Barrett Ramos and Hazel Diaz
Recorded
June 6, 2022
Archived
June 6, 2022
19:18 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
ddv001766
Description
Barrett "Butch" Ramos [no age given] tells his new friend Hazel Diaz (36) the story of his Uncle Willy, a marine who defended his platoon against hundreds of Japanese soldiers in the Battle of Saipan during WWII.Subject Log / Time Code
Butch (B) says he will be taking about his Uncle Willy - a marine who defended his platoon against hundreds of Japanese soldiers in the Battle of Saipan during WWII.
B says all his uncles served in the military. He says when the men in his family got together and told war stories, the women and kids were not allowed to listen but he would get beer for his uncles and listen in.
B continues to read from the article that explains the incident where his uncle killed more than 200 Japanese soldiers.
B explains that both the Japanese government and the FBI have tried to buy the sword that a Japanese soldier used against Uncle Willy but he refused to sell it.
B reflects on how the Army currently treats native Hawaiians as opposed to back when Uncle Willy served. B says his father died trying to get his brother the Congressional Medal of Honor.
B details on how the military presence has affected the native and local Hawaiian population.
B says his family has given everything to defend the country. He adds that he does not want his grandsons to serve in the military.
B describes what it’s like seeing the Hawaiian Islands go through so much change. B says his daughters have moved away because it is too expensive.
B says his wife and him are poi makers, they feed babies. He says he wishes 100 years from now one of his grandsons will be poi makers too.
Participants
- Barrett Ramos
- Hazel Diaz