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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
Marian Asao Kurosu Interview Segment 50 (ddr-densho-1000-118-50)
vh Marian Asao Kurosu Interview Segment 50 (ddr-densho-1000-118-50)
Trip to Pinedale Assembly Center, California; heat and dehydration

During this interview, Mrs. Kurosu alternately speaks in both English and Japanese. As a result, the English translation of the transcript contains [Jpn.] and [Eng.], which indicate whether the original dialogue was spoken in Japanese or English.

Rae Takekawa Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-89-20)
vh Rae Takekawa Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-89-20)
Organized activities for youth at Pinedale Assembly Center, California
Rae Takekawa Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-89-21)
vh Rae Takekawa Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-89-21)
"An aimless type of existence": Pinedale Assembly Center
Akiko Okuno Interview Segment 20 (ddr-manz-1-133-20)
vh Akiko Okuno Interview Segment 20 (ddr-manz-1-133-20)
First impressions of camp: typhoid inoculation, lack of privacy
Victor Ikeda Interview Segment 30 (ddr-manz-1-23-30)
vh Victor Ikeda Interview Segment 30 (ddr-manz-1-23-30)
First impressions of Puyallup: living under the roller coaster
Victor Ikeda Interview Segment 31 (ddr-manz-1-23-31)
vh Victor Ikeda Interview Segment 31 (ddr-manz-1-23-31)
Passing the time in camp: volunteering for the dishwashing crew
Bob Fuchigami Interview Segment 15 (ddr-manz-1-28-15)
vh Bob Fuchigami Interview Segment 15 (ddr-manz-1-28-15)
Adjusting to confinement as a child: contemplating sneaking out of camp
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