<Begin Segment 15>

LH: And so then you got word that you would have to evacuate?

FH: We had to, yeah. So we left everything. We had a lot of Filipino men working for us. One of the oldest that worked, we gave power of attorney to him and took care of it.

LH: What did you think of the amount of time that they gave you to leave? About one week.

FH: That's when we really have to start thinking and packing. And they had places -- Japanese community hall. You could bring your washing, washing machine, and, you know those big item. They promised they'll store it there for duration. So we brought our, everything over there.

LH: Now, I've heard of other Japanese having to sell a lot of belongings at a loss. Was that the situation with you and your family?

FH: I don't know like in... country. I heard that was happening in Seattle. We didn't sell anything. We stored it.

LH: When you were packing up your household, you were taking the bigger items down to the storage facility. Then, you were pregnant at the time, and how did you decide, amongst everything in your house, what you would take with you?

FH: We left most of the things except those big items. I guess we store the good dishes that - there was a (Smith) family, we left it there. Uh-huh.

LH: When you were deciding what to take and what to carry, how did you choose what to take?

FH: Well, we... dressed the best we can because you... can't pack 'em. I don't know, we didn't have much anyway. I know we bought a lot of sheets and beddings (to bring to camp). But old thing, we didn't bother. (Good dishes to Mr. Smith.)

AI: I was just wondering... now, this would be, this was early 1942, wasn't it?

FH: Uh-huh.

AI: Do you recall what month it was that you were gonna have to leave?

FH: Oh yes, I guess we had about a month.

LH: Was that, what month was that that you were leaving?

FH: What?

AI: What month was it that you left?

FH: Oh, we left end of... March. We landed, we went on a train. (Reached Manzanar April 15th.)

<End Segment 15> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.