Work and jobs

Both Issei and Nisei took jobs within the camps, at wages set not to exceed soldiers' pay: $12 per month for unskilled labor, $16 for skilled labor, and $19 for professional employees. WRA staff was paid much more for the same jobs. Though public opinion mandated such low pay, dissatisfied Japanese Americans objected to losing their right to make a decent living. They had to use their sparse income for necessities, such as warm clothing and shoes.

World War II (283)
Concentration camps (2384)
Work and jobs (1553)

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1553 items

img Heart Mountain Fire Department (ddr-densho-363-31)

The Heart Mountain Fire Department pose for a group photograph after a meal. The caption at the bottom of the photograph reads "Heart Mt. Wyoming Fire Dept 1944".

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-31/

img Firefighter sitting on firetruck (ddr-densho-363-32)

Frank Komoto served on the Heart Mountain Fire Department.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-32/

img Mess Hall picnic (ddr-densho-363-41)

Mess Hall employees relax next to Shoshone River during the staff picnic. Pictured (from left to right): Tomiye Ichida, Nancy Oyama, Joanne Kuwahara, Kimi Kuwahara, and Asano Maruyama

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-363-41/

doc Memo from John Dewitt (ddr-densho-122-897)

Re: Draft proposal for the Military utilisation of United States Citizens of Japanese Ancestry

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-897/

img Pauline Sakahara outside barracks (ddr-densho-316-294)

Pauline Sakahara wearing a nurse’s uniform

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-316-294/

doc Telegram from Ethel Troy to Kimiko Fujii (ddr-densho-433-314)

Ethel Troy offers Kimiko Fujii a job as a Red Cross swimming instructor.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-314/

img Group of workers in front of a dining hall at Tule Lake War Relocation Center (ddr-densho-474-218)

Back row fourth from left is Kazue "Jay" Naito

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-218/

doc Employment Record for Masayo Horiuchi (ddr-densho-560-15)

List of camp jobs

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-15/

doc Payment record for Masayo Horiuchi (ddr-densho-560-16)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-560-16/

av Interview with Barry Saiki, part 3 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1704)

Saiki discusses being relocated to the Rohwer camp, working as editor for the Rohwer Outpost newspaper, the social stigma around his Caucasian friends visiting in camp, his friend Elizabeth Homberger (sp?) and the work she did for the Nisei during the war, the reactions to military recruiters at Rohwer, and his reasons for not volunteering for …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1704/