Densho Digital Archive
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: Nobu Suzuki Interview I
Narrator: Nobu Suzuki
Interviewer: Dee Goto
Location: Seattle, Washington
Date: June 3, 1998
Densho ID: denshovh-snobu-01-0024

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DG: Going to Puyallup, how did you get there?

NS: There were -- after we had stored our things, there were people, hakujin people, who offered to drive if anybody wanted to to take us to Puyallup. And so one friend did come by, pick us up, and drove us to Puyallup.

DG: This was in April or May?

NS: April, end of April, I think it was.

DG: And then, was your husband asked to work for the WRA or somebody like that as far as...?

NS: No, but all the doctors were all -- well, they set up a -- they had to set up a hospital and they were asked to work there.

DG: Did he help set it up?

NS: Yes. They set it up right under the grandstand. They set up a hospital and first aid station. I guess it was a first aid station there.

DG: Did he have to bring any of the equipment or anything, or was it provided?

NS: Well, no, he didn't bring any equipment. It was mostly whatever first aid medicine or whatever he had, he brought with him. But the first night we were there, we were in one of the barracks in the parking area. But after the first -- as I remember, they were hastily built barracks with almost a bare floor. If there was a floor of anything, well, the grass was growing through it. But that was only for one night. And after the first night, we were transferred over to under the grandstand. They put up barriers along some of the big rooms and set up a doctor's living quarters there. So we had a room about half of this size [points to this room] that had enough room for a couple of cots and our suitcases and things, and we were there. The food was prepared and served in this great big hall with long tables and a long line to pick up your food and then eat it. I had to put a sign on my son's back after a few days saying, "Please do not feed him," because everybody that would say, "Oh, what a cute little boy," and give him a stick of candy or something. [Laughs]

DG: Was this your older one?

NS: The older one. So I pinned a sign on his back saying, "Please do not feed him." So that was kind of a joke in the place.

DG: So...

<End Segment 24> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.