<Begin Segment 5>

JN: You kind of touched on this, but, about your memories of March 30th, the day that you left Bainbridge Island. Do you, do you remember anything about, in more detail, about the ferry ride, or the bus ride, or the train ride?

LK: I don't remember the ferry ride, but I do remember the train ride because they had Pullman bunks. And I remember we had to... had a discussion who got to sleep on the top bunk, I remember that. And I remember the soldiers, 'cause -- and that part, too, I remember. At the dock, I was... I mean, this shows how, I think back, how dumb I was, but I was just impressed that here were real soldiers with real guns. That was impressive to me. and I didn't put the idea together that, that we were, quote, "prisoners" or anything like that. But I remember how the soldiers were... they were, they helped mothers, they were helpful. And they were kind and they weren't like soldiers with real prisoners. And I think they, too... anyway, I remember that. And I remember... yeah, I remember the train ride, mostly. Because it was, it was the first time and it was special.

JN: Did you feel it was long?

LK: I don't remember that at all, about how long. I must have said, "When are we going to get there?" But I don't... I do remember my reaction getting off and seeing the sagebrush. I mean, because... and the desolate desert-like place. Oh, and then the barracks. My cousins, the Hayashidas, they grew rhubarb, and the rhubarb house looked exactly like the barracks, it was a tar-paper covered long building. And so I remember thinking, "Oh, look at all the rhubarb houses." And it turned out that's where we're going to be living and then, my mother says that I said, "You said we're going on a vacation. What kind of vacation is this anyway?" And that's what she said I, first thing I said. But, I don't remember. But I remember her relaying that to me.

JN: And this was at Manzanar?

LK: Uh-huh.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.