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JN: We'd love for you to share some of your personal stories and memories, good or bad, about Minidoka or Manzanar.

NO: Well, when you moved to Minidoka, the buildings were more better built. It was still muddy -- [laughs] -- and cold. But we got along very well there and it was easier for people to relocate, get a pass for a day or two, or they could go bean picking or they could go housework and... we were more free, and, and the camp was cleaner. But I didn't stay there too long. Anxious to get out, I went houseworking for a sick lady and that was the worst experience, I think, to work for a sick lady. I went bean picking so I could get out, to Caldwell with a bunch of people. And, but later on I finally was able to relocate to Minneapolis with my younger sister. But I didn't stay in Minidoka that long, but what little short time I also did work in the hospital as a kind of aide. But I realized that the world is a big place, and I was naive before, but I had to grow up fast, become more independent, which I did. So, you had to be to be strong because you were separated. But it was awful experience.

JN: Did your parents and your younger sisters stay back in Minidoka?

NO: Yeah, they stayed back because the two were in school yet, see, and my brother was in the army. Yeah, they stayed back. And, but my sister, probably she told you, she left after she got married and worked for a farmer or a rancher, uh-huh. But I didn't, only stayed in Minnesota one year. Because the war was over, so I came back in November. Although I wanted to continue onto another schooling, but it was twenty below, it was too cold. And my father and mother, I felt that we should come home and help in what little way we can. So, we returned in November, my sister and I, younger sister.

JN: How did your parents manage with being in Minidoka, and did they ever share their feelings or...

NO: I... no, they didn't say much. My father tried -- I think many Isseis tried -- but they were older and they felt that they had to start all over again. I think that was very difficult for many. I think some of 'em gave up. But my father tried, but he passed away, sadly, in 1953. But at that time, my brother was old enough to carry on. But he was also going to school, too, so... somehow we managed. And lotta, maybe probably half of the Bainbridge people didn't return because they were all relocated to different areas. Like, now the Isseis are all gone and Niseis are getting up in their years. And maybe the people in our age, close to eighty and beyond, remember the camp life more than the children that went to camp after, before they were ten. So, but this is something I don't want anyone to go through. It's a very awful experience and many people struggled, many families were broken up. And I heard some committed suicide because... especially ones in California, they had to give up their business. Because they really had it rough, according to my friends. They had to... they were so angry, they used to just chop up their furnitures and break their refrigerators because the people tried to take it from them, or offer just dirt cheap. But we were fortunate, most of the people, I think, on the island were glad to see us come back. So I think we were fortunate. But it was a struggle to start over.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.