jersey, and i think of being distressed as I watched nobody indeed there wearing all of them,” said Masako (Nj-new jersey, decades mid-fifties).
