Oral History Interview with Jose King, September 11, 1997 Page: 5

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Jose King. King, of Korean descent, grew up under Japanese occupation in Songsong Village, Rota. Relations with the Japanese were mostly peaceful. He attended a strict but effective Japanese school. When Japanese supplies began to dwindle, soldiers stole food from villagers and threatened to kill them if they withheld it. The natives narrowly escaped mass execution and instead were put to work farming sweet potatoes. King’s family foraged in the mountains and jungles, hunting birds with a slingshot. His brother was recruited by the Japanese to hunt birds and was killed in an air raid. His uncle was wrongly accused of being a spy and sentenced to death. King and his family sought refuge in a cave during bombardments and were strafed while searching for food. Upon being discovered by American Marines, King feared that the food they provided might be poisoned. Although the military initially intended to send his family to Korea, they successfully pleaded to stay with their community. King’s family later moved to Saipan and then Tinian, embarking in prosperous trade with Allied occupation forces. He started a family of his own, and many of his children found careers in the military.