<Begin Segment 10>

AI: When you, your release came to leave Crystal City, what was in your mind then as far as what you were going to do? Were you still thinking about Japan?

BN: Oh, no, no, no.

AI: No. Once you were...

BN: After I...

AI: ...in Crystal City...

BN: Yes. Once I changed my mind, that was all gone, yes. I didn't have no intention of going to Japan or, yes. And then when I got back to the farm, I worked for three years, and then moved to Gardena, where I'm still residing. And I bought my home through my sister's name because my citizenship wasn't restored at that time. But I am really thankful for the Civil Liberties Union for fighting all out for our rights.

AI: So you decided you did want to have your American citizenship restored?

BN: Right.

AI: And this ACLU assisted you.

BN: That's right. And then the Civil Liberties Union established that the government was wrong when they asked us if we wanted to renounce.

AI: About when was that, do you recall, when you found out that you had your citizenship restored?

BN: I believe it was in, around in 1952 or '53. Uh-huh.

AI: And what was your reaction to that?

BN: I was happy. Oh, really, I was really happy to become an American citizen again.

AI: So after all you have been through...

BN: And yes, after that, government didn't do anything illegal to us, so I was all for the government, yes. Yes. After that, nothing bothered, the government not bothered me at all. I really, at that point, I start -- no, I take it back. When the government gave us a choice when we went, and at Santa Fe, that you could either repatriate or you could stay here. Gave us an option. At that time, I felt that, you know, government's going to be -- I mean, after all, the government weren't that cruel.

AI: And, now, what happened to your father?

BN: Oh, he was released, oh, about a month or so later, yes.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2000 Densho. All Rights Reserved.