Purple Heart Warriors: 2. ‘Buddhaheads’
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Hello, Simon Jack here from Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast from the BBC World Service, exploring the minds, the motives and the money of some of the world's richest individuals. Did you know there's an easy way to get new episodes automatically? Whether it's Good Bad Billionaire or any of your other favourite BBC World Service podcasts, find the show on your podcast app and then just click follow or subscribe. And if you switch on notifications, you'll get a reminder too. It's that easy. Follow or subscribe now.

and never miss an episode. Dramas. Immersive storytelling from the BBC World Service. Before we start, a warning that some episodes in this series contain dramatized battle scenes and outdated racial language. This is Purple Heart Warriors, an original six-part drama series inspired by real events from the BBC World Service. Episode 2, Buddha Heads.

Executive Order 9066 was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. It authorized the incarceration of people of Japanese descent on the West Coast, even though two-thirds of them were American citizens born and raised in the United States. 120,000 men, women, and children were sent to desolate desert camps across the country where sand billowed through the holes in the walls of their hastily constructed barracks.

On the Hawaiian islands, meanwhile, some Japanese Americans were incarcerated, while the majority were placed under martial law. Despite this, when challenged to prove their loyalty, 10,000 men from Hawaii and 1,256 from the mainland volunteered for military service. Their training began at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This is where our story continues in 1943. Company, ten hut!

Company, present arms! All right, men. Today you'll be relieved of your five-mile run. Instead, I have something else special planned for you. Oh, boy. Here it comes. You will march in formation due east. Yes, Drill Sergeant. East? That's the swamp. Anybody have a problem with that? No, Drill Sergeant. My name is Ken Morioka. I don't know how I got here.

One minute I was running a donut shop in downtown Los Angeles, and the next, I found myself trapped in my Grandpa Allen's 18-year-old body back in 1943. I was in the midst of some torturous military training in an all-Nisei regiment in swampy Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and I didn't know how to get out. If I was in a dream, it was one that I couldn't wake up from. Maybe I was in a coma. Or maybe I was in one of those time-warping dreams.

You know, those dreams that seem to span forever when in reality it was just a second. Maybe hell, it wasn't out of the question. I heard this is how Bee Company got chigger bites. What's a chigger? Is that one there? No, that's a water snake. Chiggers are mites. I was leaning more towards the idea that I was in hell.

Even though we were all Nisei, I was beginning to see there was a big difference between the mainlanders and the islanders.

Like the towering giant, Lui Nui, with his pigeon accent. The men from Hawaii had dubbed me Loco Moco. Loco meaning crazy and pigeon, and Moco was a shortened version of my last name, Morioka. Ha ha. Hey, Lui Nui, look at that turtle swim. He got one big nose, just like those turtles in Horokeana Bay. All right, guys, that's enough.

Keep it moving! My grandmother had told me that Grandpa Allen's best friend was someone named Soneo. He was a Hawaiian who went by Sonny. He didn't seem like someone who would be Jichun's BFF. In fact, all the islanders had a whole different vibe. Was I here to find something out about them? I think I could sleep for a whole damn year. Hey, no time for sleep, brother. Get your money. Time for a play poker. You like to join us?

What's the minimum bet? $20. Too rich for my blood. Karuna? I play. What about you, Sonny? You went and wiped me out last time. I only get $5 left. Okay, okay. We go fivers. Go for broke, brother. Put them all in. Go for broke. You bugger's going to put me in a poor house. Okay, I play. How about you, Barry?

Not me. First you're betting money in your pocket, and then before you know it, you've lost your house. And I don't have a house to begin with. Those ketongs so cheap. Gotta hang on to all their money. I'll play. Oh! Moco Moco! Come play. Come on, sit on the floor with us. On the floor? You get one problem with sitting on your kole. Uh, no? Okay. Oh, how do you guys sit like this? Like some pudding. Got a spoon? Hmm.

Yeah. Uh, do you have another one? Why you need two? We just shared this one. No, no. No, I think I'll pass. Why, you think you better than us? Hey, wait a minute. That pudding, was that my pudding? I don't know. It was just sitting on the table. That was mine.

You should have asked before you just took it. You can't steal stuff. No, just take it easy. I'll go get another pudding. You can't get another one. My Auntie Dora made it for you. Well, it was tasty. Hey, let's go outside and you can eat my fist. It'll be tasty, too. You know what us bootheads call you mainlanders? Ka-tonk. Because that's the sound your head make when it hit the ground after a fight. Ka-tonk. Why, you... Hey, hey!

We've got leave tomorrow. We can get pudding or cake or whatever they've got there in Hattiesburg. Okay? Hey, sorry. I won't take your pudding. I never know people on the mainland don't like share. See? He's apologized. Now just take it easy. Like I said, the Buddha heads had a whole different vibe. I was beginning to think there must be another Soneo that was Jichun's buddy.

Aloha, Kako, Hattiesburg! Hey, you think they get the kind ladies of the night here? Gonorrhea and syphilis? No thanks. Burgers and fries. Those will be my misters. I like the sound of that. Where we go first? Uh-oh, looks like trouble coming. You japs! I don't care if you're in American uniform. I know you're all just tojo spies. And I'm giving you fair warning. You steer clear of our girls or else...

But no worry, bro. We're not interested in your girls anyway. What'd you say? He means we've all got girlfriends back home, so we're not looking to hook up. Hook up? You talking fishing? Or, I mean, go courting or whatever the vernacular is. Let me tell you this. Last year, when one of your little Jap spies came to eat at the diner not too far from here, he got it good. Pow! Shot in the face! Ha!

It was just bird shots so the roach survived. He went crying to the police, but they couldn't find no witnesses and nobody was charged. Just letting you know what's what around here. Hey, Wakatari, wanna know what's what? I give one fierce left walk. Okay, have a nice day, sir. Just keep walking. Is that the southern way of saying aloha? You folks from Hawaii don't see this crap every day? We're used to the no japs here signs. Maybe we should just head back.

Sounds like a good idea. Why are you acting like one chicken? Are you going to fight the Jerrys? Yeah, he's got a point. Come on. We're not going to let that Bacatare ruin our day. Hey, look. Earl Finches. Sound like a bar. Oh yeah, we go, eh? Work clothes, army, and navy goods. No fun. I could use a new set of duds after that jaunt in the swamp. Come on, Sonny. Kruna. Go find some place for drink. You coming, Locomoco?

Yeah, I'll... They'll make you drink from the same cup. Look at uniforms, too. Better take a look inside in case someone's gonna come out swinging at us. Too late. You soldiers Japanese? Americans of Japanese descent. Serving in the 442, sir. Need something? Looking for new uniforms? Well, come in. Come in. Y'all don't have to stand out there.

Name's Errol Finch. I can get you what you need. Uniforms, caps, boots, I got it. I'm Barry. That's Shorty, and this guy we call Locomoco. Well, interesting nicknames. So, you said you're looking for new uniforms? Yes, sir. Well...

I don't know if I have anything your size. Yeah. He needs munchkin size. Up yours, Barry. I can take your measurements and have the uniform fitted. Just step up here. Yes, sir. Uh-huh.

So, uh, where are you folks from? Seattle. Los Angeles. Los Angeles, but from a different time period. Uh, huh? Locomoco's an odd fella. We think maybe he hit his head in a bar fight and hasn't fully recovered. You know, I've never gone out beyond 40 miles of Hattiesburg, but I like learning about all these faraway places from my visiting serviceman, and...

I'd like to thank you all for putting your life on the line. There's nothing better you can do than to serve your country. Hope you don't mind my asking, but why didn't you sign up? Oh, I did. They told me I had flat feet and a heart ailment. So this is the next best thing I can think of.

Say, I'm hosting a barbecue next week at my ranch, and I've already invited a number of men from your regiment, so, you know, stop on by. Well, what's the catch? The catch is that you have to tell all your friends that they are welcome to patronize my goods and services in town. But I'm sure we've got to pay for this barbecue. Oh, certainly not!

You never heard of Southern Hospitality? I thought we already got that welcome earlier. Yeah. Look, I've already ordered a few kegs of beer. Oh, count me in. Sing it, Brunner. Rode with me down the Polly Street Past O'Hee, uh-huh

There you'll find the Eva bird. Kikaha e kikaha. Fly with me past the whole moon. There's crooner. Underneath the stars. He sounds pretty good up there. There you'll find my island girl. Eli la e Eli la. Kikaha e kikaha.

Look, Sunny, running around dancing the hula. The Buddha heads must have gotten Earl's invitation too. There's steak, hot dogs, watermelon. So don't you be shy now. Let's go. What's going on there? Alright, sounds like someone's having a fight.

Boys from our barrack. Break it up!

Break it up! What's going on? I was just minding my own business when Barry come and whack me. So I went and whack him back. I see him go at Sonny, so I went jumping with Sonny. Is that true, Barry? You know this guy's a thief, Ota. He stole my pudding. Now he's stolen my money. I don't have your money. Why are you here, Shorty? These Buddha heads are shifty fellas, so I joined in and took Barry's side. Do you have any proof that Sonny stole your wallet, Barry? He was standing behind me. The next thing I know, my wallet's gone. Hand it back!

I told you, I know gets your wallet! Hey! Hey! Is that your wallet, Barry? Oh, uh, looks like it. Sonny probably got rid of the evidence once he took the money. There's money in here. Fifteen dollars. See? Yucatan's not only cheap, but you lying buggers too. Please, man, please!

Look what you got us. You mean one black guy? No. Scrubbing latrines. The whole barrack, even though it was only you four involved. We're a unit. We act as one. We're supposed to fight together, not against each other. Very good, Ota. Didn't even know he was standing there, like a crocodile waiting for its prey. Scrub those toilets, man. Scrub, scrub, scrub. You know what you are.

I said, do you know what you are? No drill sergeant. Scum. Just like the scum you're scrubbing. And that's why none of you are going to that little shindig at Rower Camp. I know you all wanted to mingle with your people, see your mommies and your daddies, and now you can wallow in your cots thinking about what acting like 12-year-olds cost you.

Yes, Drill Sergeant! By 0800 tomorrow morning, I expect this latrine to be spic and span, and I mean I need to see my reflection in the porcelain. Do you understand? Yes, Drill Sergeant! Hey, what's Rohwer camped?

Internment camp. My family's there. Heard they're hosting a social for the men stationed here. The social we were just told we can't go to. But because of you Katongs, we stay with our faces in the toilets. What do you mean, "because of us"? Hey, who you calling "Katongs"? - Because you ain't hippie, Barry. - No, say it again! - You got stupid Buddha heads. - Hey, say it again! Before we get into more hot water... Hey, what you mean, "intern"? You don't know what internment is? It's a soft term for incarceration. - Like prison? - Yes. Oh, wow.

I never heard about that, I mean, we heard people on the mainland was moved out to camps, but I heard it was nice. Like they all get brand new houses. If you can call a horse stall a house, we heard Yucatán's loaded with money. No wonder you don't get along. If you islanders don't know anything about internment, then you oughta see rower camp. You heard Sergeant Lughead. That's not happening.

Yawa camp, here we come! A little too much cologne, guys. Gotta smell good for our ladies. How'd you convince Colonel Pence to let us go? We asked Chaplain Higuchi to make a plea for us. Told him all the infighting and low morale wasn't gonna help us fight Germans. When your right hand is fighting your left hand, you lose focus on who the real enemy is. Hey, look! Ota got one new uniform. He's got stripes now. Whoa!

That's right. I've been promoted. It's Sergeant Otenet. Nice. A lot of hot air in that hit, though. Inland shore is big, eh? Maui, you drive this long, you end up deep in the ocean. I went to Maui once. Do you live in Kihei or Lahaina?

Bu Nene on the sugar cane plantation. Were you in school when you enlisted? School? Oh no, I stopped going. Cost ten dollars each year for high school. Waste of money.

Heart Mountain? Sounds nice, eh?

Don't think it was very nice. Like Oda said, they were all desert camps. This is camp? Yeah, nothing like I went imagining. That barbed wire. Oh, and look up there. A guard's holding a rifle? So you finally got the point. Why you never say anything before? Like we're supposed to boast? Hey, by the way, my family lives in a prison camp. I thought everybody knew.

Whoa, who's that? Whoa, whoa, whoa! Watch out for the rattlesnakes. We've got scorpions here too. That's where my family lives. Block 29, building 3. That's your family's house? Well, we share it with three other families. The Wadas, the Kinoshitas, and the Yamadas. All of you in there? We're lucky because there's only five of us. The Yamadas have eight of them together in a room. Well, I guess now it's seven since Mr. Yamada died last summer. What happens when someone died?

They let you go outside doing burial service. What? No. See the headstones over there? That's the cemetery. I was beginning to understand why Jeechan was such a bitter old man. We're the Boy Scouts of America.

This is kind of trippy. A big welcome to our brave men in the 442nd. We sure appreciate your answering the patriotic call-in.

And now a word of welcome from Shirley Kawamatsu from the Roar Girls Club. We are so proud to be hosting the Fighting Men of the 442nd. We saved up our wages and made collections to buy ingredients for a special feast. We couldn't get any real Japanese food, but we made Spam Sushi, Hokazu, and we got the ingredients to make Mochi.

and after supper there will be a dance organized by the sports and recreation clubs. And don't be shy boys, our girls are just itching to dance with someone besides our fathers and little brothers. Nobody shy over here! I had seen the incarceration displays at the museum many times,

Shogunai.

People were trying to make the best of what had been handed to them. Everybody sure is quiet. Not that I'm complaining about the lack of nonsensical jabbering. You Catonks went treat us real nice. Yeah, your girls look just like our girls back home. What were they supposed to look like? Did you think we were a different species? Sure act like it sometimes.

Alright, you pieces of scum! Today is all about endurance! 25 miles with fully loaded packs. This is where you're gonna have to prove to me whether you're men or little babies.

Maybe some of you will have the urge to cry wah-wah back to your mommies. But if you're real men, you will not fail this mission. You will march and you will not stop except for water. You will not pass out. Is that understood? Yes, Drill Sergeant. Are you ready to show us what you're capable of? Yes, Drill Sergeant. Company, march!

It was a hard slog in the Mississippi heat.

Rattling in the back of my head, I could hear the voice of my grandfather when I was training for judo. Pick up the pace, Ken! Go, Slagin! Wait up, fellas! We've lost Shorty! He's fallen way behind. He gets short legs. He gotta work twice as hard. Sorry, fellas. Hey, listen, let me carry your knapsack. Good idea, sonny. I'll take Shorty's rifle. No, no, no. I can do it. We have to get to the end as a unit.

Let us carry your stuff. But Sonny, then you have to carry two packs. This is nothing. We carry sugarcane on our backs all the time at home. Here. Okay. I'm the biggest one here. Let me have it. We take turns. First me, then you. Thanks, guys. Cadence, count!

Look.

We're almost there. I can see the flag in the drill sergeant's jeep. Come on. My legs feel like rubber. I get blisters all over my feet. What I wouldn't give to wear comfortable sneakers instead of these medieval torture boots. All the company I accounted for. Hey. Where's Shorty? I'll go carry him across. No need. Look at him go. Yay! Woo! Woo!

Well, who would have thought? Record time. All right, good work, man. And now, Colonel Pence would like to address you. Colonel Pencer? It was a rough start. I had my doubts. But you've all come a long way and proven your worth. Now I have some good news. We've received our orders to prepare for overseas. You're shipping out, boys. Yeah!

I wasn't sure why the men were happy to get the orders. I suppose no one there had seen movies like Saving Private Ryan or Dunkirk. Just when these guys were starting to grow on me. They were men who had accepted their fates when democracy had failed them, and yet still believed in it enough to fight for it. I started to wonder who was going to live and who was going to die.

Next time, Ken's nightmare continues as the battalion is shipped out to Europe. Sir, I don't think I'm supposed to be on this ship. My name's Ken Morioka. I'm sure I'm not on the roster. You ought to be court-martialed. I thought you Japs had been stepping up, and I can see now that you're all just... Sir, you'll have to excuse Morioka. He's not all right in the head. This has been Episode 2 of 6 of Purple Heart Warriors, with Aki Kotabe and Will Sharp, written by Iris Yamashita.

Directed by Jessica Dromgoole. Produced by Catherine Bailey. And is a Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service.

Hello, Simon Jack here from Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast from the BBC World Service, exploring the minds, the motives and the money of some of the world's richest individuals. Did you know there's an easy way to get new episodes automatically? Whether it's Good Bad Billionaire or any of your other favourite BBC World Service podcasts, find the show on your podcast app and then just click follow or subscribe. And if you switch on notifications, you'll get a reminder too. It's that easy. Follow or subscribe now.

and never miss an episode.