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 (233)
Living conditions (399)

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399 items
George Azumano Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-32-16)
vh George Azumano Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-32-16)
Living conditions at the Portland 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.

Henry Sakamoto Interview Segment 5 (ddr-one-7-33-5)
vh Henry Sakamoto Interview Segment 5 (ddr-one-7-33-5)
Adjusting to lack of privacy in camp

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.

Yoichi
vh Yoichi "Cannon" Kitayama Interview Segment 13 (ddr-one-7-46-13)
Living conditions at the Portland 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.

Kenji Onishi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-62-16)
vh Kenji Onishi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-one-7-62-16)
First impressions of the Portland 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.

Hisaye Yamamoto Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1002-10-6)
vh Hisaye Yamamoto Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1002-10-6)
Memories of mass removal; first impressions of Parker Dam Assembly Center, Arizona

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not …

Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1002-6-3)
vh Mits Koshiyama Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1002-6-3)
Memories of Santa Anita Assembly Center: feeling "confused and dumbfounded"

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, …

Jim Hirabayashi Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1002-5-9)
vh Jim Hirabayashi Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1002-5-9)
Memories of Pinedale Assembly Center: playing sports, attending school

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead …

Tatsukichi Moritani Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1001-2-9)
vh Tatsukichi Moritani Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1001-2-9)
First sight of Manzanar concentration camp: "sure is a desolate-looking place"
George Morihiro Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-182-18)
vh George Morihiro Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-182-18)
Life in Puyallup Assembly Center: talking with the guards, being warned away from the fence
George Morihiro Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-182-16)
vh George Morihiro Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-182-16)
Entering Puyallup Assembly Center: "the day you walked through that gate, you know you lost something"
Kara Kondo Interview Segment 28 (ddr-densho-1000-139-28)
vh Kara Kondo Interview Segment 28 (ddr-densho-1000-139-28)
Life in the North Portland Assembly Center, Oregon: cramped living quarters, working for the camp newsletter
Kara Kondo Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-139-27)
vh Kara Kondo Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-139-27)
Early memories of life in assembly center: "You're in a daze for a while until you get your bearings"
Ruby Inouye Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-143-20)
vh Ruby Inouye Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-143-20)
First impressions of Puyallup Assembly Center; resourcefulness of the camp inmates
Ruby Inouye Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-143-22)
vh Ruby Inouye Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-143-22)
Life at the Puyallup Assembly Center: poor food, playing cards, and wondering about the future
Peggie Nishimura Bain Interview Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-170-30)
vh Peggie Nishimura Bain Interview Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-170-30)
The train ride to Pinedale Assembly Center: "we were being treated as enemies"
Ben Takeshita Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-467-5)
vh Ben Takeshita Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-467-5)
Memories of the day of mass removal and first impressions of the Tanforan Assembly Center
Mitsu Fukui Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-140-22)
vh Mitsu Fukui Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-140-22)
Feelings about dealing with hardships in the assembly center: "I thought that was really cruel. Being a citizen and to be put into a place like that."
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