<Begin Segment 12>

MN: What was your first impression of Santa Anita?

AS: It was, it smelled a lot, 'cause we were in a stable. I remember Blue Mess Hall, because that's where we ate, always standing in line to have meals. And I remember seeing bees on the apple butter, and to this day I cannot eat apple butter. I still see 'em.

MN: Now, did you attend classes at Santa Anita?

AS: I remember classes, and I remember Sunday school of all things, and the grandstands.

MN: So you're having these classes in the grandstands, I'm sure there's a lot of distractions out there. What could you see out of the grandstands?

AS: Well, the older Niseis used to make camouflages. That was somewhat interesting.

MN: Do you remember which barrack you lived in there?

AS: All I know is Avenue 68.

MN: And you mentioned, of course, your little panda bear you had. And Santa Anita's very dusty. Didn't it get dirty?

AS: (Yes). I do recall one day my dad decided to wash it, and he hung it up by its ears on the clothesline, and I remember that vividly. Because it impressed me that he did it.

MN: Now, years later, after the war, you took a tour of Santa Anita horsetracks organized by George Yoshinaga?

AS: Right.

MN: How did you feel about returning there?

AS: It was very interesting. I wanted to see the barrack, and the bus driver would point it out, and it brought back many memories. And I did see the Blue Mess Hall which was now changed into (...) a cafeteria. We did go see the Red Mess Hall (...) where we took our shower, which was (...) still there. The horses are being bathed there. That's where we took a shower.

MN: You said a lot of feelings came back. Were they positive? What kind of feelings did --

AS: It's very unbelievable at that time, to think that we actually lived there. This was before the, I guess you would call barracks were built on the parking lot, and that's where the White Mess Hall was.

MN: Probably wouldn't smell as bad in that parking lot either.

AS: Parking lot.

MN: Okay, let's go back into the war years. When did your family leave Santa Anita?

AS: October 1942, right.

MN: Did you know where you were going?

AS: We had no idea. We just boarded the train and we were told to keep the shades down. Very, very long, it took us ten days. And I think the reason is when the other trains would come by, we would be on the side, waiting for the other trains to go through.

MN: Did anybody in your family ever try to get off the train?

AS: My sister tried to get a postcard, and she was not allowed. The soldier came with a rifle and made her go back.

MN: Now, you're a very young child. For you, what did this train ride, what was it like to you? Was it scary or was it more adventurous?

AS: It was adventuresome, but I remember walking up and down at night in the aisle. Very, very sad, it was quiet, that's all I recall. The shades completely down at the time, so it's always dark.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright &copy; 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.