<Begin Segment 19>

SS: Tell me about what it was like, your trip east.

EW: Oh, I don't know that I could do that again if you paid me a million dollars, you know, to go on that bus. They picked me up at the gate and I got on the old rickety bus to go to -- gee, where was it -- to board the train, maybe... I can't even remember now where that was. I was all alone, not knowing if I would ever see my family again. And yeah, that was pretty bad. And I got on the train and sat on my suitcase. The trains were packed because they had troops traveling. But no one ever gave me a bad time. They were, treated me well and I, just as though I was another passenger. And I didn't get any flak or anything. We were sitting in the aisles and about four or five people to the seat. I think they dragged out every car that they had in the yards, because they had velveteen seats, you know, that you see in the old movies, and old potbellied stoves. And, but I was happy to be on my way.

SS: What was it like when you eventually got to Ohio?

EW: Well, then my fiance met me and we were able to find housing, in a home, and had a room there. Then we were married in a chaplain's office. And that wasn't very fun either, because they had those swinging doors, and they went in and out... it was an office, and the phones ringing and everything. But he had two of his friends be witnesses, so we were married.

SS: A lot of little girls want big weddings, fancy wedding dresses and stuff. This wasn't one of those. Was that okay with you at the time?

EW: It was fine.

SS: How old were you at the time?

EW: Twenty-one. The legal age to be married in Ohio.

SS: How long did you live in Ohio? And what was life like as a young newlywed?

EW: Oh, well, he was able to come home every night and I couldn't do any... well, I think I did a little cooking there in the apartment. We went out with, to downtown High Street in Ohio -- a few blocks. We got along very well, and then he was, had to transfer to Minneapolis in November, I believe, so we were together only... let's see, September, October, November... two and one-half months before he got transferred. And then I followed him when he was able to find a place for me.

SS: Was Minneapolis home? Did that become home?

EW: Yes. We, I lived in a beautiful home on Lake of the Isles, and I worked, did housework there for a while until he found an apartment that we moved to. And I worked in the Donaldson's department store. Then we moved up and -- well, no, I think we, then my sister was able to come out. And we called and they were allowed to leave camp if they had a sponsor on the outside. And so she came out and, when Harvey was shipped overseas. Then she and I shared an apartment.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 1996 Densho. All Rights Reserved.