Living conditions

The "assembly centers" were hastily erected quarters located throughout the West Coast at fairgrounds, racetracks and other similar facilities. Conditions at these locations were appalling. People were housed in animal stalls and barracks with communal bathrooms and mess halls. Privacy was next to nonexistent. Most families lived in a 20-by-20-foot room separated from the next "apartment" by wood partitions that did not reach the ceiling. Shortages of food and deplorable sanitation were common. Overcrowding, uncertainty, and stress created tension in the "assembly centers," even as the demoralized camp inmates tried to improve living conditions.

World War II (231)
Temporary Assembly Centers (231)
Living conditions (389)

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389 items

vh Louise Kashino Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-31-13)

Health concerns, bad Vienna sausages in Puyallup Assembly Center

For the first hour of this interview, an additional camera crew from KCTS Television was also present.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-31-13/

vh Akio Hoshino Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-26-8)

Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center: friendly guards, ice skating, and arguing over steel cots

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-26-8/

vh Joe Yamakido Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-167-5)

Unpleasant memories of Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, working as a trashman

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-167-5/

vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-84-26)

Attitude toward violation of rights, "There was nothing we could do about it because they had the guns"

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-84-26/

vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-84-24)

Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center: setting up a makeshift hospital without medical equipment

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-84-24/

vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-84-25)

Conditions in Puyallup: getting chicken pox, army looks for contraband in a chocolate cake brought by visitors

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-84-25/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-123-10)

Memories of the Portland Assembly Center, Oregon: working to distribute dairy products, help people settle

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-123-10/

vh Sharon Tanagi Aburano Interview II Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-209-4)

Seeing mother's emotional reaction to conditions in camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-209-4/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 42 (ddr-densho-1000-184-42)

Writing for camp paper, the Pinedale Logger

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-42/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 43 (ddr-densho-1000-184-43)

Dealing with difficult living conditions in Pinedale: no privacy, incredible heat, shared facilities

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-43/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 41 (ddr-densho-1000-184-41)

Impressions of Pinedale Assembly Center; working for the newspaper, the Pinedale Logger

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-41/

vh Yukiko Miyake Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-49-26)

Challenging the guards at Puyallup Assembly Center: "What are you going to do? Kill us?"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-49-26/

vh Art Abe Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-206-17)

Feeling bitter upon being removed: "I couldn't believe what the government was doing to us"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-206-17/

vh Mitsuye May Yamada - Joe Yasutake - Tosh Yasutake Interview Segment 61 (ddr-densho-1000-135-61)

First impressions of Puyallup Assembly Center: stuffing own mattresses

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-135-61/

vh Fumi Kaseguma Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-203-11)

Life in the Portland Assembly Center, a former livestock exposition area

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-203-11/

vh Frank Saburo Sato Interview I Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-445-13)

First impressions of the Puyallup Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-445-13/

vh Mary Kinoshita Ikeda Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-510-17)

First impressions of the Puyallup Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-510-17/

vh Satoru Ichikawa Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-236-12)

Arrival in the Puyallup Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-236-12/

vh Jim Akutsu Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-2-18)

Conditions at Puyallup Assembly Center

Interview was conducted over two days because of delays caused by technical difficulties.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-2-18/

vh Jim Akutsu Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-2-20)

Attempting to improve conditions at Puyallup Assembly Center and running into resistance

Interview was conducted over two days because of delays caused by technical difficulties.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-2-20/

vh Yosh Nakamura Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-385-8)

First impressions of the Tulare Assembly Center

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-385-8/