<Begin Segment 27>

[Ed. note: This transcript has been edited by the narrator]

TI: What happened to the business during this time period?

SA: Oh, we had to (keep it open and going), well, you know, the time when you look at it, E.O. 9066 went in mid-February. They set up (some civilian restrictions) to enforce it, (...) to enforce the other to make sure the military had the upper hand. So, and it was shortly about a week after that, March 23rd, I think the other (order) came out about a week prior. And Bainbridge Island was the first one hit, they only really had a week. I thought they had two weeks, but according to the dates, one was March the 23rd and they were out by March the 30th, supposed to be, so they really had it rough. Because I remember in the paper even, they were strawberry farmers, for the most part, and they said the strawberry lines formed an arrow pointing to Boeing field or Bremerton, it was ridiculous accusations. But that was how it was in the media and the times, so the prejudice, well, it just angered people more, I think. We were more defensive.

TI: So during this time you're hearing about Bainbridge Island, so what are you and your family doing?

SA: Well, I'll tell you, a funny thing happened to me at Broadway. I got pulled out of class to join eighteen girls, there were eighteen of us, and we were put in this car mechanics, auto mechanics class. I didn't even have a, in fact, none of us had a car, only one. I think Rosemary Thorstenson had one. Anyway, and we were supposed to help man (the station), I guess, because of the male shortages, the gasoline stations. So I still have that book, that, my notebook for that class, auto mechanics. We're taught to lubricate a car and pack and unpack a tire. And it's, and I just remember drawing pictures of the camshaft, and I didn't even know what they were, but I'm just following what they're saying. I got a "B" in the course, but I never got a chance to operate any (or) help in any (gasoline) stations. But I thought it was kind of interesting, I don't know why I got picked, but I was with all Caucasians. I think I was the only Asian in the group.

TI: Oh, that's interesting, so they...

SA: Yeah, I don't know why.

TI: One, that they would have this class, I mean, getting ready for the time when there would be a shortage of men, so they had to train women to do these things.

SA: We were supposed to pump the gas.

TI: But that they would choose you also...

SA: I don't know why.

TI: ...with, it was probably under this cloud that, what's going to happen to the Japanese Americans.

SA: I don't know if they even thought that far.

TI: So this must have been before the executive order had come out? This must have been more in, like, in January or early February.

SA: I don't know, if I have a date on my book, I could bring it in.

<End Segment 27> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.