How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Ohio was a greeting, used by the occasional civil guard. Though Louie soon knew what it meant, his stock reply was "No, California." (4.18.21)
Louie employs a little bit of language-difference humor to lighten the mood just a fraction. In a POW camp, every little thing you can do to lighten the mood counts.
Quote #5
A couple of captives sat on other benches across the compound, hiding their hands from the guards' view and gesturing to each other in Morse code—fists for dots and flat hands for dashes. (4.19.19)
This is an ingenious method for the POWs to communicate secretly with each other. Morse Code becomes a third language, in addition to English and Japanese, to use.
Quote #6
The boldest captives would walk up to the guards, look straight at them, and speak in English, using a querying tone. (4.20.11)
Because many of the Japanese guards don't understand English at all, the POWs can say whatever they want to them as long as they use an appropriate tone of voice. It's yet another small act of rebellion the POWs use to stand up for themselves.