Lawrence T. Kashiwabara
Bio
Lawrence T. Kashiwabara was born on February 23, 1932, in Wahiawa Eleele, Hawaii. Born of Japanese descent, his family worked the sugar plantations of Hawaii, and upon graduating from Waimea High School in 1950, he rose from the position of field hand to that of sugar producer. That year, the Korean War started and he became aware that most of the young men were being drafted, so he and his buddies decided to go enlist in the United States Coast Guard in hopes of avoiding the draft. Most were turned down for various health reasons, so they proceeded across the street and tried the United States Air Force where some were accepted, only to return home to find their draft cards in the mail where they were subsequently assigned to the United States Marine Corps via the draft. He received his basic training in San Diego and was Korea bound, where he served with pride. In his later life, he credits the friendships with fellow Korean veterans to his good health and longevity.
Video Clips
Enlisted or Drafted
Lawrence Kashiwabara shares an amusing story of how he came to be drafted just after enlisting. He recalls how his hopes of enlisting in the United States Coast Guard were dashed when it is discovered he had anemia, but the United States Air Force accepted him. He shares how when he returned home that he discovered his draft card in the mail and ultimately ended up serving with the United States Marine Corps.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYa-4wX-Xas&start=287&end=448
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/lawrence-t-kashiwabara#clip-1
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Asians and the Draft
Lawrence Kashiwaba discusses the prevalence of Asians being drafted verses enlisting. He recalls that this was during a time when Hawaii was home to many sugar plantations, so the population was primarily Asian due to the workforce needed for the fields. He remembers how there were not many White people in his area, though he felt being Asian elevated the chance one would be drafted before others.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYa-4wX-Xas&start=564&end=629
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/lawrence-t-kashiwabara#clip-2
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