Thin Wood Walls

Mike leaves for the war. Later that same day, Joe is shocked when his father walks into the barracks. For whatever reason, Mr. Hanada has been released from his separate incarceration and reunited with his family. Joe’s father is sad that Mike has joined the army and won’t be able to see him, but he’s grateful for reuniting with his family. Joe resolves to be more like his patient, upstanding, and brave father.

Mr. Hanada gets a job with the farming team. A soldier shoots a man on the crew, Shoichi James Okamoto, on suspicion of trying to escape. An investigation is demanded, but the soldier is found innocent of any wrongdoing to Okamoto.

The Hanadas scour the newspapers for any sign of Mike’s unit, the 442nd. They hear news that Japanese American regiments have been fighting heroically overseas. Many Japanese Americans are losing their sons to the war, and Joe worries about Mike dying. Joe continues his correspondence with Ray, though it’s been years since they’ve seen one another. Ray reports that a new family has moved into the Hanada household.

Sandy bids goodbye to the Hanadas as he is being shipped to Japan for the war. Mike writes to let his family know that he’ll be landing in Italy to fight with the 100th Battalion, a famously decorated Nisei unit.