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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 (240)
Temporary Assembly Centers (234)
Living conditions (406)

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406 items

vh Ike Hatchimonji Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-381-9)

First impressions of camp: "it was quite a disappointment"

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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-381-9/

vh Yae Wada Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-476-8)

Living conditions in Topaz

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-476-8/

vh Yae Wada Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-476-7)

First impressions of Tanforan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-476-7/

vh Yae Aihara Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-221-8)

First impressions of Puyallup Assembly Center, having a graduation ceremony

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-221-8/

vh Rudy Tokiwa Interview II Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-92-16)

Learning to cook in the Salinas Assembly Center, California

This interview was conducted at the 1998 Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans National Convention, held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-92-16/

vh Frank S. Fujii Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-8-11)

Impressions of Puyallup Assembly Center: physical discomforts, meeting new people

This interview was conducted over two days due to electrical problems. The majority of the interview was completed on the second day, September 5.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-8-11/

vh Giro Nakagawa Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-422-13)

Feeling angry after being removed to Pinedale assembly center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-422-13/

vh Robert Mizukami Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-114-10)

Forced into "Camp Harmony," Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington

This is the first in a series of interviews conducted by the Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizen League in collaboration with Densho.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-114-10/

vh Frank T. Sata Interview I Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-499-8)

A child's memories of camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-499-8/

vh Frank T. Sata Interview I Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-499-7)

First arriving in Santa Anita

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-499-7/

vh Chizuko Norton Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-73-18)

Difficulties of assembly center life as a teenager

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-73-18/

vh Chizuko Norton Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-73-20)

Keeping oneself occupied in Pinedale Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-73-20/

vh Toru Sakahara - Kiyo Sakahara Interview II Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-77-4)

Gambling in the Puyallup Assembly Center

This interview was conducted over two days at the Sakaharas' home.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-77-4/

vh Toru Sakahara - Kiyo Sakahara Interview II Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-77-5)

Working in the judge advocate's office at Puyallup Assembly Center

This interview was conducted over two days at the Sakaharas' home.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-77-5/

vh May K. Sasaki Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-79-15)

Feeling like a "caged animal" in Puyallup Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-79-15/

vh May K. Sasaki Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-79-14)

Animal smells and painful inoculations: childhood memories of Puyallup Assembly Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-79-14/

vh Shosuke Sasaki Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-78-14)

Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center: a "sea of mud" and a sobbing woman

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-78-14/

vh Fumiko Hayashida Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-15-21)

Arrival at Manzanar concentration camp, stuffing mattresses

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-15-21/

vh Yosh Nakagawa Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-172-17)

Memories of Puyallup Assembly Center as a child: having fun, selling newspapers

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-172-17/

vh Hank Shozo Umemoto Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-294-17)

Living conditions in camp: better than farm at home

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-294-17/

vh Lucius Horiuchi Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-202-7)

Memories of the Puyallup Assembly Center: receiving visitors

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-202-7/

vh Harry Kawahara Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-368-5)

Vivid memories of camp at age ten: "that made an impact"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-368-5/

vh Tokio Hirotaka - Toshio Ito - Joe Matsuzawa Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-23-26)

Working at Pinedale Assembly Center, California, a makeshift fire department

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-23-26/

vh Tokio Hirotaka - Toshio Ito - Joe Matsuzawa Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-23-23)

Pinedale Assembly Center, California: "Dry, hot, dusty, and dirty"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-23-23/

vh Sue Takimoto Okabe Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-74-5)

Puyallup Assembly Center, mother struggles to adjust, and teenagers learn the latest dances

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-74-5/