<Begin Segment 23>

DG: Okay. Did you know that there was going to be a war?

RM: I don't think.

DG: Had you heard anything?

RM: I knew they were having troubles between the two countries, but I think it's a surprise to everybody, I guess. We were in Portland organizing another branch plant there in Portland.

DG: Oh, okay.

RM: And then we heard that Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japanese and, boy, that really surprised us. We never dreamed of that.

DG: So what did you do?

RM: Well, we got kind of frozen there in Portland. Didn't know whether to travel or what, but my friend was, high school friend, worked for some government office there and he got through. He was pretty -- he had a pretty important position there. I didn't know what it was, forgot.

DG: For the government?

RM: Yeah.

DG: Here in Washington or in Portland?

RM: No, this was in Portland. Yeah.

DG: This was in Portland. Okay. So since the war started, were you actually in Portland at that time when you heard about Pearl Harbor?

RM: Yeah, I was actually in Portland.

DG: And you were living there and staying there?

RM: No, we are staying there organizing the...

DG: And going back and forth.

RM: Yeah, my mother and I were there.

DG: Your mother was there with you?

RM: Yeah, I remember.

DG: Why was she with you?

RM: I don't know exactly why, but anyway she was.

DG: Well, then did she have something to do with starting this branch office too?

RM: No, I don't know why she was there with me, but she was anyway.

DG: And there was a question of your being able to drive back here to Nahcotta.

RM: Yeah, uh-huh. Well, we didn't know what they might stop us or pull us in or...

DG: Okay, and so you contacted your friend.

RM: Yeah.

DG: And then so he drove you back or came back with you or...

RM: No, he said there shouldn't be any trouble or just give me a call, and we didn't have any trouble.

DG: So where were you staying in Portland?

RM: You mean what hotel?

DG: Oh, you were in a hotel?

RM: Yeah. I forgot what the hotel name was.

DG: So you were just getting that negotiation started.

RM: Yeah.

[Interruption]

<End Segment 23> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.