<Begin Segment 21>

DG: How long were you in camp?

MM: Three years. Not, well, three years, kane, Aya, kyampu?

DG: So you went in '42 and you stayed 'til '45?

MM: Came out. We were the first ones to come out. In January, ka? January 22nd. And then Papa died February 2nd.

DG: Okay, let's talk about your leaving camp then. Did you, your father wanted to leave and...

MM: He wanted to go. I mean, he was anxious to go --

DG: How did you leave?

MM: By train. We took the regular train.

AM: Uh-huh.

MM: The regular train with hakujin no passengers were all on, too.

DG: The whole family?

MM: Yes.

DG: And you...

MM: And then, we got off the train right here. And then, ano, the Jewish people, (our tenant) had a hammer and a stepladder, was it?

AM: Uh-huh.

MM: And then he was able to unloosen the front door (...) and we got in. But there was no gas. So this, ano, Naval Intelligence man came to see how we were doing and since we have no gas, oh he called right away for us. So...

AM: Everything came out smoothly.

DG: Uh-huh.

AM: No trouble.

DG: Back to camp once more. Your brother, did he have to answer the loyalty questions?

MM: That I don't know but he, they didn't take him because of his eyes. Service -- he was, ano, cons-, was it 4-F, or something like that.

DG: So by the time you all left in January he was back with you?

MM: Yes, yes.

AM: Uh-huh.

DG: And you all left together and came back to Seattle?

AM: So we all came back together.

MM: My folks wanted to come back.

AM: And then Papa died the eighth day after we got back.

MM: Eight or nine days after. Heart attack. I think he was so relieved.

DG: Okay...

MM: And then -- we didn't have any doctors, no. So Aya looked through -- the books, ne, and she found a doctor that came right away. We're thankful for that. But he says, "There's nothing I could have done for him." And he says, "Your dad died of the same thing as Roosevelt."

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 1997 Densho. All Rights Reserved.