<Begin Segment 13>

LH: It sounds like from the time Pearl Harbor happened, if I could back up to right after you heard the news about Pearl Harbor, how were racial relations on Bainbridge Island affected at the time? Was it a little, can you tell me if there was tension between the Japanese community and other people on Bainbridge?

FH: Well, out in the country, you live a half a mile away from your neighbor, anyway. They all said they were sorry to see us go. But being the Island, they were, Mr., like Mr. Woodward were working for us, but there was some people that don't know the Japanese, they didn't have any of us. I never met them but, there were some people that were glad to see us go. But, as average, I (had good) like, school friends. I heard some of the football players cried when they saw their friends go.

LH: So you mentioned the Woodwards. And that would be Walt and Millie Woodward, that published the Bainbridge Review?

FH: Yes, Mr. Woodward.

LH: And, can you tell me about them? Can you tell me what you remember about them?

FH: Real kind man. I did see him, this last teriyaki dinner I saw him. Mrs. Woodward, her name is Millie, Mrs. Woodward died, but Mr. Woodward still living. He got school named after him.

LH: During the time of your evacuation, were they very supportive of the Japanese?

FH: Graduation?

LH: Of the time when the evacuation happened?

FH: Oh, evacuation.

LH: How did the Woodwards support the Japanese?

FH: Well, he was a writer so, newspaper article, support but... I guess it's a support, sure. He was against the evacuation. But, don't know... it's a war, he had to say what the government say. I think, like, we were worried because our house was insured for home insurance. He said that, it was my husband's friend Mr. Tyskol, he was... I forget the insurance company but, I guess he came from headquarters to cancel Japanese house insurance because there may be fire or something damaged. So we weren't insured for a while. That kinda scared us.

LH: Now, did you hear any rumors that there might be threats of fire or damage to your property?

FH: Some damage. The insurance company didn't, kinda risk I guess.

LH: Do you know of any actual incidents of damage?

FH: Nothing actual, no, no.

<End Segment 13> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.