Densho Digital Archive - Paul Bannai Interview I (denshovh-bpaul-01-0015)

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AI: I wanted to back up a little bit even before the war started, even before December 7th. During the late '30s, and during that period, '39, '40, '41, the tensions, the world tensions were obviously increasing. And I'm sure that in the headlines you saw, you were following what was happening in Europe...

PB: Right.

AI: ...with Hitler and all. And then also what was happening in the Pacific, that Japan was increasingly moving into other territories. And I was wondering, did you have a sense in those years leading up to '41 that there was a possibility that the U.S. and Japan might someday be at war?

PB: You know, thinking back and, about that time that you're talking about, no, I don't know why. Was it because we were so busy? Because from, as I say, from about the end of '38 and '39, I was working full-time. I took a little streetcar from Boyle Heights down to First and San Pedro where the bank was and worked every day, five days a week until the war came on. And the war came along, I was still working at the bank. But it was either the involvement in the community activities or my work or whatever it was. I'm sure there was some concern by some people about the war, the situation in Europe and in the Pacific. But, you know, I can't recall that we gave very much thought to it or we did anything. I can't remember anything that we did to, say, prepare or to anticipate a kind of a situation it was. And that's why I say when the war came on and I was a member of the guard, and I don't know why I went to Exposition Park to be part of the guard, but that might have been something to do with, well, maybe there's anticipation of a war starting or something, but never real seriously. I can't recall conversation or activities or things that we said, "Well, we'd better be ready."

AI: Or even possibly your parents. Now, you were still living with your parents and your younger sisters and brother.

PB: Right.

AI: And now, perhaps did your parents read anything in the Japanese newspapers, or maybe they had some fears or conversation about this?

PB: You know, I just don't think of anything of that kind. The only thing I know is that because of the war in Europe, that many of my friends that were of age were being drafted and taken into service. And so that I remember very clearly. And that's why when it became time in the early '40s, '41 that I said, I had registered, and I was, under the law I was able to go if I was 1-A. I remember the YMCA where I, my draft board was, and I went there several times. I said, "My friends are in service. Why am I not called?" And they said, "Well, your number will come up and you may be called." So there was a certain amount of, not concern, but you might say interest in when I would be going into service and whether I would go to Europe or not. But of course, that was dispelled when the war started, because first thing I went up to the draft board, and I said, "Well, here I am. The war is on. You're calling everybody." And they said, "You are now reclassified. You're 4-C. You're no longer 1-A. You are an alien, ineligible for the draft." So I said, "Fine." Well, of course, right after that the notices went up that we were going to be evacuated. So that made a little difference.

AI: How did you feel when they told you that you were now classified as an "enemy alien"?

PB: Well, as I say, there were many, from then on many disappointing things that happened that we had to, you might say, question. But there were government edicts and laws that came about, just as the notice to evacuate. What do you do? It's a government thing. You're going to have to obey it. So that happened, and it was just like leaving for camp. I didn't want to go. In fact, I was the last one to go to camp because I worked for the bank, and I asked the WRA if I could stay behind because people were concerned about their finances and their money. And many of them had businesses where, the bank that I worked, so they let me stay. And I was one of the last ones into camp to join my folks.

My folks went early. My dad said, "Long as this law is now on the books and we have to go, I might as well go." So he went and helped the people who were coming in to get settled, building barracks, facilities, so they would be more comfortable when they came to camp. And so they were in Manzanar, Block 5, which was one of the first settlement blocks. And I asked to be the last, so they gave me permission. And as I say, I was the last one in, and I was the first one out because after I went to camp, I realized that that was not for me.