<Begin Segment 4>

MN: Now, you were a child when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Did the atmosphere in your house change on that Sunday? Do you remember?

JD: I don't recall anything of that day. I don't even know if my dad was home or if he was on the road. I just don't recall.

MN: Now, how about the next day? Do you recall what it was like at school?

JD: No, I don't remember that either, 'cause most of us were in the same boat. My classmates were all in the same boat, so I don't recall that there was any consternation or anything like that going on. I mean, I don't know what the atmosphere was like at school.

MN: What about your father, did he go to work the next day?

JD: I guess. I don't know. Like I said, he might've been on the road, so I don't really recall that.

MN: Did you see or hear any of your neighbors being picked up by the FBI?

JD: No.

MN: Now, how old were you when this was going on?

JD: I was, okay, this was in 1941, so I turned seven that year. And then when we went into Tanforan a few months later, I think it was May of 1942, I was still seven, but I was going to be eight that year.

MN: Now, what do you remember of preparing to go into camp?

JD: You know, that's interesting because I don't because I didn't have to help with the packing. I think my two older sisters had, my mom and dad had to do all that, but I didn't get involved in any of that because they were the ones who determined what we could take and I was too young to really know what I could take or couldn't take, so I was not involved in the packing of the household. I do remember that we had to get rid of a lot of stuff. They sold it for pennies on the dollar, practically gave it away, I think. And we had, because my sister took piano we had a piano at home, we had a solid wood dining room table we had to get rid of, along with its chairs, and so I think my mother was a little bit heartbroken about that.

MN: How do you know that your mother was heartbroken?

JD: I think she was just very, a bit sad. I could tell by her, just the way she was, not behaving so much, but just her demeanor I guess.

MN: Now, you didn't have, like, a favorite toy you wanted to bring or favorite clothing?

JD: I guess not. I guess I didn't.

<End Segment 4> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.