Isao Yamashita was 17 years old and in the 10th grade on March 30, 1942; the day the Bainbridge Island Japanese were evacuated. He is the youngest of four children, three brothers and one sister. Isao received his draft notice while he was imprisoned in Minidoka. He joined the Army and served in WWII, and the Korean and Viet Nam wars. He retired from the service in 1971.