Tokiko appreciated a buddy that has fallen in love with an Western Heavens Push administrator
The marriage prohibit represented the brand new Military Government’s unrelenting disapproval regarding erican troops and you may Okinawan women. Even after the new exclude is increased that e courtroom, the new military constantly exhausted troops not to ever feel as well amicable which have regional female. It rules is actually explained by the some of the women We interviewed.
Living in New york, Okushima Tokiko got did out of 1951 in order to 1964 on Army Corps away from Designers from the Camp Kuwae inside the Chatan. Their job taken care of compensation when homes was confiscated for legs construction.
The organization commander informed them it actually was okay to play as much as with the girls in town, but do not to find major. Besides performed they listen up within first “orientation,” nevertheless has also been written in its “information pamphlet.” erican army had so it emotions once the our country shed the war, nevertheless appeared to me personally such as racial prejudice and you will totally degrading regarding Okinawan people.
The couple is way of life to one another, however when their commanding officer found out, he had been endangered having forcible return to the fresh You.S., in addition they split. Tokiko by herself got erican, however, his ruling officer got experimented with tough to cam your aside of it.
Whenever i arrived in 1977, I considered no special culture wonder, nevertheless next year we flew out of California so you can Florida from the auto, therefore the country searched very greater
“I thought the newest trip couldn’t avoid,” appreciated Sachie (created 1931 for the Naha, today living in New york city). She would arrived at the usa immediately after their particular matrimony for the 1954 when she is actually twenty along with her partner, next throughout the Armed forces, are nineteen. Her travel began out of Light hyesingles dating site review Seashore Naval Ft in northeastern Okinawa within idea out-of Katsuren Peninsula. The brand new ship bound to have Bay area sent on the a couple thousand travelers. Onboard boat had been clips and you will dance people, so all the individuals and you can crew appreciated the new excursion. However, Sachie, experiencing big ocean-sickness, missed from all the enjoyable. “I did not consume to have ten weeks, and you can threw right up all my personal dinners. The sole things I could keep off had been sips off Coca-Cola and you may fruit slices. I was thinking I became going to perish by the point we have got to San francisco bay area.” Sachie rode the bus for the next five weeks, entirely across the country toward eastern coast. “Brand new travel out-of Okinawa was grueling, but once my personal husband’s family invited myself warmly, I happened to be happier.” Travelling 14 days to your a ship and you will five months crossing the fresh country made her extremely alert to how long she try away from home.
Most females told you that they had known America is an enormous nation, however, were still astonished once they watched it with their own eyes. Yukiko (Nevada, decades 62) said,
Just before marrying, I might spent some time working for the Okinawa within overseas twigs away from a financial and you may an investments organization. I additionally got an abundance of experience of People in the us through my partner’s mothers which resided with our company, therefore i was some always American lifestyle. Inside Okinawa you’re never ever multiple or two hours push on the sea, but in The united states i drove more than ten circumstances and you will spotted only residential property. It forced me to comprehend exactly what a small area I might come from.
Reiko (Georgia, ages 70) is furthermore content by “this new broad path one appeared to go on permanently. Riding thereon great path, I experienced the country’s energy.”
Of numerous was also surprised your America it concerned are thus different from the The united states they’d seen in the flicks. “I was thinking The usa is a place where many someone dressed in cowboy limits and you may shoes. We earliest stayed in my husband’s home town within the Nj, and that i consider being distressed because the We noticed no-one here dressed in all of them,” told you Masako (Nj, ages middle-fifties).