<Begin Segment 11>

MN: So on the day that you're supposed to leave, how early did your family wake up?

YK: Well, it was dark, I remember, it was still very early, and we had our last breakfast, and then we all had to get in the vehicles, cars and things.

MN: What did you eat?

YK: I don't recall at all, I just remember it was very dark.

MN: And do you remember what day you left?

YK: It was May 22nd, I don't know what day of the week that was, 1942.

MN: Now, how did you get to the gathering point, I guess, it's the train station?

YK: Yeah, there were neighbors and also Henry drove us there.

MN: And you said these people also saw you off?

YK: Well, yeah, they could see us all lined up there.

MN: How did that make you feel?

YK: Well, I just remember the ominous looking train with the big wheels and the blinds that were pulled and so forth. And to me, the train, of course, looked huge.

MN: And once you got on the train, what was one of the first things you had to do?

YK: Well, they fed us, of course, some sandwiches and some water I guess. And then my mother gave us Butterball candies to keep us occupied, but we were all very quiet, wondering what's gonna happen.

MN: Did you get motion sickness?

YK: No.

MN: What were the bathrooms like on the train?

YK: Oh, well, of course, there were lines, but then they let us kids go first, 'cause they didn't want us to have accidents.

MN: How long was the train ride?

YK: Gosh, it just seemed like a long time, 'cause it went into the all day and into the night. We didn't arrive until it was sunny the next day, when we arrived at Parker, Arizona, which is a small train stop area. And it was actually on the American Indian reservation.

MN: On this train ride, you said it was, you spent a night there. Where did you sleep?

YK: Right on the seating. There were no beds, of course, it was just like sitting up.

MN: Did some people just sleep on the floor?

YK: I don't recall anybody doing that, 'cause there was no carpeting in those days.

MN: Were there any African American porters on the train?

YK: Oh, no, of course not. We just had two soldiers, and then somebody brought the food, I guess.

MN: You mean somebody on the train passed out food, or did you have to bring your own food?

YK: No, they passed out food.

MN: Do you remember what you ate on the train?

YK: No, not really. Probably just a sandwich and water, maybe a fruit.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.