<Begin Segment 24>

AI: So, then when did you find out that, that in fact, you and your brother were going to be separated from the family and sent to Bismarck camp?

AO: We were notified, and soon as we were notified then we had to prepare to leave the camp.

AI: So you got a very short notice before leaving Tule Lake?

AO: Yes -- no, that's true. The notice was given to us and then we just have to take our personal belongings and be transferred out of the camp.

AI: Were you surprised that you were going to be taken from Tule Lake?

AO: Not particularly, because that was the one step positive that we would be, that we would go to Japan. So the separation's there.

AI: So, it was explained to you that this was part of your process to going to Japan?

AO: I don't know if I could say that it was, that we knew that would be part of the process of going to Japan, but it meant closer of qualifying to be deported, so to speak.

AI: And was there any explanation given as to why you and your brother were taken to Bismarck and your parents and younger sister were left in Tule Lake?

AO: There's no explanation, but actually, the government was trying to separate the immediate disloyal persons, and divide, separate them from the ones that are loyal. And, but I didn't feel that all of us that went to Bismarck would be going to Japan.

AI: What gave you that feeling?

AO: That all of 'em were... I felt this, that all of the ones that went to Bismarck, the parents weren't really planning to go all the way to go to Japan.

AI: What gave you that idea?

AO: I don't know, I really don't recall what made me feel that way, but I just followed the orders to prepare to leave Tule Lake. And then I finally, brother and I and the rest of the group went, were transferred to Bismarck.

AI: When was that?

AO: This was in early '45.

<End Segment 24> - Copyright © 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.