March 5, 1985

Dear Miss Haglund,

The news this past weekend reported on the horrible weather you have been experiencing, with airports closed & much too much snow. In the area in which we live (on the Strait of Juan de Fuca we escape the cold & snow.

Yes indeed the copy of Service with the WRA I meant for you to keep. As you can read it needs considerable editing which I am presently attempting to do in between several other projects.

I have not had a reply to Northwestern Univ of Feb. 13 so this morning attempted to reach them by long distance but without success. Seems there is a switching problem within the telephone at the Univ. Three long distance operators tried unsuccessfully to get through so I am writing them again today. Appreciate your giving more correct information about when school or classes started.

I had lost touch with Pat Hagiwara[?] the oldest of the family. After leaving the WRA in 46 I owned a florist business in Seattle & Pat worked part time for me while he was attending the U of Wash. I asked Sharon if she knew anything of him & she said she thought she could locate him. In about an hour I receive a call from

Pat who lives in a Seattle [illegible]. He will retire from Boeing Aircraft in June having worked there as an Electrical Engineer. He was delighted as was I to renew our acquaintance. He has planned to visit us this summer.

From him I learned much more about his family than I previously knew. It is a story in itself & I shall incorporate it in the next copy. Just a few details. The family owned a Bakery business in Ketchikan, Alaska. At time of Evacuation Order Pat was in the Alaska National Guard stationed in Northern Alaska. The guard was transferred to Illinois for 18 months then joined the famous 442nd. Both Pat & Mike [illegible] in engagement in Italy & France. The father was picked up at once & sent to the Detention camp in New Mexico. Abe & Grace together with their mother were sent to the Puyallup Assembly Center near Seattle.

Both Mike & Abe died of heart attacks in their early 40's [sic]. Abe's wife died of cancer 3 years after Abe. Grace married an Episcopalian Minister & lives in Mich.

It was interesting that you asked if Minidoka was in the beginning a Relocation Center. I had never heard there was any question. No there was no change in policy while Evacuees were still coming into the center & we could organize the center as a somewhat self governing group & and while getting the place to function properly I suppose many residents thought the worst. I can understand why some thought there was no relocation policy.

Just getting the centers built, people moved in & under shelter, as it was was a terrific logistical task. I am sure those in Wash. Had "to feel their way along" to determine the degree relocation would work, whether evacuees would be accepted. Organizations, like churches who had indicated interest in assisting the Relocation effort had to get organized. The government wanted to be sure Japanese would not become a charge on local relief agencies. By Jan 1943 things started to move in an orderly fashion and as the Armed Services began to accept the Nisei into their ranks attitudes both civilian & those in the centers changed.

The Military Police stationed at the entrance of the Center was forced upon us, the Army insisted and as you know they confined their activities just at the gate. Theoretically Evacuees were expected to stay within the barbed wire fence but actually no one paid any attention to the fence. Some of the more adventurous made regular trips into adjacent towns to do shopping . At harvest time the local farmers were very happy to get Evacuee [illegible] to assist in the harvest.

I do not know whether the Cemetery is still there or what happened to the remains interred.

I do not seem to have a copy of the Program for the Reunion but will write Sharon for one to include. I think your idea to get someone who worked in the hospital & on the farm to write essays on their experiences to be good ones & shall ask Sharon for names.

March 15.

Good thing I did not get this letter mailed when I first started it as in mail just received is the letter from Univ. of Mass. copy which I'm enclosing. Also, copy of letter from Richard Setsuda sent me. Have written him to reconsider about publishing. His letter, copy enclosed, represents patriotism & the financial loss he must have suffered - & yet he still loves the country!

Have you given any thought what we should call this publication?

Sincerely,
George L. Townsend