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TI: So I'm curious, in the early part of when the group was first forming and doing this, did a hierarchy form? I mean, how did, how did this group of thirty-five figure it out? Was there, like, a person in charge? Were there team captains? How did this work?

TH: The cook, the head cook was in charge, and then alright, so then I guess I'm there. What's needed? Okay, we worked as busboys at one time or one period of time during the meal, and then, then need, okay, dishes, dishwashing group needs more help. Alright. So, as you say, it was a real group working together. No... I suppose it was really, we all felt that we had to do this, I mean, for the common good.

TI: But even figuring out, at some point you, you're doing one thing, then you're now dishwashing, then your bussing tables, I mean, how were you directed? How did you know, okay, this is what's needed now, versus this, versus that?

TH: I think probably you look and says okay, these people need help. You go over there and help out. And at some times, as the people got ready to come in, (...) I would be out there helping in the dining room, we'll call it, getting ready to open, and it was so hot, people standing in line, that the old, older people would pass out. So I guess the chief cook, the cook says, "Well, we can't have that happening, so bring the older people in first." Okay, so then I guess I was assigned to do it (...). I remember going out in the line and saying, "Okay, you," the older lady there, said, "Go on ahead." "Oh no, I don't want to go in." "No, no. You got to go." And then (...) I'd ask the, maybe the granddaughter who was with her said, "You go in, too." She said, "No, no, I don't want to go." And virtually have to force these people to go in (...). So that was kind of a relationship that people had in the camp, and... that way, anyway, once we got that established, then people said okay, the older people go in first. Sure, fine.

TI: So to go back a little bit, you got a little emotional there, because, was it because of people, what is it, not wanting to sacrifice or...

TH: Yeah, not, not wanting to... you'd give 'em, say, "Hey, go on in because you might pass out." And then you can't, I feel that you can't have just the, the older grandmother go in by herself because it's obvious that, that she was being physically helped by the young lady, so I said, "Now, you go in, too," and they would refuse. So I thought, well, that was really something.

TI: So it was moving to you that even the granddaughter didn't want to get preferential treatment.

TH: Yeah. But at the same time, it's, you have, I feel that she has to go because there's other physical dangers of tripping, falling, so on.

TI: Right, right, yeah. And so what does that mean? How does that, what does that say to you, when people do that?

TH: Well, I think, I guess a community helping each other in times like that we had in the camps.

TI: Good. Thank you. That was good. Thanks for sharing that.

<End Segment 17> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.